MUDDY VIEW - U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Carlos Malagon low crawls through thick mud at the Battle Skills Training School Endurance Course on Marine Corps Base Camp LeJune, N.C., Dec. 12, 2008. Malagon is assigned to the 2nd Marine Logistics Group Communication Operations.

"FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY"

 The Pentagon’s three new rapid-response task forces will assist civil authorities during possible terrorist attacks or natural disasters, but they WILL NOT  PERFORM LAW ENFORCEMENT MISSIONS.   So says Paul McHale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs.

 McHale responded to concerns that active-duty soldiers, who make up the core of the first 4,700-member joint task force established in early October, could be used to perform police functions, which would be in violation of the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act.... MORE