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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide for Pecos Country
of West Texas
Opinion
Tuesday, September 7, 1999
Sage Views
By Smokey Briggs
Posse Comitatus
Another federal entity has been caught in a lie.
After six years of calling anyone that dared question its handling of
the Branch Davidian siege a crackpot, evidence has now been unearthed that
clearly shows the FBI lied about the use of incendiary tear gas rounds
during the final day of the siege.
Some of this new evidence casts doubt on more than just the use of incendiary
tear gas rounds as well. One such questionable area is how military
forces were used during the siege. News reports are suggesting that
U.S. Army troops may have been engaged in more than just a coaching role
during the siege.
Use of federal military troops on domestic soil is illegal. The Posse
Comitatus Act has been a part of federal law since 1878. Today, the law
can be found in the United States Code in volume 18, section 1385. Translated
literally from the Latin "posse comitatus" means — the power or force of
a country.
In American law the "posse comitatus" is generally the entire population
of the county over the age of 15 which a sheriff can call to his assistance
in such circumstances as the pursuit of a felon. The Posse Comitatus Act
was passed by Congress in response to abuses of civilians by Yankee troops
during the occupation of the Confederacy after the Civil War. The Act reflects
the concern that the use of federal troops to keep civil peace poses a
serious danger to individual freedom and liberty.
This is an old idea, long predating our rebellion from British rule.
And, in short, it outlaws the use of federal troops on American soil and
against American citizens. If more previously hidden evidence comes to
the surface that federal troops had an active role at the Waco siege, then
someone needs to be prosecuted for this clear violation of federal law.
On a more general basis, as we continue to wage our war on drugs and
crime, we should be careful that in our desire to win we don't become as
lawless as the criminals we fight. The use of U. S. Army soldiers in direct
roles may be tempting to those wishing to beef up law enforcement without
spending more tax dollars, but it is against the law.
Before we do this, we need to repeal the Posse Comitatus Act. And before
we repeal this Act, we need to take a long look at the reasons it was enacted.
We may not be willing to do with out the important protections it provides,
no matter the short-term utility of employing regular military forces against
drug-runners and the like.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Smokey Briggs is the editor and publisher
of the Pecos Enterprise whose column appears on Tuesdays. He can be e-mailed
at smokey@pecos.net
Your View
Right to pray not found in constitution
I know I will probably get some flack for stating my opinion because I've
been there, done that! Nevertheless, I feel an injustice has been done.
I am disappointed in our school administration for not taking a firmer
stand on America's freedoms. I do not advocate breaking the law, but I
do think we answer to a higher authority.
What does it say to youth of Pecos when other towns like Andrews, Midland,
Ft. Stockton, etc. have said we will have prayer at our sports functions
but our school administration says can't because we might find ourselves
in court?
There is nowhere in our constitution that it says we may not pray at
public events. This is another one of those tactics of those who would
take away religious freedoms and we're losing our rights because we won't
stand up and say, "This is my right and my privilege to pray whenever and
wherever I choose to do so."
BETTY DANIELS
Pecos, Tx.
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Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Peggy McCracken, Webmaster
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
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