Posse Comitatus

An article on k5 a few weeks back addressed the Jose Padilla situation in terms of a 1878 act of Congress known as the Posse Comitatus Act. In short, it restricted the ability of the United States military to act as a police force within our borders. Why restrict the military from this? The author of the k5 piece put it best: "The military is a conquering force, whereas civilian law enforcement agencies are to be keepers of the peace." Holding a US citizen without trial is a fairly clear violation of the Posse Comitatus law.

It appears now that the Bush Administration wants to do away entirely with the restriction on Posse Comitatus. A new proposal states that "the threat of catastrophic terrorism requires a thorough review of the laws permitting the military to act within the United States".

We're rapidly becoming a police state, and it's not without precedent.

July 16, 2002 - 10:10 AM