Does Delta operate on US soil?
That is what they were implying in this film , no?
I mean officially delta doesn't exist so who knows.
http://DanteDreams.com/ <-My webcomic
"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -Tshirt
Yes, it was implying that Delta Force or a similar military detachment operates in the U.S. (which is illegal). I read Spartan's technical consultant Eric Haney's book (he is a retired Delta Operator) and he made no mention of missions in the US (beyond training ones), but of course he wouldn't be able to admit to them.
shareI forgot to mention that during his selection process, the unit psychologist asked Haney how he would assassinate a terrorist in San Francisco and make it back to Fort Bragg without being detected by the FBI or police. Haney told the Dr how he would do it (but doesn't go into details in the book, "Inside Delta Force") and then the Dr goes nuts on him, saying it's illegal and hurls all sorts of insults at Haney. But the point is that to Haney (and one could infer, to other Delta Operators) it is not inconceivable to be ordered to carry out a mission in the US if it is vital (such as dealing with the kidnapping of the President's daughter), and that if ordered, they would execute it.
shareI read the book and that part kinda wierded me out too.
It seemed like it might be wrong to assassinate on our own soil, but Haney's nonchalant attitude towards it was kinda wierd too. He didn't question it it at all. Thats what bothered me.
And they never said whether Delta would do that or not.
Don't get me wrong, great book, great movie, interesting fellow and obviously a patriot and a hero.
But the way that scenario was described, it almost seems like delta would be that ominous evil secret military organization that is always the bad guy in the coverup sci-fi movies like George C Scott's character from firestarter or something like that!
http://DanteDreams.com/ <-My webcomic
"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -Tshirt
In the book Delta is asked to do the dirty work from time to time, like when Haney suspects that the guerillas he defeats in South America are actually a CIA sponsored group that the CIA decided it no longer wants around. They're not happy about it, but carry out their orders in a professional way.
Back to your orginal question: I don't think the Spartan intends to portray Delta Force itself (I don't believe the one-on-one fight in the selection process is something Delta does, the way the candidates are treated is the total opposite of how Haney describes it, and the character of Grace doesn't mesh with the type of person Haney says Delta operators are), but an outfit whose members poseess the same skill set and are lended out to domestic agencies for particularly delicate missions and also operate in foreign countries.
In the book he says they trained and cross trained on US soil, but not operated. The idea was there,though as was mentioned.
And they were lent out to foriegn embassies. But how about to local agencies as described in the movie? That would explain Kilmers character calling off the other cops. and a lot of things , like killing the prisoner. and the treatening of that madame.
Interesting and a bit scarey
About the training fight during selection. That looks like it could be something dramatised by Mamet. But When haney was with selection was like 30 years ago at the inception of teh program. Who knows how it has evolved. Things tend to snowball in organizational traditions. That is what I have seen.
http://DanteDreams.com/ <-My webcomic
"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -Tshirt
Actually, during the Olympics in LA in 1984 and Atlanta in 1996, Delta was used to help with the security.
shareHrmm. intersting. Thanks raytm. Where do you get your info from?
Thanks
http://DanteDreams.com/ <-My webcomic
"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -Tshirt
Came from several years ago....I had read several articles that some member of Delta were used as surveilence around the olympic villages and were also assigned as undercover security when competetors traveled from their rooms to the events out of town. Last article I had seen was around 2000 or so.
share[deleted]
Posse commutates is waived if the president wants to use the military domestically. Not just for delta but think hurricane Katrina. but if the president wants to use Delta domestically he can.
yea tho I walk thru the valley of the shadow, I fear no evil for the 155's are on call for me.
I read somewhere that there were Delta operatives at Waco. Don't know how true that is, but it's worth looking into.
shareApparently they were there "pulling triggers" and it disgusts me...and I'm not even American
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaMy_MVSkMg
It's touched on in the second part.
It's a follow up to this award winning doc:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120472/
I_watch_movies has it exactly right. The Posse Comitatus Act specifically states that the US Military cannot operate on US soil in a law enforcement capacity. There are exceptions to this rule, like when the National Guard is acting on behalf of the governor of the state (which is why you always hear "The Governor has called in the National Guard...) but this is why Delta often operates as "consultants", with local or Federal LE taking the lead, i.e. the aforementioned Olympics, the Waco incident, etc.
share
It's common knowledge. Also, The people that came fast roping across the aerobatic lines in Atlanta in 1996 during the opening ceremonies were US Army Rangers dressed in the colors of the olympic rings. They were originally going to do it in their BDUs, but thought that that would make the games, a symbol of peace and brotherhood, seem too paramilitary.
reagan made a presidential order that declared special mission units exempt from that law.
sharereally? does that still stand? Do you have any documentation?
http://DanteDreams.com/ <-My webcomic
"Jesus saves, everyone else takes damage" -Tshirt
The President can not unilaterally nullify an act of Congress under the US Constitution. Also, they are bound to follow the law. But history has shown that President's frequently violate the law. The most recent example was when President Bush requested that phone companies give them access to local switches to spy on domestic phone calls. This is a violation of US Law. It was uncovered, and the Democratic Congress (spineless cowards that they are) not only voted to grant the President and Big Telecom immunity, but also legalized the practice retroactively. But I digress. The point is, yes, it is illegal for Delta to operate on US soil, but the law has proven to be a very weak check on Presidential authority so the scenario laid out in this film is highly plausible.
wiki article on exlusions to Posse Comitatus:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act#Exclusions_and_limitations