U.S. troops may be deployed in Arizona, Southwest U.S.

Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

U.S. Defense Department plans to deploy as many 20,000 U.S. troops within the U.S. for homeland security and anti-terrorism efforts could result in a significant number being placed or having some kind of presence in Arizona and the Southwest, according to security experts.

There have been threats against the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix, the Hoover Dam on the Arizona-Nevada border as well as the Las Vegas Strip and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Arizona is also home to U.S. military intelligence operations at Fort Huachuca and has become a focal point with border security efforts along the Mexican border.

The Washington Post recently reported the Pentagon plans to have up 20,000 U.S. troops placed in domestic locations with the charge of responding to security matters.

Some of those troops -- which are under the U.S. Northern Command -- have already been active in Arizona, helping with security efforts along the Mexican border.

The Colorado Springs, Colo.-based Northern Command was created after 9/11 and is geared towards homeland security and civil defense within the U.S.

Civil libertarians on the left and right wonder what role the U.S. troops deployed on U.S. soil will play in security efforts and point to long-held precedents against having the military be involved in law enforcement matters.

The Northern Command has also been deployed to help with natural disasters such as hurricanes and has partnered with state national guard units, including Arizona’s, on various programs, according to Defense Department information.

“The military’s deployment within U.S. borders raises critical questions that must be answered,” said Jonathan Hafetz, staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project. “What is the unit’s mission? What functions will it perform? And why was it necessary to deploy the unit rather than rely on civilian agencies and personnel and the National Guard?” asked Hafetz in a statement.

A number of security experts and others declined comment but others expect a fair number of domestically deployed troops to have a presence in the Southwest because of the Mexican border and some high-profile targets.

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