Military Examines Role In Domestic Defense

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Military Examines Role In Domestic Defense
Citizen Soldiers May Need More Training On Homeland Operations, Defense Secretary Says
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WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2008


Defense Secretary Robert Gates. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)



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(AP) Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday ordered his top department leaders to conduct a broad review to determine whether the military, National Guard and Reserve can adequately deal with domestic disasters and whether they have the training and equipment to defend the homeland.

The 41-page memo signaled an acknowledgment that the military must better recognize the critical role of the National Guard and Reserves in homeland defense, but stopped short of requiring many specific policy changes.

His memo comes in the wake of a stinging 400-page independent commission report that concluded the military isn't ready for a catastrophic attack on the country, and that National Guard forces don't have the equipment or training they need for the job.

That report, released early this year by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, said the Pentagon must use the nation's citizen soldiers to create an operational force that would be fully trained, equipped and ready to defend the nation, respond to crises and supplement the active duty troops in combat.

In response, Gates said that indeed the Guard and Reserves are an integral part of the force and have assumed a greater role in military operations. And he pressed his top leaders to review the training that active duty and reserve troops receive for homeland defense and civil support missions, as opposed to the warfighting now consuming them.

He gave them 25 days to submit their proposed changes, along with any budget impact they might have, in connection with 53 separate recommendations. He said another 29 recommendations are under way or finished.

The commission's report included 95 recommendations. But Gates did not order many of those changes urged by the commission to give National Guard and Reserve troops better access to promotions, military training and education programs and other benefits. Instead, in most cases he ordered leaders in the Defense Department and the military services to review their programs to determine whether changes are needed.

His overall tone, however, pressed officials to better integrate reservists into the modern day military and consider treating them on a more equal basis to the active duty troops. Separately, he asked for more detailed proposals to better develop funding for Guard and Reserve programs and equipment.

Arnold L. Punaro, who was chairman of the commission, welcomed Gates' recommendations Monday, saying that improving the military's role in homeland defense and enhancing the clout of the reserves "represent a historic break with the past."

"Make no mistake, his decisions are aimed at landmark changes, changes that are essential if the Guard and Reserves are to remain fully capable of meeting current and future threats," said Punaro.


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The military is NOT this country''s police force!

The survey was given May 10, 1994, at the Twenty-nine Palms (CA) Marine base.
Strongly Agree through Strongly disagree
Question 45.
I would swear to the following code: "I am a United Nations fighting person. I serve in the forces which maintain world peace and every nation''s way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense."

Question 46.
The U.S. government declares a ban on the possession, sale transportation, and transfer of all non-sporting firearms. A thirty (30) day amnesty period is permitted for these firearms to be turned over to the local authorities. At the end of this period, a number of citizen groups refuse to turn over their firearms. Consider the following statement: I would fire upon U.S. citizens who refuse or resist confiscation of firearms banned by the U.S. government.

Which side would you fight on? The constitution you swore to protect, the UN or an unconstitutional order?


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Posted by impeach___w at 11:54 AM : Nov 25, 2008
+ report abuse
I vote YES to remove ''homeland'' from our vocabulary!

I was 12 years in the USAF and it seems like every generation (or less) we seem to lose the plot and yet ANOTHER re-evaluation must occur. And yet when you get right down to it - the threats are still the same but the names have changed - good luck DoD!

PS - Please Obama ask Bob Gates to stay for another term as Defense Secretary


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Posted by j_flood at 11:15 AM : Nov 25, 2008
+ report abuse
"Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday ordered his top department leaders to conduct a broad review to determine whether the military, National Guard and Reserve can adequately deal with domestic disasters and whether they have the training and equipment to defend the homeland."

Our government are now turning the military towards the same U.S. citizens they are planning on stealing from. The government is going to financially collapse next year, all the banks backed by the U.S. government are going to default. The FDIC has in their reserves $45.2Billion, do you really believe your money is going to be insured by a bankrupt government (Do some math for once in your life people)? When these banks CDS''s turn out to be more than the country could ever earn and pay back, what will happen to the banks? When the now invested U.S. government banks are in default and closed, how are you going to get your paycheck, never mind your savings? What do you think is going to happen when the run on the banks begins from the first bank failure. As president Bush said, "This sucker is going down". The military is being called in for training because we are going to see them going through our streets (especially cities) quite often these next couple of years, looking for people who are more angry than the government feels they should be, for them stealing their entire life savings.


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Posted by lochlan at 10:58 AM : Nov 25, 2008
+ report abuse
I hope one of the first things Obama does when he takes office is get rid of this "homeland" poop. It''s "National Security", not "Homeland Security"... where did this communist sounding term come from?


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Posted by Allzwell at 10:27 AM : Nov 25, 2008
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What Gates is really referring to is the prospect of civil unrest during the next few years when the country finally and inevitably goes tits up. Who is going to protect the crooks who have caused this disaster and the politicians who have sat by rubbing their hands as the lobby greased their sticky fingers.

In conjunction with the Patriot Act he needs to brainwash our soldiers to fight their brothers on the false and feeble excuse of protecting the nation. Whilst in truth it is only Corporate America and the Zionist Israel lovers who will need protection. The Bush Empire will do all in it''s power to come to their aid as they have done all along.

OUR enemy is not holed up in a cave in Northern Pakistan, they are here in American running and deciding the fate of our country, they are the very people we employ to drive the bus of state. Their time is up and Gates knows it.

Time to start following the money, over a billion from Lehman Bros and then there are all the other "Respectable" banks, where has all the money gone ?


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Posted by drinuk at 10:15 AM : Nov 25, 2008
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The US spent more on defense than the next 44 countries entire defense budgets combined. Combined! This homeland talk is scary folks...homeland defense? They realize since Bush the country is on the verge of revolution or just basic survival.

http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=0kqmNTk6ls0


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Posted by Lemonskink at 09:56 AM : Nov 25, 2008
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How can the USA spend 650 Billion on annually on Defense and not be ready?

We spend more money than the combined Defense budgets of EVERY OTHER COUNTRY on the planet, yet what do we get for that? A report that says our home forces are underequipped and not trained for what they need to know.

Where is our money going????


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Posted by boatdocster at 09:51 AM : Nov 25, 2008
+ report abuse
I''ve said for years (20+) that the US is not the worlds police force.. and we need to worry about AMERICA FIRST..

We need to finish the mission in Iraq, then quickly (which means little or no politician intervention) take out the Al-Qaeda.. Then bring our men and women home.. And if terrorist attack US again then send out hit teams.. Not every swing d!ck.. just a select few to terminate whom ever is involved in Attacking America.. and kill their family and their family pet.. Send a message... WE BIT BACK HARDER THEN WE ARE BIT... Fear is the only thing humans understand..


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Posted by libsh8theUSA at 09:51 AM : Nov 25, 2008
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You gotta be kidding me. They dont have equipment because you idiots stripped them of it years ago when you started this assinine war. Now you want more money from the taxpayers to replace the toys you broke? Absolutely NOT...


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Posted by hologram5 at 09:43 AM : Nov 25, 2008
+ report abuse
Before I start endorsing a few billion dollars for this, I have a couple of questions

Posted by fahr451 at 08:55 AM

Yeah, exactly, that''s what IM talkin about!
Sounds postively Cheney-esque
--or-- Cheneistic