Straight Outta Waziristan
The Department of Homeland Security develops an interest in local traffic enforcement. Private contractors run things from inside a fleet of black trucks. Privacy and unlawful search questions to be "addressed later." And of course, "no media allowed."
Here's the company history behind the guys in the black trucks. Note the "combat flight hours" milestones. In 2002, the company had three employees and a fish-spotter product in development. But things really took off after 2003, didn't they?
Here's the company history behind the guys in the black trucks. Note the "combat flight hours" milestones. In 2002, the company had three employees and a fish-spotter product in development. But things really took off after 2003, didn't they?
posted by The Cunning Realist at Saturday, November 24, 2007
3 Comments:
Conversations discussing these types of stories always end up with the " if you're not doing anything wrong, what are you worried about" defense. People always fail to realize that the definition of "wrong" can change. What is OK today may land you in a camp in the future.
Look at all the Taser stories. The Taser was sold as a substitute for using the gun. That was what the public was told. Now...verbal de-escalation has gone out the window. Argue with a cop...get the taser. Don't immediately comply with an order...get the taser. It's not your grandfather's police force. Our new brand of policeman follows the submit or suffer philosophy. It is a bad philosophy. Both for the policeman and the public. As in gureilla warfare...the more people who lose faith in the police force the harder their jobs will become. As people begin to avoid contact with officers their jobs become harder and harder.
I've gotten in several arguments with officers I know. They have argued they need to do things this way so they don't put themselves in danger. My reply to them was that they were supposed to be tough guys...out facing down the bad guys in order to protect the people. They are there to serve the people. By putting any possible threat to you over the rights of the people (I don't consider verbal argument or a pregnant wife stepping out of a vehicle a very big threat....if you've seen the you tube video) you are basically showing that you are a coward and are not doing the job you took an oath for. That argument might have ended a friendship or two. It did not go over well. A deputy sheriff I know actually agreed with me. I've noticed though that the county boys seem to be much less militant than the city cops.
Wow, I seriously would have expected a much larger response. SPEEDING TICKETS? To justify the expense of one of those, they would have to write a serious amount of tickets. I cannot believe the steps that are being taken these days.
Goldhorder makes a great point that I would love to take to the next step: we don't just need those cops there on the ground for decision making purposes. We need them there to keep a human face on the whole operation. The instant law enforcement removes that personal connection, it will become way too easy for them to resent the public, and begin harassing them. And it will become way too easy for the public to resent them and become riotous. It is the same reason we need actual troops on the ground in a war. Peace becomes much easier when there is an actual human cost, on both sides of the conflict. I only wish the military would stop breeding robots. Whatever happened to the classic poet-warrior. I know they are out there, but in seriously short supply.
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