Homeland Security Was Destined to Become a Secret Police Force

[EarthFirst]

“Homeland” is an anxious, combative word: it denotes a place under assault, in need of aggressive defense from shape-shifting dangers. The original proposal for the D.H.S. described the agency as “a new government structure to protect against invisible enemies that can strike with a wide variety of weapons”; one hypothetical example of an invisible enemy was “a non-citizen that intends to enter our nation and attack one of our chemical facilities.” The nation used to protect itself against other nations and their hostile military forces, but now it had to fear individuals. This is the premise on which secret police forces are built. Their stated purpose is to find danger where normal human activity appears to be taking place. The D.H.S. began with mobilizing against the foreign-born, via Immigration and Customs Enforcement (which replaced the Immigration and Naturalization Service). The logic of the secret police, however, dictates that it perpetually has to look in new places for threats.

As we learn more about what is happening in Portland—as footage of federal troops waging war on protesters floods social media, and as the President threatens to send his foot soldiers to other large cities—we are watching the perfect and perhaps inevitable combination of a domestic-security superagency and a President who rejects all mechanisms of accountability, including the Senate confirmation process. What we are also seeing is a perfect storm of fear: the legacy of fear cultivated in the wake of 9/11, and the fear that Trump campaigned on in 2016 and continues to campaign on now.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-dhs-was-destined-to-become-a-secret-police-force

[LeftInTX]

1. I liked when they said they don't ID themselves cuz they're scared

Scared of protesters? Most who were arraigned on misdemeanors... What about regular old cops? Are they scared? Good grief..what a bunch of BS

[Nevilledog]

5. They're scared of being doxxed online.

[LeftInTX]

6. Doxxing happens to all law enforcement

Why are they special?

[Nevilledog]

7. They're not. If you don't want to be doxxed, stop being a fascist dick.

I want them all doxxed. Every single one.

[pandr32]

2. Our experience (story follows)

About 5 years ago my family was startled by loud noise, our dogs going crazy, and finally explosions. We looked out to see men in camo suits and gear in line formations apparently attacking the next door property. There was an armored car and several other military type vehicles present.
It was obvious some type of military maneuver was taking place which surprised us because the house and property were vacant. No one had lived there for a few months and the house, sheds, and separate garage were slated for demolition.
I carefully wandered up our driveway and over to the front of the house to find out what the hell was going on. I saw a sandwich-board style sign on the roadside to caution people going by.
One of the men explained that they were doing some practice maneuvers from our county Sheriff's office. He also said we had been contacted prior--a total surprise to me. No-one in the family knew anything about it.
I looked up the Sheriff's office on the internet to find a mention on a linked page that they were "partnering with Homeland Security" blah-blah-blah. Apparently, military gear was being offered for use to law enforcement offices providing they take some training.
They detonated small explosions right next door to our house.

[dalton99a]

3. Stasi stands for Ministry for State Security

Ministerium für Staatsicherheit

[Hekate]

4. Kick

[NurseJackie]

8. For me, it evokes the word "Fatherland" ... I've always been distrusting and uncomfortable with it.

[crickets]

9. Exactly. I doubt the resemblance was accidental. nt

[not_the_one]

10. I have always been uncomfortable with the word "homeland"...

too naziesque to me. Like "motherland" and "fatherland". Makes me want to goose step.

I felt it was pretty plain that is the direction they were heading when W started using it for a specific military context, normally used by nazi Germany.

I also don't like "in harms way" because W started using it with "homeland". They just don't feel right. They have baggage.

It has taken almost two decades, but "Department of Homeland Security" is pretty much now in its element. We are all supposed to quake in our (jack)boots when we hear it.

[AntiFascist]

12. Don't forget: "you're either with us or against us," this has been the Republican attitude....

whether they admit it or not.

[Ferrets are Cool]

11. This x 1000

[Roy Rolling]

13. Another Police Force in America

So after 9/11 we ignored the intelligence, and then built up a giant police state to cover for it. And now, that police force turns on Americans.

[rickyhall]

14. Oh, yeah, I remember the W years, the 9/11 conspiracy theories & following Hitler's playbook.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. tRump did not protect Americans from a virus (regardless of origins). Tens of thousands died. nt

[Mr.Bill]

16. I was disappointed this wasn't dismantled

during the Obama administration. I hope Biden does it.

[alwaysinasnit]

17. Let's not forget that Homeland Security originated with the Patriot Act, which Act has been

abused since it's creation including the massive surveillance that it authorized.