Bush considers change in legislation: Avian Flu & Army role

Source

'The president said some governors object to the idea of federal control of state National Guard units in emergencies. He added that, as a former governor, "I understand that. . . . But Congress needs to take a look at circumstances that may need to vest the capacity of the president to move beyond that debate. And one such catastrophe or one such challenge could be an avian flu outbreak."'

It is not the first time that Bush has brought up the subject. He also mentioned it after the Katrina debacle, reports the AP: 'President Bush's push to give the military a bigger role in responding to major disasters like Hurricane Katrina could lead to a loosening of legal limits on the use of federal troops on U.S. soil. [...] Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is reviewing a wide range of possible changes in the way the military could be used in domestic emergencies, spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said Friday.
He said these included possible changes in the relationship between federal and state military authorities. [...] Di Rita said Rumsfeld has not made recommendations to Bush, but among the issues he is examining is the viability of the Posse Comitatus Act.' Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, a doctor and a Texan, says: '"I believe it is the President hyping this and Rumsfeld, but it has to be in combination with the people being fearful enough that they will accept the man on the white horse. My first reaction going from my political and medical background is that it's way overly hyped and to think that they have gone this far with it, without a single case in the whole country and they're willing to change the law and turn it into a military state? That is unbelievable! They're determined to have martial law."'

A police state is Bush's fondest wish. They're up to no good, and soon we will all be prisoners in our homes or worse.

Something huge is up with this Avian Flu, and it isnt going to be "natural"

Hence the rub DG,

If Avian Flue gets bad. The national Guard and the regular army will be needed to deal with so many casulties.

Lets assume the mortality rates remain as bad with human to human transmission becoming a reality. What do you do with a city the size of San Francisco if there are 500000 peopel dead? You need the army to maintain controll and dispose of so many dead.

Police state or not, these are legit contingency plans that they should be prepared for in advance rather then a Katrina like half butt responce IMHO

Which makes me wonder about the nature of the Avian Flu. Was it developed for the purpose of a police state, or is it being used by those in power to gain absolute control?

I don't trust it.

Keep the faith, Fred

This (fill in the blank) has nothing else on his mind but to TAKE our nation by the (fill in the blank) and crush our society, the last thing in his mind is any protection at all for us.

In fact, i think i'm starting to figure out why Katrina was such a mess.

You see, it was such a fiasco, NOW, people will beleive and go along with whatever that (fill in the blank) wants to do to our heads.

I'm so mad, i'm signing off for awhile.

I cant stand any more today.

Still, as always, i luv ya, Fred.

Though on-topic, this is just food for thought and I'm just letting you all know what crossed my mind when reading this thread...

A friend of mine is a relatively high-ranking member of the Massachusetts State Police, and it was at least three months ago that he told me that the command staff had a meeting where the senior staff (I am not familiar with MSP's table of organization so forgive me if I am getting the terms wrong) announced that they had a plan with the Army National Guard to assist with convoy escorts for medical supplies as well as access-control roadblocks, etc. in the event of a "bird flu outbreak" (his exact words).

While this gentleman is of the highest degree of trustworthyness and wouldn't give me misleading information (he's an older veteran within a few years of retiring)-- or secret info for that matter-- some things strike me as strange about what he told me:

1) As a fairly well-informed NCO placed quite high in the command structure of an MP Battalion in the MA Army National Guard myself, this is the first I heard of any non-military organizations taking part in any military contingency plans. Our plans do not call for any manpower outside of what is organic to our units and according to what I know, we've never even considered using a non-military asset to assist us with anything. Air National Guard, yes. Coast Guard and Reserves, yes. Local Marine Reserves, yes. But never a non-military law enforcement organization. Thus, I don't know if the MSP is just puffing itself up with pride to make itself feel good, or if either myself or the MSP staff are wrongly-informed.

2) I can see where the MSP and non-military agencies would have a role in such an emergency, but AFAIK from working with them in civilian life, they have their own assignments and agendas to worry about, none of which include the National Guard. While I can't get into detail, I can say that the state government has detailed plans in place for just about every conceivable emergency, and while considerations have been made for some interaction between military and civilian agencies, they are not incorporated in the same missions. For instance, there's a (non-secret) plan on evacuating the city of Boston. On paper at least, the state has the resources to do it. There are plans to call on out-of-state and Federal assets if needed, but any military involvement is limited to Army COE heavy equipment I believe, with no mention of combat arms units or MPs.

Don't know why but I felt I had to share that...chew on it as you see fit...nothing that's no blatantly public was revealed, I just wanted to share some things that have been on my mind since hearing from that MSP Captain a few months back.