Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: ae219dp%prism@gatech.edu (Devon Prichard)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Defense cuts
Summary: Coast Guard roles
Message-ID: <13221@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 17 Jan 90 01:43:28 GMT
References: <12854@cbnews.ATT.COM> <13033@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Georgia Institute of Technology
Lines: 39
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: ae219dp%prism@gatech.edu (Devon Prichard)


in article <13033@cbnews.ATT.COM>, Randy Appleton discusses
several avenues for defense budget cuts, including
using military aircraft for detection of drug runners.

Note that there is federal law preventing use of the regular
military in execution of civil law (I believe it is referred
to as the Posse Comitatus Act. any lawyers out there ??)

How this relates to the Bush administration's policies
I don't know; the Coast Guard certainly seems to have gotten
around the usual search and seizure laws lately.

A note towards using military personnel in law enforcement; 
a substantial amount of training seems to be needed to allow
effective use of troops in a civil situation. recall the
Israeli Army trying to deal with rioters.  

Mr. Appleton makes one good point about using military flight schools
to train the Coasties.  while a lot of Coast Guard work is unique
to their mission, there may be room for improvement here. I imagine
the limiting factor would be the Navy's reluctance to outsiders
receiving Navy training.

One final comment; the Coast Guard is the most-utilized, least funded
of the services.  their required missions include; law enforcement,
rescue/life saving, aids to navigation, support to the Navy in time
of war, and certification of men and materiel.  they need our
support in Washington more than ever.

-- 
DEVON PRICHARD
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
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