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Bush Signs Bill Enabling Martial Law

An anonymous reader writes to point us to an article on the meaning of a new law that President Bush signed on Oct. 17. It seems to allow the President to impose martial law on any state or territory, using federal troops and/or the state's own, or other states', National Guard troops. From the article: "In a stealth maneuver, President Bush has signed into law a provision which, according to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), will actually encourage the President to declare federal martial law. It does so by revising the Insurrection Act, a set of laws that limits the President's ability to deploy troops within the United States. The Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C.331 -335) has historically, along with the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C.1385), helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. With one cloaked swipe of his pen, Bush is seeking to undo those prohibitions." Here is a link to the bill in question. The relevant part is Sec. 1076 about 3/4 of the way down the page.

17 of 1,594 comments (clear)

  1. "Posse Comitatus" and "Insurrection" by gardyloo · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm quite certain that Bush thinks those are some conditions to be fixed with 5iaGRa.

  2. In a stelthier move... by LordEd · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... the white house quickly slashdots the article alerting people to the bill.

  3. Re:Oh My. by Rachel+Lucid · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes, I'm pretty sure when the elections get 'cancelled indefinitely' we'll be all primed for revolution. Provided we're not all distracted by the new consoles first.

  4. Remember remember the 5th of november... by arcite · · Score: 5, Funny
    Oh #hit! It's almost here and I haven't gotten my Fedex with my mask and cape yet!

    Did anyone get a delivery for a g. fox by accident? Anyone?

  5. Well, that's one way... by jafo · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's one way to get around those pesky two term limits.

    Sean

  6. Legal inconsistencies? by BeeBeard · · Score: 2, Funny

    I will only agree to this if it doesn't interfere with my right to be beaten, tortured, and detained against my will. Otherwise, the President can just count me out of this. No thank you, sir!

  7. Re:Oh My. by TerranFury · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, there's always Jeb.

    *shudder*

  8. I've got your package by BeeBeard · · Score: 2, Funny

    Dear Mr. Fox,

    Hey Mr. Fox. Name's Bob. Listen, I think our deliveries got mixed up and I've got your mask thing or whatever. It also came with two of those crazy 3-pronged Japanese forks, you know--like that ninja turtle uses? Is your real name Raphael?! Because if so, I can totally keep a secret! Cowabunga! Also, if you got a 30-count box of cherry flavored edible underwear, then you just hang onto that. That's, um, for a science experiment I'm conducting for the Nobel...um..Committee...um...Administration for Forwardness. That's right. The Nobel Comittee Administration for Forwardness. Yes. Just email me your phone number and we can arrange to swap these boxes out tomorrow.

    -Bob "Beebeard" Beekowski

  9. Federal vs. State forces by MarkusQ · · Score: 2, Funny
    This probably has more to do with the hurricanes and winter storms. During Katrina, the Feds were criticised for *not* bringing in the defence force to render aid.

    The critics I heard were more aimed at the lack of national guard units, who are supposed to deal with this sort of thing, but could not because they were tied up in Iraq.

    I don't think anybody was seriously saying "we need to have the Army, Navy, and Air Force ready and able to mobilize inside the US so that the National Guard can stay focused on invading foreign countries."

    --MarkusQ

  10. Re:Oh My. by lawpoop · · Score: 4, Funny

    After we saved your asses from Hitler, and Hitler's father back in WWI, it'd be the least you could do!

    Who says Americans don't remember history?

    --
    Computers are useless. They can only give you answers.
    -- Pablo Picasso
  11. In COBN3T AM3RNKA by Jeremiah+Cornelius · · Score: 4, Funny

    In Soviet America, Martial Law is Enabling Bush!

    "Enabling". It's a fascists 'comfort word'.

    --
    "Flyin' in just a sweet place,
    Never been known to fail..."
  12. Re:frist psot by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can I get a Hallelujah?

    Close. We got Fallujah.

  13. Re:Oh My. by hb253 · · Score: 2, Funny

    The militia types and citizens with guns, whether kooky or not, are powerless against true military hardware. Rifles and shotguns are useless against tanks, airplanes, a precision guided missiles.

    --
    Self awareness - try it!
  14. Re:Obligatory.... by quigonn · · Score: 3, Funny

    You still have the right to bear arms. Or were yours forcefully amputated already?

    --
    A monkey is doing the real work for me.
  15. Re:Open revolution?? by thrillseeker · · Score: 4, Funny

    For every 20 gun control moms in minivans, there's a crazy anarchist hippie with an arsenal ready to be passed around

    Dad?

  16. Lovely... by AVee · · Score: 3, Funny

    When democracy finally ended and the US started it own destruction, nobody noticed, because the site was slashdotted. What a way to get into the history books...

  17. Obivously you believe anything you hear by Bananas · · Score: 2, Funny

    I oppose Bush. I am also what you would call liberal. I also support gun control.

    Hitting your target and killing it with one shot is my definition of gun control.

    Questions, dumbass?