Accession Number:

ADA326516

Title:

Defense of Sovereignty: Domestic Operations -- Legal Precedents and Institutional Confusion.

Descriptive Note:

Research rept.,

Corporate Author:

ARMY WAR COLL STRATEGIC STUDIES INST CARLISLE BARRACKS PA

Personal Author(s):

• Byrne, Sean J.

Report Date:

1997-03-10

Pagination or Media Count:

42.0

Abstract:

Over the past few years the Department of Defense has been called on with increasing frequency to support civil authorities in an ever widening variety of domestic operations such as humanitarian relief, riot control and counter drug operations. These missions are often controversial and unpopular, especially when involving assistance to civilian law enforcement officials. Although U.S. military forces have supported civil authorities in actions of this nature since the founding of our country, considerable confusion exists over the legal basis for this support and the limits on the militarys involvement. This study will clarify a number of misconceptions and address the role of the military in support of civil authorities during domestic operations as well as the effect of legal, historical and cultural considerations on its application. It additionally addresses a number of operational and philosophical challenges faced by the armed forces when dealing with expanded missions in support of law enforcement agencies.

Descriptors:

• *MILITARY ASSISTANCE
• *LAW ENFORCEMENT
• *CIVIL DISTURBANCES
• CIVIL DEFENSE
• MILITARY DOCTRINE
• MANPOWER UTILIZATION
• MILITARY CAPABILITIES
• CIVIL AFFAIRS
• PUBLIC OPINION
• MULTIMISSION
• DRUG INTERDICTION
• OPERATIONS OTHER THAN WAR

Subject Categories:

• Sociology and Law
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE