The day Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 died

A few years ago the Northern Command, NORTHCOM was formed within the Defense Department (previously known as The War Department). This group was formed to handle domestic situations involving terrorism with a force of about 2,000. As reported by The Washington Post and reprinted in The Dallas Morning News, President Bush authorized the strength of this group to increase to 20,000 by 20111. Part of their responsibility would be to confront domestic civil unrest. This responsibility belongs to the local authorities, police, state police, and perhaps the individual state National Guard as authorized by the respective governors. This new mission by federal troops is a clear violation of the Posse Cmitatus Act of 1878.

Easy to hold President Bush solely responsible, however something sinister is at work here. With less than 60 days left in office why would President Bush issue such an authorization? He must know that on January 20th, 2009 when President Obama takes office, he would not rescind this executive order. There is something suspicious going on here where our two party system and representative democracy is nothing but a façade.