Elements of US Army Patrol Alabama Streets, Enforce Laws

CNN has coverage of events following the mass slaying in Samson, AL in which elements of the US Army were dispatched to Samson from nearby Ft. Rucker to aid in directing traffic and containing the crime scene.

While this sounds harmless enough it on first glance this action is in direct violation of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878:

Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

"Execute the laws" is a broad term and appropriately so for the protection of the populace from the military. Army MPs being used to enforce traffic laws to preserve a crime scene are in direct violation of the Posse act. What's more terrifying is that no one seems to know who ordered these army MPs into action. Governor Bob Riley's office hasn't taken credit for it, the White House hasn't taken credit for it. Did the Army magically mobilize MPs on no authority other than their own?

This sets a dangerous precedent for the future when the Army can mysteriously mobilize itself and the order cannot be traced back to the primary issuer. US Army officials say that the investigation is ongoing, and Somewhat Intelligent will continue to follow this story as it develops.