Camo Looks Smart

The girls they love to see you shoot
(Bang bang you're dead)
I love a man in a uniform
--lyrics "I Love a Man in a Uniform," Gang of Four

I'm not commenting on the article which spurred my thoughts, "Thousands Wrongly on Terror List" (Leslie Miller, AP, 9/6/06), as the title needs no explanation.

Rather, I noted the AP photo accompanying the piece. The caption states, "A National Guard (NG) troop walks through a terminal at Logan International Airport." This NG member is not an air traveler, but rather, is on patrol.

As I've written before, this is a violation of Posse Comitatus, since it is utilizing the military to enforce civilian law. Posse Comitatus allows the use of NG assets as a short-term fix, but five years have passed since 9-11; one could reasonably expect civilian law enforcement to police our domestic airports. National Guardsmen have no civilian law enforcement function.

Why do Americans accept the encroachment of Department of Defense functions into our domestic life? Are we so cowed that we welcome this Constitutional abrogation and insidious militarization of our government? I suppose having the camo and boots on display makes us feel somehow protected.

Further, this policing seems like a grand waste of time and resources, as the Guardsmen are not effectively reducing any terrorist threat. Policing the airports like this is the proverbial shutting of the barn door after the horse has escaped.

Are there any intelligence indicators that U.S. airports are currently being targeted by terrorists? If so, why not alert the citizenry to this fact?

Instead, the next significant terrorist scenario will avoid U.S. airports. Terrorists are dynamic, and will creatively operate to minimize U.S. security measures. And a lone National Guardsman will not deter a determined adversary.