Why do we REALLY need 20,000 troops deployed to state side?

[redirish28]

My wife is a tinfoil nutcase. She will be the first to agree with that. And she doesn't believe Bush and Cheney are going to go quietly into that good-night come January 20th.


Maybe she is a little off the rocker BUT when I see headlines that this. I have to start wondering.

Pentagon plans to station 20,000 troops for 'domestic security'

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Pentagon_plans_to_station_20000_troops_1201.html

yes the article reads for 2011...BUT I remember hearing around election time that there was a Troop or two deployed for election purposes to make sure things are okay in case "riots" happened.

SO is my wife right to be a little nervous or is this just nothing to worry about?

[soothsayer]

1. getting ready for 2012 and the end of the Mayan calendar!

[Forkboy]

2. How effective would 20K troops be in controlling the country?

Unless they have massive amounts more 20K wouldn't cut it, if we're talking country-wide martial law.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Supplement them with loco law enforcement and reserve sheriffs.

[Forkboy]

9. Many of whom wouldn't turn their guns on fellow Americans.

As many soldiers wouldn't. Not saying some wouldn't love to act out the scenario, but it would fall apart before it got started.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

3. The Bush government has proven itself unable to be trusted totally.

I doubt that Bush or Cheney will push for a military coup, but the distrust is understandable, and perhaps a bit healthy. After all, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean no one's out to get you.

[Xithras]

4. Isn't that what the National Guard is for?

I don't get why this whole thing isn't getting more press.

On the upside, 20,000 troops only works out to about 400 soldiers per state, so it's not like they can impose martial law on us. It would take more than 20,000 soldiers to suppress CALIFORNIA alone, and considerably more for the other 49 states.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

6. Considering the National Guard is now sent overseas anyhow.......

.....I don't think any of it even matters anymore.....

[madrchsod]

5. no

[leftofthedial]

7. when you can't get your money out of your bank

and the foreclosure notice goes up on your door

and the doors are padlocked at the place where you thought you worked

and you can't buy food at the supermarket


you'll learn why they need to abolish posse comitatus and station troops stateside.

[bdamomma]

10. I don't like the sound of this.

:tinfoilhat:

[mediaman007]

11. Why not hire 20,000 more police and equip them?

[zbdent]

12. Cheney refusing to step down 1/20/2009?

[Javaman]

13. I have been espousing this tinfoil hat theory for a while now...

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Javaman/140

note the date.