European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 19, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday september 19. 1989 the stars and stripes d Page 3 tranquil spot for an artist now  d.1vo Dillio an artist records u Burn lir scene Almir lands where during another is plumber september of 1944, Allied forces battled few Miles away then had to fall Back the Rhine near of Osterbeck nether Savage conflict raged. In that faraway for the crucial Bridge at arnhem just a in fierce world War ii action. Dod rejects drug enforcement Calls officials cite Law limiting Domestic role b so  a military writer Washington the idea of deploying Ameri Ca s military forces on the nation s streets to Battle the Scourge of drugs May be fodder for headlines and con Gressional demands but Pentagon officials Point out there Are strict Legal limitations on such a thing. It just makes hair stand on end Here one senior Pentagon official said. Our primary Mission is to pre pare for any possible military1 threat not to be a National police Force. There s been a lot of very Loose talk about expanding our  to counter assumptions that . Troops could be used to patrol the streets and catch drug dealers Pentagon officials Point to a Little known Law that prevents Active duty troops from acting As Law enforcement offi cers within the nation s Borders. It is known As the posse comi Tatus act and was passed by Congress in 1878 As a Post civil War response to the use of Federal troops to enforce the re construction acts. Because it deals with the enforcement of Domestic Law the Law docs not affect . Forces overseas. David super a defense department spokesman said that while it May be enticing to think of the nation s military might As a machine to be turned against drug Kingpins the ramifications have to be taken into account. It s really a rather profound idea when you think about it he said. Posse co Milatus is a reflection on our free society. There Are a lot of countries where the military1 is used to police the streets but they Aren t much fun to live  according to a common Legal definition the term posse comi Tatus Means the Power of the county and refers to the authority of the sheriff to Call into service the male population above the age of 15 to capture escaped felons and keep the peace. In effect the Law is interpreted to mean that military forces the army air Force Navy and Marine corps and their respective reserves May be used in a support role for the Battle against drugs such As there Are a lot of coun tries where the military is used to police the streets but they Aren t much fun to live  David super aiding in surveillance or interdiction efforts. But they Are prevented from adopting the role of Law enforcement officials and taking on tasks assigned to the local police or other official agencies such As the drug enforcement Agency. For example the military May provide boats to help interdict drug traffickers or radar surveillance to spot a drug transporting plane but it is up to civilian Law enforcement officials to seize evidence make arrests and testify in court. The Law docs not affect a slate s National guard when the units arc under the control of its governor but the Laws in each state vary said Robert Dunlap a spokesman for the National guard Bureau. The National guard Bureau is the Agency in the defense department that serves As a coordinating body for the guard forces in the various states. It is National guard Bureau policy that its members not be tasked with enforcing civil Law officials Point out. It s important because we just Don t have the training we re not trained to do police work Dun Lap said. Dunlap said guard units have been involved in helping local officials support drug interdiction efforts since 1977, and since 1983, have been involved on the Federal level. In fact the role of the guard has been expanded in 21 states to allow them to Aid . Customs officials in cargo inspections for illicit drugs. Super said. Guardsmen Are Happy to be involved. Guardsmen Are All volunteers and part of the Community they serve. But our proper role is in support of civilian Law enforcement officials Dunlap said. Congress has been pressing the Pentagon to become More Active on the Home front in the War against drugs despite concerns among the military brass about draining resources from their traditional defense mis Sion. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney is scheduled to out lined an expanded military role this week. The Secre tary s plan is not expected to Call for an enforcement role for the military but rather emphasize increased interdiction and radar surveillance methods among other things