Homeland Security Watch

Comment by William R. Cumming

April 4, 2008 @ 2:23 pm

Always an interesting memory for me. On active duty going through OCS at Ft.Sill, Oklahoma when both King and Kennedy were killed. It was announced to the OCS brigade at 5AM together with official notice that we were likely to be deployed as infantry platoon leaders in major cities of the US. This warning of course was based on the shortage of company grade infantry officers in the continental US because guess what the TET offensive had just ended (started shortly after I began OCS in January 1968). This deployment did not occur but does indicate the depth of concern. Interesting that the Commissions investigating the riots, including the Hughes Panel Report on Insurance availability against crime, theft, and riot and civil disorder led to federal reinsurance. Although that program terminated under President Reagan it does exist in standby and could be activated again. As the largest federally unregulated capital pool taking rought 15-20% of all pre-tax dollars in the US, the Life-Health, and Property-Casualty Industry continues to discriminate against minorities. Wonder what King and Kennedy would think of that fact? By the way does it make sense that FEMA sends largely white and hispanic temps into largely black areas after disasters? Discrimination in disaster relief was documented for the first time in Hurricane Camille. Just as voter surveys in 1948 only documented those with phones leading to Turman’s victory what has FEMA, the States, and local governments done for emergency plannning for those without personal transportation? Oh thats right they don’t have many cars in NYC either but then I guess they will be helicoptered and boated out of the plume!