The U.S. Military's Plan for London-Like Riots (The Atlantic)

[kpete]

With British Prime Minister David Cameron authorizing the use of rubber bullets and water canons in wake of the turbulent London riots spreading through Britain, questions have been raised about how authorities in the U.S. would respond to a similar domestic disturbance threatening the nation's stability. According to National Journal's White House correspondent Marc Ambinder the U.S. already has a game plan in place. "If what happened in London ever happened in the US, the military has plans -- CONPLAN 3501 and 3502 -- to suppress the 'insurrection,' he tweeted. The mysterious reference to a numbered military plan generated a flurry of interest on Twitter as NPR host Michele Norris shot back:"I want to know more about the military's plan to suppress any potential 'insurrection.'-- CONPLAN 3501 and 3502????"

Interestingly, the CONPLAN (which stands for an "operation plan in concept format" at the Pentagon) Ambinder referenced is a popular subject among conspiracy theorists and critics of martial law. According to the public policy organization GlobalSecurity.org, CONPLAN 3502 is the U.S. military's plan for assisting state and local authorities in the event of a riot or major civil disturbance: "Tasks performed by military forces may include joint patrolling with law enforcement officers; securing key buildings, memorials, intersections and bridges; and acting as a quick reaction force."

It derives its constitutional backing from Article I, Section 8 stating that "Congress shall have power... to provide for calling forth the Militia to execute laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections, and repel Invasions" and is rumored to have been activated during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, during the 1999 Seattle WTO riots and during the 1992 Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. But, according to Nate Jones at the National Security Archive, "because historic Garden Plot activity was classified and current activity likely remains so, it is difficult to discern exactly how many times Garden Plot was evoked." What jarred Jones upon looking at internal military documents, were the "indicators of potential violence," which were especially racially oriented:



the rest:http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/08/us-militarys-plan-london-riots/41101/

[RC]

1. Look at how often jobs or employment is mentioned.

You'd think by now someone would have a clue. Or maybe they do and this is the plan.
Riots and fires destroy parts of town, businesses and homes, leaving less resources to the masses to resist their subjugation.

"Freedom is just another name for nothing left to lose."

[shinyhead]

4. Military is neutral, this is their job

To come up with plans for any task they may be given. Somewhere is a binder of what to do if little green men land in the rose garden. Planners know the signs of coming trouble and I imagine this folder is being reviewed right now and isn't collecting dust on a shelf somewhere.

[RC]

5. The military is usually under control of the government.

The government is ultimately responsible for the conditions listed that contribute to the riots.

So it comes around to our so-called leaders making or letting conditions fester unanswered long enough to explode.

[shraby]

2. Isn't "posse comitatus" supposed to circumvent using the

military against the citizens?

[Riftaxe]

7. Not really, it's to prevent them from acting as agents of Law

enforcement agencies. The National Guard is specifically tasked to respond to domestic emergencies.

[Volaris]

10. I was under the impression that Posse Comitatus says that FEDERAL forces

cannot be used to do civilian police work, unless Congress passes an exemption. I THINK that's why it says "militias" in the Constitution, because those were ostensibly under control of the States at the time of the writing...

Even if it's a local crime to be somewhere you're not supposed to be (as an act of Civil Disobedience), well, if you're not breaking the Law, its not actually an act of Civil DISOBEDIANCE...and the FEDERAL military most certainly cannot be used to enforce LOCAL ordinances...unless Martial Law has been declared...

That's my understanding of it, anyway, and those who probably know better than I are welcome to chime in and tell me that I'm an idiot on this one =)

Peace,

[DefenseLawyer]

3. Fear of a Black Planet n/t

[Arctic Dave]

6. I have a few words with other posters about what is going on

over in the Middle East and how if the US was threatened in the same way with overthrow the government would not hesitate to open fire on any of us.
Since this is actually declassified, I would guess this is the kid gloves version of the total plan.

Oh, and the poster who niavely thinks the military is "neutrel" think again, the military is full of warmongering assholes from the top down.

[shinyhead]

8. not so innocent

Yes there are some like that, but not all, most are professional. I know, I am a veteran and know people of all ranks. Sorry, that brush is a bit broad for me to accept blindly when I know the people you are considering war mongers... of course the mindset is biased to military action, ITS THEIR JOB, I rather like that our fighting men and women keep fighting in the forefront of their mind when its their job.

[Arctic Dave]

9. No, I would say that i am pretty much right.

The place is run by assholes and the "professional ones" do anything their told. Good soldiers and all that crap.

[blindpig]

11. I miss the draft...

They couldn't pull this shit with conscripts. I am sure that is part of the rationale for the volunteer army.

[whistler162]

12. Why don't you post the militaries plans when a invasion from

space occurs.

They do exist! The military plans for EVERY contingent it can think of.