Martial Law in the U.S.: Conspiracy theory or reasonable to discuss?

Another troubling piece of public declaration is Bush’s Presidential Directive 51.

(b) "Catastrophic Emergency" means any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions.

Thus, “any incident” regardless of where it happens that causes mass death, damager or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, (including the economy) can put into effect, “(c) "Continuity of Government," or "COG," means a coordinated effort within the Federal Government's executive branch to ensure that National Essential Functions continue to be performed during a Catastrophic Emergency.” Thus, regardless of the “incident” that “severely effects” the economy can put into effect C.O.G.  One could make the case that all the legal and logistical preconditions for “martial law” are in place.

 Other notable events include Congressional rep. Brad Sherman's declaration on C-SPAN that some members of Congress were threatened, in private conversation, that there would be "maritial law in America" if they did not pass the bailout bill for the financial sector. 

 "Martial law" is not inevitable and to some extent, since the early 1970s, the extensive militarization of domestic police forces in the United States (including military-police technology transfers) has been gaining full steam.  Thus, police in the United States look much different than they did--the friendly powder blue shirts of the NYPD of the 1970s look much different than the black commando outfits, glocks, surveillance systems, "no-knock" warrants, etc. of modern policing.  

I highly doubt that full-scale "martial law" will be brought down on the U.S.  However, I would not doubt that the Bush administration is prepared to "do something" that helps the Republican presidential ticket secure victory.  The recent raids on ACORN offices are one sign of repressive tactics.  But as Naomi Wolf (herself the subject of much government harassment) warns, we must not discount all the actions of the Bush administration and the ideas of a “unitary executive” floating around its circle.

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