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

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 military's 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.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 10, 1997
Accession Number
ADA326516

Entities

People

  • Sean J. Byrne

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

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Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
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  • Weapons Technologies

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  • Active Duty
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  • Department Of Defense
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  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Military Personnel
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  • New York
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

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