By Dan Shiff

According to the Army Times, a brigade of the US Army will be assigned a one year tour of duty in the United States. The purpose of this assignment is to handle any disasters or civil strife that may occur domestically. No combat specific unit has ever been given such an assignment.

This is a brigade that includes armor (tanks) and artillery. Good to see that Iraq and Afghanistan are going so well that elite combat brigades can be deployed in the US to counter potential threats. I guess it’s necessary to have some uniformed troops in the country for disasters and civil strife. And with the National Guard deployed overseas, the gaps must me filled somehow. Yes, that’s right; the National Guard is being deployed overseas in combat zones and part of the Army is being deployed in America to guard against potential threats.

This deployment begins October 1st. Five weeks before an election that can oust the incumbent party, an elite brigade will start a tour to counter unspecified civil strife. This administration and the Republican Party have shown a willingness to disregard civil liberties in the name of the “greater good” and a belief that to oppose army actions in any way is unpatriotic. McCain has already suspended his campaign; hopefully that is not foreshadowing of the election to come. I hope on November 5th you read this and laugh at me. It will mean the government is merely incompetent, not malicious.