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.

"Posse Comitatus" and "Insurrection"

[gardyloo]

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

In a stelthier move...

[LordEd]

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

Re:Oh My.

[Rachel Lucid]

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.

Re:Hurricane and winter storms

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, thats why it says "in case of insurrection, break constitution".

Remember remember the 5th of november...

[arcite]

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?

Well, that's one way...

[jafo]

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

Sean

Legal inconsistencies?

[BeeBeard]

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!

Well it's finaly time....

[Anonymous Coward]

...to buy a few guns and a lot of ammo, just in case.

Re:Oh My.

[TerranFury]

Well, there's always Jeb.

*shudder*

I've got your package

[BeeBeard]

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

Federal vs. State forces

[MarkusQ]

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

Re:Oh My.

[lawpoop]

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?

In COBN3T AM3RNKA

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

In Soviet America, Martial Law is Enabling Bush!

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

Stealth maneuvers and the story of Double-O Bush

[timotten]

The stage was set. Congress had received a copy of the law. The Congress leaders had discussed it:

"This could end our democracy."

"It's a bad idea!"

"We cannot let Bush sign it! Such dangerous things must be locked away in the deepest dungeon of the backest backroom of the Congress!"

And so they agreed to lock it safely away in Mark Foley's closet, where no one could acknowledge its existence, let alone sign it. Or so they thought.

Little did they know that Double-O Bush was on the case. During the State of the Union, while the President distracted all of the Congressers, Double-O Bush snuck in to the closet, found (amid the bodies of various dead girls and living boys) a copy of the law. His hand shot fluidly to his ankle, and -- in a well-practiced maneuver -- pulled a pen from his ankle holster. Then he... signed the law!

And so it happened that Bush signed an evil law without any assistance from an inept Congress.

Re:frist psot

[FuzzyBad-Mofo]

Can I get a Hallelujah?

Close. We got Fallujah.

Re:Oh My.

[hb253]

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.

Re:Obligatory....

[quigonn]

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

Re:Open revolution??

[thrillseeker]

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

Dad?

Lovely...

[AVee]

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...

Obivously you believe anything you hear

[Bananas]

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?