Pentagon Prepares “Strike Team” for Ebola

The Department of Health and Human Services has requested a military team to provide direct treatment to Ebola patients inside the United States, according to a Pentagon official.

Military forming “quick strike team” that can treat Ebola patients in U.S., official tells CNN’s Barbara Starr. http://t.co/URdfOxuJCy

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 19, 2014

“In response to a request by the Department of Health and Human Services — and as an added prudent measure to ensure our nation is ready to respond quickly, effectively, and safely in the event of additional Ebola cases in the United States — (Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel) today ordered his Northern Command Commander, Gen. Chuck Jacoby, to prepare and train a 30-person expeditionary medical support team that could, if required, provide short-notice assistance to civilian medical professionals in the United States,” Rear Adm. John Kirby said in a statement.

The military team will observe a “prepare-to-deploy” status for 30 days and will respond to Ebola anywhere in the United States, Kirby said.

Training for the “quick strike team” will be conducted by the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

Violation of Posse Comitatus

If the team in fact deploys it will represent a direct and serious violation of Posse Comitatus. Section 15 of chapter 263 of the Act states:

From and after the passage of this act it shall not be lawful to employ any part of the Army of the United States, as a posse comitatus, or otherwise, for the purpose of executing the laws, except in such cases and under such circumstances as such employment of said force may be expressly authorized by the Constitution or by act of Congress.

Since September 11, 2001, the federal government has consistently eroded Posse Comitatus, particularly under the pretense of disaster relief and emergency preparedness following Hurricane Katrina.

A militarization of the medical response to the Ebola crisis represents a new front in the effort to diminish and rollback the Constitution. The latest move is especially egregious due to the fact the order to militarize the response came from a federal agency, not Congress and the American people.

The founders understood that a standing army under any excuse represents tyranny.