dysnomia.us

homeland security news

In the category of “making it all look clean and tidy after the fact”:
St. Paul dropping all misdemeanor charges for journalists arrested during RNC

Charges will be dropped against journalists who were arrested and charged with misdemeanors for unlawful assembly during the Republican National Convention, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman said today.

Many reporters, photographers and bloggers were among the 818 people arrested during the Sept. 1-4 convention. Many were trapped on a bridge with protesters on the Thursday night, just before Sen. John McCain made his acceptance speech. Police had warned the large group to dissipate, then closed in from both sides of the bridge and made mass arrests.

Easy enough to drop the charges now. They’ve already made their point that journalists who stray from the official line will face serious consequences. This would be that “chilling effect” you hear about.

It makes me uncomfortable to use the “police state” tag very often. It’s one of those phrases that’s widely abused by people who lack perspective or proportion. But I think that any story related to the RNC in Minnesota utterly deserves it.

And here’s one that’s a couple of weeks old, but is only making the rounds today:
Brigade homeland tours start Oct. 1

The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys.

Now they’re training for the same mission — with a twist — at home.

Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT will be under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks.

And a slightly more recent piece from the horse’s mouth:
Top Army leader visits newly assigned consequence management force

I will say that if you read the Army Times article, they’re not exactly being kept on a high state of alert. Not very reassuring, I know. Isn’t this what the National Guard is supposed to do?

EDIT- Rumor Control: No, this doesn’t mean martial law. Don’t be a tool.