The natural tendency of government is to extend power and when the power extension efforts suddenly narrow their focus to a certain realm it indicates a trend. Given the resources and coordination needed to fuel a trend in development of a state's security apparatus there is likely a perceived threat behind it.
Cold War efforts, for example, were in anticipation of possible conflict with an external enemy. In this case, as the Pentagon's recent request for authorization to deploy 400,000 troops within the US indicates (http://tr.im/xn5T), the perceived threat is domestic. This begs the question why they are anticipating a domestic threat.
It's true, and the APCs stationed on every block of my neighborhood are damned annoying, as at the Lt. Col's constant requests to quarter soldiers in my house. I'd be fine with it, except they want they beds, and not just the couch. SIC SEMPER TYRANNUS!
Predictable ad-hominem is predictable... I'm still waiting for a reasonable justification for the US military deploying twice the force currently in Iraq domestically.
Cold War efforts, for example, were in anticipation of possible conflict with an external enemy. In this case, as the Pentagon's recent request for authorization to deploy 400,000 troops within the US indicates (http://tr.im/xn5T), the perceived threat is domestic. This begs the question why they are anticipating a domestic threat.