When he’s a highly-trained anti-terrorism Marine with a high-powered automatic weapon pointed at your head.
The American citizenry is in for some interesting view changes in the coming weeks and months. Unlike most of the world, where fatigued security forces — often military — are regular fixtures on the streets, and particularly around civil buildings, transportation depots, and the like, the US is used to the friendly cop on the beat only. Chief O’Hara. Sheriff Andy. Sure, the image has been tarnished time and again, but I think most Americans think most cops really are out there “to protect and serve.” That they’re civilians who go home to eat dinner with the wife or hubby, watch a football game at the bar, go down to the Piggly-Wiggly to pick up food for a Saturday picnic with the kids.
So what happens when there’s a purse-snatching in front of one of those National Guardsmen now posted at the airport? What happens when there’s suspicion of terrorist activity and they send in the Marines on American soil. Are the soldiers ready to enforce the law, rather than defeat the enemy? Two very different missions, those. Are the citizens ready to not start arguing with the gent aiming an M-16 at them as to their “civil rights” and “let me get your badge number, Mister”? Respect the actions and reactions of the soldiers, folks — they carry grenades and are trained to kill, not knock down and cuff. To take ’em out, not read ’em their rights. To put the flag up on the summit, not to put the perp in the paddy wagon.
Interesting times. How will cops feel about military on their turf? How will military feel about dealing with the civilian authorities? Will cooperation ensue, or competition. If the police and the FBI have problems working together, if the CIA and Army Intelligence don’t work and play well together, what makes anyone think this sort of security sharing will be bumpless?
True, other countries have done it, countries we consider fine democracies, with fine civil rights records. Visit the UK some time.
But it hasn’t happened here, except for the occasional post-flood anti-looting squads. Nope.
Interesting times.