DOMESTIC antiterrorism teams

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dZ

New member
terror.jpg

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>The Department of Defense under the auspices of the recently passed
antiterrorism bill have added new DOMESTIC antiterrorism teams. The
new units shoulder patch was recently delivered to a friend of mine.
You may view the new shoulder patch at:

http://www.mccullagh.org/image/otherphotos/terror.html

Thanks to Declan Mccullagh for placing the digital photo of the patch
on his web site. The patch came to a Freematt's Alerts subscriber,
who is a retired police supervisor. The patch came in an unmarked,
brown envelope. According to an unnamed military source the patch is
of the latest issue (about 8 weeks old). On a related front, Ohio
currently is in the process of getting 5 - 50 man anti-terrorist
teams to be attached to the Ohio National Guard and stationed in the
following areas: Cleveland, Toledo, Cincinnati, Central Ohio
(Columbus) and the Akron/Canton/Youngstown area. These units are
funded via a separate channel and are not funded by the state
government, but rather from a federal antiterrorism fund. It is not
clear who they take their orders from. Other National Guardsmen are
not being informed of these unit activations, the reason given is the
usual "need to Know" excuse.

These units have training from and are rotating out of Rangers, Delta
(Combat Applications Group), SOCOM, and other 'snake-eater' groups.
This has been in the works for the last couple of years. Originally
each state was supposed to get one 50 man unit. Ohio requested, and
apparently obtained, a total of 5 (250 men total). Other states have
at least one 50 man unit with some states getting additional teams as
needed or requested. These state groups are not to be confused with
the unit that is featured with the above shoulder patch. That
apparently is a national or federal antiterrorism team.

It should be obvious that everyone should be concerned over the
constitutional questions as to the legality of such military teams
acting domestically. Of equal concern to me is that due to the cult
of secrecy of our military forces, it is very unclear just what role
and power these new units have or will have. I'm especially
concerned that in an age of decreased domestic terrorism (The US is
currently at a 20 year low) the rapid and ill defined expansion of
police state groups such as this will cause more domestic incidents
such as the bungled raid at Waco. When the only tool you have is a
hammer every problem looks like a nail.

Longtime Freematt's Alerts subscriber Jim Warren had these comments:

Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 15:27:24 -0800

Subject: Re: JPEG of DOD Anti-Terrorist patch -- WHO'S IN CHARGE?!

>>Subject: JPEG of DOD Anti-Terrorist patch
>>
>>This [shoulder patch] came from a police supervisor on my list.
Interesting.


Although the shoulder-patch came from a police supervisor, what is MOST
interesting about it is that its logo indicates that it is a Dept of
DEFENSE patch ... *not* a patch of *civilian* law enforcement -- Dept of
Justice, FBI, ATF, etc.

Thus, the *real* questions are crucial *Constitutional* questions:

1. Does this patch imply that *domestic* counter-terrorism efforts in
the
*civilian* sector are now under the direction and control of a
*military*
task force in the Dept of Defense, rather than under control of
*civilian*
domestic law enforcement agencies?

2. Are there parallel Anti-Terrorism Task Forces in the *civilian* Dept
of
Justice (FBI) and perhaps Treasury Dept (ATF)? If so, are they
operating
separately from the Defense Dept task force -- with likely wasteful
redundancy, turf-wars and information-hoarding? Of if they are
[hopefully]
cooperating, then who the hell is really in charge?! Is the military
controlling or making decisions for *civilian* law enforcement?

3. Are the apparently-operational (complete with shoulder-patches)
*military* anti-terrorism officers and staff active in *civilian*
domestic
investigative and/or enforcement activities? If so, are they on their
own,
or are they under control if *civilian* law enforcement? And -- if not,
is
this the first step in a military take-over over civilian law
enforcement,
and/or investigation of American civilians (or is it just one more step
in
the often-apparent, covert creeping militarism of formerly-civilian law
enforcement?!)?

Would any of our elected so-called representatives -- presidential or
congressional -- *dare* to ask these questions? Publicly?! And
*demand*
answers?!![/quote]
 
If militry forces are used in law enforcement without the direct authorization of the president it is a violation of federal law (the Posse Comitatus law)
 
This + a good dose of hate crime legislation dropped in a blender run on high & dished out in big propaganda media style might be all we need to get rid of that pesky freedom of speech. After all anyone who believes in the RKBA is obviously a terrorist threat - I mean after all they're armed arn't they ? ( that is the way we're portrayed by our loving "free" goverment anyway )

Wouldn't it be great if we were just paranoid ? I don't think I'll ever understand the mentality of people who cannot stand to be free and evidently there is a whole lot of em out there, howbeit I doubt as many as the propagandist would have us think.

[This message has been edited by scud (edited March 13, 2000).]
 
Now, this is just a SHAG (Scientific Hairy-***ed Guess), but I'm a little wary of this.

The patch is based on a generic patch design found in the back of many Police catalogs. The patch is pre-made, and sold in bulk. Whomever you buy it from adds whatever lettering you desire.

That's just a guess though.

I maintain quite a few contacts in the 49th AD, and none of them have heard anything about "Originally
each state was supposed to get one 50 man unit. Ohio requested, and
apparently obtained, a total of 5 (250 men total). Other states have
at least one 50 man unit with some states getting additional teams as
needed or requested.", but they're going to check up on it for me.

Any of our other National Guard cadre know anything about this?

LawDog
 
Just remember, anyone can get a patch made, and if there is a 50 man team for all 50 states, that's 2500 guys, all sitting around training all day.

Let's look at that number again - 2500 men. IIRC, that's about what, a brigade? Spread out over the entire US? That's a significant number of troops, all told... and nobody knows anything about this?

Sure seems like a significant number of operators all sitting around... especially when you could pull members from Special Operations units for a lot of the states already without having to preposition them in a state and tipping off the locals.

I can see a setup like the EODCT units, where there are designated zones of the US that each one covers. I can't see spreading all these guys out, building the facilities they need to keep sharp, taking care of all the logistics and transport for rapid response, in all 50 states.

Spark

------------------
Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com
www.bladeforums.com
 
I think this is a case of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. First, there are some Chemical/Biological warfare response teams forming up. The best analogy for these guys is that their like a mobile carwash. Their into decontamination not door kicking.

Second, no way would the DoD call folks assigned to the units "Federal Officers" (which is on the patch). Different protocol for LE folks versus military folks. So the patch may be for it's apparent purpose, but not for soldiers. If they really were doorkickers, there would be no patch. :)

Third, it defies common sense to think that 2500 (plus support staff plus over head) active duty military (esp. Army) would be assigned out like that. The teams being planned are Reserve folks. BTW, we only have 30 brigades in the Army. (active and reserve/ng)

Mountains out of molehills..

Giz
 
Was DELTA at Waco? Did one of the competent little facists buy the farm?

[This message has been edited by 6forsure (edited March 14, 2000).]
 
Ok, let's not panic here. The units that are referred to are called RAID units. They are composed of NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) specialists some medical, communications and logistics types. Here in Illinois they have been working on forming one of the first ones. IIRC the only combat arms MOS in the entire unit is one 11B operations guy.

These units are to provide advice and coordination with civil authorities in the event of a terrorist attack involving NBC weapons. One of my former unit commanders is in the RAID unit. Rather then recruiting from the SOF community, these units are open to any Guardsman or person eligable for guard membership. They are brought onto active duty in the AGR (Active Guard Reserve program). They were originally supposed to be regional but they have been expanded in this defense budget.

The Guard is almost all federally funded. In most cases the states provide the Armory building and the utilities. The equipment is all owned by the federal government. If a governor uses the guard for a state mission the state must reimburse the feds for use of the equipment, purchaseing of fuel etc.

I agree with Lawdog. That is a generic patch. We have plenty to fear from our federal government overstepping it's authority, but the RAID units aren't one of the things we should fear.

I think this may be a hoax.

Jeff
 
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