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Ariz.
police say they are prepared as War College warns military must prep for unrest;
IMF warns of economic riots
Phoenix Business Journal - by
Mike Sunnucks
Business
Journal
December 19, 2008
A new report by the U.S.
Army War College talks about the possibility of Pentagon resources and
troops being used should the economic crisis lead to civil unrest, such as
protests against businesses and government or runs on beleaguered banks.
“Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force
the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic
domestic order and human security,�?said the War College report.
The study says economic collapse, terrorism and loss of legal
order are among possible domestic shocks that might require military action
within the U.S.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique
Strauss-Kahn warned Wednesday of economy-related riots and unrest in various
global markets if the financial crisis is not addressed and lower-income
households are hurt by credit constraints and rising unemployment.
U.S. Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., and U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman,
D-Calif., both said U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson brought up a
worst-case scenario as he pushed for the Wall Street bailout in September.
Paulson, former Goldman Sachs CEO, said that might even require a declaration of
martial law, the two noted.
State and
local police in Arizona say they have broad plans to deal with social unrest,
including trouble resulting from economic distress. The security and police
agencies declined to give specifics, but said they would employ existing and
generalized emergency responses to civil unrest that arises for any
reason.
“The Phoenix Police Department is not expecting any civil unrest
at this time, but we always train to prepare for any civil unrest issue. We have
a Tactical Response Unit that trains continually and has deployed on many
occasions for any potential civil unrest issue,�?said Phoenix Police spokesman
Andy Hill.
“We have well established plans in place for such civil unrest,�?
said Scottsdale Police spokesman Mark Clark.
Clark, Hill and other local police officials said the region did
plenty of planning and emergency management training for the Super Bowl in
February in Glendale.
“We’re prepared,�?said Maricopa County Sheriff Deputy Chief Dave
Trombi citing his office’s past dealings with immigration marches and major
events.
Super Bowl security efforts included personnel and resources from
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. military’s Northern Command,
which coordinated with Arizona officials. The Northern Command was created after
9/11 to have troops and Defense Department resources ready to respond to
security problems, terrorism and natural disasters.
Northern Command spokesman Michael Kucharek and Arizona Army
National Guard Major. Paul Aguirre said they are not aware of any new planning
for domestic situations related to the economy.
Nick Dranias, director of constitutional government at the
libertarian Goldwater Institute, said a declaration of marital law would be an
extraordinary event and give military control over civilian authorities and
institutions. Dranias said the Posse Comitatus Act restricts the U.S. military’s
role in domestic law enforcement. But he points to a 1994 U.S. Defense
Department Directive (DODD 3025) he says allows military commanders to take
emergency actions in domestic situations to save lives, prevent suffering or
mitigate great property damage.
Dranias said such an emergency declaration could worsen the
economic situation and doubts extreme measures will been taken. “I don’t think
it’s likely. But it’s not impossible,�?he said.
The economy is in recession. Consumer spending is down,
foreclosures are up and a host of businesses are laying off workers and
struggling with tight credit and the troubled housing and financial markets. The
U.S. Federal Reserve Bank and U.S. Treasury Department have pumped more than
$8.5 trillion into the economy via equity purchases of bank stocks, liquidity
infusions, Wall Street and bank bailouts and taxpayer rebates. U.S. automakers
are seeking more than $14 billion in federal loans with fears they could fall
into bankruptcy without a bailout. The U.S. housing and subprime lending-induced
recession also has hit economies in Europe, Japan and China.
Gov. Janet Napolitano’s office declined comment on emergency
planning and possible civil unrest. Napolitano is president-elect Barack Obama’s
pick for secretary of Homeland Security, an agency that oversees airport
security, disaster response, border security, customs and anti-terrorism
efforts.
As governor, Napolitano sent National Guard troops to Palo Verde
Nuclear Generating Station in 2003 in response to terrorism threats.
Glendale Police spokesman Jim Toomey said the West Valley suburb
developed new emergency plans with the approach of Y2K computer changeovers
leading up to the year 2000 and police have updated those plans several times
including after 9/11. Toomey said strategies to deal with public unrest usually
involve deploying personnel and equipment to deal with specific incidents while
still providing usual services.
http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/12/15/daily34.html
http://www.jonesreport.com/article/12_08/19riots.html
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