disinformation | turning cops into soldiers

Welcome to Disinformation | July 06, 2003

Abuse Your Illusions - the follow-up to Everything You Know Is Wrong & You Are Being Lied To is in the store and every bit as essential. The long-awaited Disinformation DVD is in too!
>>Go

U.S. Weighs Military Intervention in Liberia
>>Go

What The European Papers Say
>>Go

Violence Mars Nigerian Strikes
>>Go

Religion in the News: June 2003
>>Go

turning cops into soldiers
by Preston Peet (ptpeet@cs.com) - October 18, 2000

Military styled attacks, utilizing all the trademark flashbang, battering ram, dynamic entry methods of the special forces, carried out on private homes, and citizens, is rapidly becoming more and more prevalent in America today. Unfortunately, these home invasions are not by hooded criminals, ruffians of the hooligan type, they are more often by the police themselves, all in the name of the Drug War.

The militarization of Drug Law Enforcement in the United States continues at a breakneck speed. The Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids the US military from taking part in domestic law enforcement activities, is nearly out the window, with nary a sound of protest. The focus of the 'War' being fought is US citizens. The MOVE bombing in Philidelphia; Randy Weaver and Ruby Ridge; Waco: a steady escalation is apparent. With the recent revelations of FBI possibly shooting into the compound at Waco, even maybe starting the fire that killed 76 men, women and children, and then lying about it all for 6 and a half years, it is apparent that rather than the exception, it is the rule.

At Waco, the BATF ran a military operation, from beginning to end, with the help and advise of the US Department of Defense. The US Army Delta Force is now alleged by some to have been on the scene, in more than an advisory capacity. The final operation, which ended in the fiery conflagration, was a Delta Force recommendation.

In order to legitimize turning the Drug War into a literal war, the US Military has created special Joint Task Forces, to assist civilian drug law enforcement agencies. When a law enforcement agency wants to use military equipment, they must reimburse the military for that usage. Except in those cases that involve DRUGS. When the BATF found out that it would have to pay for any and all equipment that it 'borrowed'. it immediately turned around and accused the residents of Mt. Caramel of running a methamphethamine laboratory, claiming that their investigation was a 'Drug Investigation'. Thus, they had all that free equipment at their disposal, and used it.

Because of recent news stories, civil suits filed by Davidian survivors, and in a large part because of the film 'Rules of Engagement' the evidence of police misconduct, and flat out illegality in the entire Waco debacle is now finally getting out to the public. But the government has something for that little inconvenience.

The Defense Department thought that the public might be interested in finding out who actually participated in the burning up of the Branch Davidians, and in any other horror show of this nature, so they have snuck a change into the law in the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act. On page 258, section 552 of the printed version, it says the Secretary of Defense can "authorize to be withheld from disclosure to the public personally identifying information regarding any member of the armed forces assigned to an overseas unit, a sensitive unit, or a routinely deployable unit, and any member of the Department of Defense, or the Coast Guard whose duty station is with any such unit."

After assorted definitions of the 'units', such as those doing classified communications work, the new law states, "The term 'sensitive unit' means...any other unit so deemed by the Secretary of Defense." So now when a military unit burns up US civilians, or commits some other atrocity within our borders, specifically against the Posse Comitatus prohibition on military being used for law enforcement, it can be deemed secret by the Secretary of Defense, and kept away from public disclosure.

The Official Homepage of the National Tactical Officers Association
In the book "No More Wacos," by David Kopel, and Paul Blackman, there is this gem: "Tactical is the word currently used for paramilitary groups like the HRT or SWAT Teams. Members of these groups often belong to the National Tactical Officers Association. The primary meaning of 'tactical' is 'of or pertaining to military or naval tactics.' Thus, tactical is literally accurate, but lacks the frightening edge of words like 'paramilitary,' or 'militaristic'."

National Association of Defense Lawyers 1995 News Releases
Just a bit dated, but truly indicative of how entrenched this problem is now, the incredible trampling of rights going on in this country right now, the turning of the law enforcers on the populace as though they are the enemy.

State of Our Civil Liberties
Part book review of No More Wacos, part review of the state of our civil rights in America. Brief read.

When Cops Become Combat Troops
This 'Salon' magazine article (May 2nd, 2000) by Bonnie Bucqueroux examines how the 'War Against Some Drugs' in America and elsewhere too is turning local police forces into armed occupiers, kicking down doors, killing innocent people, and not stopping the illicit drug trade whatsoever.

A Panel Discussion on Waco
David Thibodeau, survivor of the Mt. Carmel fire, and author of the book "A Place Called Waco," David Kopel, and Rep. Barr are featured in this Live broadcast from the Cato Institute. Covers a lot of the information that should be coming out in the mainstream press, and isn't.

Abuses of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms
An in-depth study on the myriad abuses of the agents in the BATF, with loads of articles about, and examples of, said abuses. Gun control advocates beware, but keep an open mind, as all rights should be guaranteed by the constitution, and this site shines a really bright light on all reports of abuses by BATF.

Waco Feb 28- April 19, 1993
David Hardy's Waco page. This is one disturbing site, full of the information that BATF and the FBI denied existed. Plenty of RealVideo, and RealAudio Play here. The sound clip of the Sleep Deprivation sounds FBI was playing the morning of the 19th are bloodcurdling. Also check out the breakdown of the CS Gas attack report. More horrorshow. There is much here that has only been released after years of battling the BATF and other law enforcement through FOIA requests.

Why You Should Get Involved
Another one from the NADL, outlining numerous abuses of power by the law enforcement, and prosecutorial sectors. Heavy reading.

The Official "Waco-Rules of Engagement" Homepage
This film was nominated in 1997 for an Academy Award for Best Documentary, and was deserving of the win, though it didn't get it. Conspiracy? Probably not, but this movie will turn your stomach. Watch as the FBI's HRT members brag of being "honed to kill," and other interesting things, such as the FLIR footage showing what appears to be gunfire coming from the FBI side of the final assault. Well worth buying this film. There is plenty else at this site, so give it a visit.

Warrior Cops-The Ominous Growth of Paramilitarism in American Police Departments
A Cato Institute Policy Paper by Diane Cecilia Weber, that should be read by anyone with an interest in the subject of cops viewing their job as fighting a war, and wonders why they do. Covers the history of military involvement in law enforcement in this country, and explain clearly why we have the Posse Comitatus Act in the first place.

Cop Crimes
Be sure to check out the examples of militarization of the Cops in America today. This is one informative site, and surely not loved by those who want to increase rather than decrease the militarizing. Mostly a 'cops committing blatant crimes' site, there are some very interesting observations into cops and the military here.

No More Wacos
Homepage of NMW, as well as other articles and essays, links, and information.

Legal Aspects of Domestic Deployment of the Army
August 1997 Parameters article by Thomas Lujan, dissecting the legalities of using the military in domestic law enforcement capacities.

Military Support for CivilianLaw Enforcement Agencies
Breakdown of the many instances when a civilian agency may request, and receive, military assistance.

Military Participation in the Drug War
Great site, with a brief chronology of domestic military involvement, and lots of terrifying facts about the increasing use of the military to conduct a war on American citizens, using American forces to do it.

No Messages Posted Yet...