This information comes from wiki. California has 163,696 sq mi of land. Iraq has 168,743 sq mi of land. Iraq is slightly larger than California. Iraq has had around 130,000 US troops throughout the war.

Basically what I am saying is that 20,000 troops being prepared for something out of the ordinary is not that bad. You aren't going to see soldiers at every intersection watching you. That is if we have soldier sitting on US streets. Most likely, it's not going to happen, for the reasons that some of you have in your heads. I am betting that they just want to make it legal that in the event of an extreme case they will be able to send in a unit from the regular Army.

Sure the lack the potential for individual care. There is still not replacement for the military when determining who is prepared to deal with an odd situation. The Air Force can transport anywhere in the country. The Army has a base ready to go. The Navy can deal with anything happening on the seas or near a coast. We have highly capable organizations that could act but wouldn't be able to because they can work within the US.

We our shooting ourselves in the foot by not allowing the military to act in a time of need. However, I understand where not letting allowing the military to act within the US comes from. I don't believe military powers would be abused now. Most of our laws are written with good intentions. It's not till years later when those intentions have been forgotten that these laws will be looked over for what we know was "loopholes"

Seems like martial law is getting ready for some funz0rs.

Originally posted by Xilvius
And it is the DIVINE RIGHT and OBLIGATION that ALL American people defend against ALL "evils" (for lack of a better word) DOMESTIC and Foreign. Whatever happens to this country, it happens because we, the people, allow it to happen.

Starred!

You are absolutely correct.

When this story first hit the air waves I saw some reporter asking people on the street about this. He spoke to seven to ten people. Not one of them knew about this. Some were older and some were younger. But to a person they were against it, the idea of it, and against any one who thought it up.

I see in here, when this and other "Big Brother" stories come up, everyone worries that this is it. We are finished. Well, I got news for you. Don't you dare count the American people out. If and when someone tries to either shove this down our throats or sneak it past us with slight of hand I promise you America will stand as one against this. And America is also those soldiers you worry about. If I were still in the military I would consider an order to fire on Americans to be an unlawful order. They will too.

We have dug a hole for ourselves, but we can and will dig out from it. So, pick yourself up, help up your neighbors, and get to it. The sky isn't falling.

So the National Guard is being deployed for overseas combat and not the Military is being deployed within borders???

Can anyone not see that they are blatantly blurring the lines here?

I'm sorry, but, to be honest, I fear the day a national disaster happens and combat-hardened troops are let loose on the American people to "keep the peace".