-Caveat Lector-

(klewis, your post came through with all the html code and was hard to read,
so I'm re-posting it here.  I agree - a Very Bad Idea.)         Samantha

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8944-2001Oct4.html

By Vernon Loeb
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, October 5, 2001; Page A26

Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz said yesterday that to enhance the
nation's ability to counter terrorism, he strongly favors reviewing a legal
doctrine that has kept the U.S. military from engaging in domestic law
enforcement activities since 1878.

Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Wolfowitz said the
Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have made it
possible for Americans to envision terrorist attacks -- particularly those
involving chemical or biological weapons -- in which the military would have
unique response capabilities.

Wolfowitz's comment came in response to a question from Sen. John W. Warner
(R-Va.), the committee's ranking Republican. Warner told Wolfowitz that he
believes it is time to reexamine the legal doctrine of posse comitatus and
asked the Pentagon's second-ranking official whether he agreed.

"I agree very strongly," Wolfowitz said. He added that it would be much
better to determine in advance how the military would function under civilian
control in the event of terrorist incident.

While much of the questioning involved the Pentagon's response to the Sept.
11 attacks and its new plans for homeland defense, Wolfowitz appeared before
the committee to discuss the Quadrennial Defense Review, a congressionally
mandated codification of military strategy, force requirements and
organization.

The 71-page document, completed Monday after months of preparation, makes
homeland defense the Pentagon's highest priority and embraces
"transformational" new technologies in information warfare, intelligence and
space.

In a critical revision, the document does away with the military's
long-standing requirement to be able to win two major theater wars
simultaneously. Under the new plan, the military is expected to win one major
war decisively, meaning that it could occupy the enemy's capital, if
necessary. At the same time, the military would be able to swiftly defeat a
second adversary, engage in peacekeeping operations and invest in advanced
defense technologies.

Wolfowitz said the document represents a "paradigm shift" in planning the
nation's future fighting force, defining six key priorities for military
transformation.

But the committee's chairman, Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), criticized the
document, calling it a "vision" statement that lacked specifics about how
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld will proceed beginning with next year's
budget.

While the document makes homeland defense the Pentagon's highest priority,
Levin said, it lacks detail on "how the military will rearrange itself to
prevent terrorist attacks on U.S. soil and support civilian authorities in
managing their deadly consequences."

One specific initiative favored by some transformation advocates inside the
U.S. Air Force -- the purchase of more B-2 stealth bombers -- arose when Sen.
Jean Carnahan (D-Mo.) asked whether the Pentagon is considering an expansion
of the fleet.

Previously, top Air Force officials have said the answer is no. But Air Force
Lt. Gen. Bruce A. Carlson, a top planner on the Pentagon's Joint Staff who
appeared with Wolfowitz, said expanding the B-2 fleet "will be one of the
options that the Air Force considers."



© 2001 The Washington Post Company

<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please!  These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.

Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
 <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>

http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
 <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]

To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Om

Reply via email to