Operation Garden Plot had its origins in
the urban riots of the late 1960s. It is the name of the standing plan
for the use of U.S. military forces to control the civilan population
during emergencies and civil disturbances.
Operation Garden Plot first came to public attention in 1971, when Senator Sam Ervin (Democrat-North Carolina), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights, held hearings on possible Army spying on U.S. civilians. The hearings revealed the Army had indeed been keeping records on hundreds of thousands of American citizens connected with antiwar and radical politics, and such activities were part of Operation Garden Plot. The Subcommittee also found the Army had engaged in training activities with civilian law enforcement personnel that simulated battles with rioters and large groups of protesters.
Much of our current knowledge of Operation Garden Plot comes from a document titled "United States Air Force Civil Disturbance Plan 55-1, Garden Plot," obtained in 1990 by researchers under a FOIA request. Dated July 11, 1984, the document is over 200 pages long. the opening of Plan 55-1 noted "Although it [Plan 55-1] is unclassified, it is for official use only as directed by AFR 12-30. This plan contains information that is of internal use to DOD and, through disclosure, would tend to allow persons to violate the law or hinder enforcement of the law." It continued, "operations orders and operating procedures must be designed to provide the highest degree of security possible" and "in the event of organized opposition some sort of advisory intelligence gathering capability should be assumed."
Plan 55-1 specifies the targets of Operation Garden Plot as "disruptive elements, extremists or dissidents perpetrating civil disorder." "Civil disorder" is defined as "riot, acts of violence, insurrections, unlawful obstructions or assemblages, or other disorders prejudicial to public law and order." It also defines "civil disturbance" as "all domestic conditions requiring the use of federal forces pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 15, Title 10, United States Code." When will Operation Garden Plot be put into effect? When situations exist "that threaten to reach or have reached such proportions that civil authorities cannot or will not maintain public order." The authority for putting it into effect will be "the Presidential Proclamation and Executive Order in which the Secretary of Defense has been directed to restore law and order" with additional details "further defined by the Letter of Instruction issued to Task Force Commanders by the Chief of Staff, US Army."
And what would federal troops do when assigned to civilian control duties? Army Field Manual 19-15, dated November, 1985, says "when at all possible, civil law enforcement agents are integrated with the military control force team making apprehensions," but "if police are not available, military personnel may search people incident to an apprehension." Further, "authorities must be prepared to detain large numbers of people. . . . if there are more detainees than civil detention facilities can handle, civil authorities may ask the control forces to set up and operate temporary facilities.. . . . . These temporary facilities are set up on the nearest military installation or on suitable property under federal control. . . . . supervised and controlled by MP officers and NCOs trained and experienced in Army correctional operations. Guards and support personnel under direct supervision and control of MP officers and NCOs need not be trained or experienced in Army correctional operations. But they must be specifically instructed and closely supervised in the proper use of force." The manual includes information on processing detainees and says "release procedures must be coordinated with civil authorities and appropriate legal counsel." In an echo of Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War, Field Manual 19-15 further states that if a state court issues a writ of habeas corpus demanding a detainee be charged or released, the local Army commander should "respectfully reply that the prisoner is being held by authority of the United States." Concerning training for Operation Garden Plot, the manual says the objective is to "develop personnel who are able to perform distasteful and dangerous duties with discipline and objectivity. . . every member of the control force must be trained to use his weapon and special equipment, riot batons, riot control agent dispersers and CS grenades, grenade launchers, shotguns, sniper rifles, cameras, portable videotape recorders, portable public address systems, night illumination devices, firefighting apparatus, grappling hooks, ladders, ropes, bulldozers, Army aircraft, armored personnel carriers, and roadblock and barricade materials."
INSIDE THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT: National Security and the Cult of Secrecy describes Operation Garden Plot in detail, including excerpts from other military training manuals, and details military combat exercises conducted in American cities during the late 1990s.
Operation Garden Plot first came to public attention in 1971, when Senator Sam Ervin (Democrat-North Carolina), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights, held hearings on possible Army spying on U.S. civilians. The hearings revealed the Army had indeed been keeping records on hundreds of thousands of American citizens connected with antiwar and radical politics, and such activities were part of Operation Garden Plot. The Subcommittee also found the Army had engaged in training activities with civilian law enforcement personnel that simulated battles with rioters and large groups of protesters.
Much of our current knowledge of Operation Garden Plot comes from a document titled "United States Air Force Civil Disturbance Plan 55-1, Garden Plot," obtained in 1990 by researchers under a FOIA request. Dated July 11, 1984, the document is over 200 pages long. the opening of Plan 55-1 noted "Although it [Plan 55-1] is unclassified, it is for official use only as directed by AFR 12-30. This plan contains information that is of internal use to DOD and, through disclosure, would tend to allow persons to violate the law or hinder enforcement of the law." It continued, "operations orders and operating procedures must be designed to provide the highest degree of security possible" and "in the event of organized opposition some sort of advisory intelligence gathering capability should be assumed."
Plan 55-1 specifies the targets of Operation Garden Plot as "disruptive elements, extremists or dissidents perpetrating civil disorder." "Civil disorder" is defined as "riot, acts of violence, insurrections, unlawful obstructions or assemblages, or other disorders prejudicial to public law and order." It also defines "civil disturbance" as "all domestic conditions requiring the use of federal forces pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 15, Title 10, United States Code." When will Operation Garden Plot be put into effect? When situations exist "that threaten to reach or have reached such proportions that civil authorities cannot or will not maintain public order." The authority for putting it into effect will be "the Presidential Proclamation and Executive Order in which the Secretary of Defense has been directed to restore law and order" with additional details "further defined by the Letter of Instruction issued to Task Force Commanders by the Chief of Staff, US Army."
And what would federal troops do when assigned to civilian control duties? Army Field Manual 19-15, dated November, 1985, says "when at all possible, civil law enforcement agents are integrated with the military control force team making apprehensions," but "if police are not available, military personnel may search people incident to an apprehension." Further, "authorities must be prepared to detain large numbers of people. . . . if there are more detainees than civil detention facilities can handle, civil authorities may ask the control forces to set up and operate temporary facilities.. . . . . These temporary facilities are set up on the nearest military installation or on suitable property under federal control. . . . . supervised and controlled by MP officers and NCOs trained and experienced in Army correctional operations. Guards and support personnel under direct supervision and control of MP officers and NCOs need not be trained or experienced in Army correctional operations. But they must be specifically instructed and closely supervised in the proper use of force." The manual includes information on processing detainees and says "release procedures must be coordinated with civil authorities and appropriate legal counsel." In an echo of Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War, Field Manual 19-15 further states that if a state court issues a writ of habeas corpus demanding a detainee be charged or released, the local Army commander should "respectfully reply that the prisoner is being held by authority of the United States." Concerning training for Operation Garden Plot, the manual says the objective is to "develop personnel who are able to perform distasteful and dangerous duties with discipline and objectivity. . . every member of the control force must be trained to use his weapon and special equipment, riot batons, riot control agent dispersers and CS grenades, grenade launchers, shotguns, sniper rifles, cameras, portable videotape recorders, portable public address systems, night illumination devices, firefighting apparatus, grappling hooks, ladders, ropes, bulldozers, Army aircraft, armored personnel carriers, and roadblock and barricade materials."
INSIDE THE SHADOW GOVERNMENT: National Security and the Cult of Secrecy describes Operation Garden Plot in detail, including excerpts from other military training manuals, and details military combat exercises conducted in American cities during the late 1990s.
[Acquired via a circuitous route from the Internet. Sources have been deleted to protect their identity. Thanks to the tireless work of you guys out there. If the guy(s) who gathered this great scoop wish to be identified, please email me. forest [at] uhuh [dot] com ]
The United States Civil Disturbance Plan 55-2
- The following information was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The original printing was of June 1, 1984. The information herein is UNCLASSIFIED and does not come within the scope of directions governing the protection of information affecting the national security.
- It took a little more than three years to obtain a full copy of Operation Garden Plot from the U.S. Government, and was done so under the freedom of information act for unclassified documents. The implications within the full context of this document should make the hair on the back of your head stand on end!!!!!
- In this document signed by the Secretary of the Army, is hereby assigned as DOD Executive Agent for civil disturbance control operations. Under Plan 55-2 he is to use airlift and logistical support, in assisting appropriate military commanders in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and US possessions and territories, or any political subdivision thereof.
- The official name of this project is called "Operation Garden Plot."
- Under this plan for the deployment of Operation Garden Plot, the use of CIDCON-1 will be mandatory. This direct support of civil disturbance control operations is to be used by the Army, USAF, Navy, and Marine Corp. with an airlift force to be comprised of MAC Organic Airlift Resources, airlift capable aircraft of all other USAF major commands, and all other aerial reconnaissance and Airborne Psychological Operations. This is to include control communications systems, aeromedical evacuation, helicopter and Weather Support Systems.
- If any civil disturbance by a resistance group, religious organization, or other persons considered to be non-conformist takes place, under Appendix 3 to Annex B of Plan 55-2 hereby gives all Federal forces total power over the situation if local and state authorities cannot put down said dissenters.
- Annex A, section B of Operation Garden Plot defines tax protesters, militia groups, religious cults, and general anti-government dissenters as Disruptive Elements. This calls for the deadly force to be used against any extremist or dissident perpetrating any and all forms of civil disorder.
- Under section D, a Presidential Executive Order will authorize and direct the Secretary of Defense to use the Armed Forces of the United States to restore order.
- 2 TAB A APPENDIX 1 TO ANNEX S USAF CIVIL DISTURBANCE PLAN 55-2 EXHIBIT POR:SGH, JCS Pub 6, Vol 5, AFR 160-5 hereby provides for America's military and the National Guard State Partnership Program to join with United Nations personal in said operations. This links selected U.S. National Guard units with the Defense Ministries of "Partnership For Peace." This was done in an effort to provide military support to civil authorities in response to civil emergencies.
- Under Presidential Decision Directive No. 25, this program serves to cement people to relationships between the citizens of the United States, and the global military of the UN establishments of the emerging democracies of Central and Eastern European countries. This puts all of our National Guardsmen under the direct jurisdiction of the United Nations.
- Section 3:
- This plan could be implemented under any of the following situation:
- (1) Spontaneous civil disturbances which involve large numbers of persons and/or which continue for a considerable period of time, may exceed the capacity of local civil law enforcement agencies to suppress. Although this type of activity can arise without warning as a result of sudden, unanticipated popular unrest (past riots), it may also result from more prolonged dissidence.
- This would most likely be an outgrowth of serious social, political or economic issues which divide segments of the American population. Such factionalism could manifest itself through repeated demonstrations, protest marches and other forms of legitimate opposition but which would have the potential for erupting into spontaneous violence with little or no warning.
- (2) Planned acts of violence or civil disobedience which, through arising from the same causes as (1) above, are seized upon by a dedicated group of dissidents who plan and incite purposeful acts designed to disrupt social order.
- This may occur either because leaders of protest organizations intentionally induce their followers to perpetrate violent acts, or because a group of militants infiltrates an otherwise peaceful protest and seeks to divert it from its peaceful course.
- Subsection C: (2) Environmental satellite products will be continue to be available. (d) Responsibilities. Meteorological support to civil disturbance operations will be arranged or provided by AWS wings.
- The 7th. Weather Wing (7WW) is responsible for providing / arranging support for Military Airlift Command (MAC) airlift operations. The 5th Weather Wing (5WW) is responsible for supporting the United States Army Forces Command.
- (3) SITUATION. Civil disturbance may threaten or erupt at any time in the CONUS and grow to such proportions as to require the use the Federal military forces to bring the situation under control.
- A flexible weather support system is required under control. A flexible weather support system is required to support the many and varied options of this Plan.
- ANNEX H: XXOW, AWSR 55-2, AWSR 23-6, AFR 23-31, AR 115-10, AFR 105-3.
- Subsection B:
- Concept of Environmental Support. Environmental support will be provided by elements of Air Weather Service (AWS) in accordance with refs a-f. The senior staff meteorologist deployed int the Task Force Headquarters (TFH) will be the staff weather officer (SWO) to the TFH.
- Centralized environmental support products are requested in accordance with AWSR 105-18. (4) Weather support is provided by weather units located at existing CONUS bases or by deployed SWOs and / or weather teams to the objective areas.
- (5) Support MAC source will be provide in accordance with the procedures in MARC 103-15. MAC forces will be provided in accordance with the procedures in AFR 105-3.
- (a) Air Force Global Weather Central: Provides centralized products as requested.
- REFERENCES : JCS Pub 18 - Doctrine for Operations Security AFR 55-30, Operations Security
- 1. GENERAL Opposition forces or groups may attempt to gain knowledge of this plan and 'use that knowledge to prevent or degrade the effectiveness of the actions outlined in this plan. In order to protect operations undertaken to accomplish the mission, it is necessary to control sources of information that can be exploited by those opposition forces or groups.
- OPSEC is the effort to protect operations by identifying and controlling intelligence indicators susceptible to exploitation. The objective of OPSEC, in the execution of this plan, is to assure the security of operations, mission effectiveness, and increase the probability of mission success.
- 2. RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATIONS SECURITY (OPSEC):
- The denial of information to an enemy is inherently a command responsibility. However, since the operations Officer at any level of command is responsible to his commander for the Overall planning and execution of operations, he has the principal staff interest in assuring maximum protection of the operation and must assume primary responsibility instibility for ensuring that the efforts of all other staff elements are coordinated toward this
- end. However, every other individual associated with, or aware of, the operation must assist in safeguarding the security of the operation.
- 3. OBJECTIVES:
- a. The basic objective of OPSEC is to preserve the security of friendly forces and thereby to enhance the probability of successful mission accomplishment. "Security" in this context relates to the protection of friendly forces. It also includes the protection of operational information to prevent degradation of mission effectiveness through the disclosure of prior knowledge of friendly operations to the opposition.
- b. OPSEC pervades the entire planning process and must be a matter of continuing concern from the conception of an operation, throughout the preparatory and execution phases, and during critiques, reports, press releases, and the like conducted during the post operation phase.
- 4. Specific operations orders and standard operating procedures "MUST be developed with the awareness that the opposition may be able to identify and exploit vulnerable activities.
- Reference Material:
- Released under Freedom of Information Act on March 30th, 1990. All material presented here has been declassified and supersedes USAD Operations Plan 355-10 of July 16, 1973. Information released by USAF under supervision of Alexander K. Davidson, BRIG. GEN, USAF, Dep. Director of Operations.
- APPENDEX 5 TO ANNEX E TO USAF CIVIL DISTURBANCE PLAN 55-2 Annex
Z. Other References: 10 United States Codes 331,332,333,8500,1385, MARC
105-1, MARC 105-18, AR 115-10, AFR 105-3, PDD-25.
Additional backup documents will be found on another site at
http://www.cafes.net/mo/Gardenplot.htm
That is a good site to read this type of material. Lots of curious stuff.
If I can give anyone credit for this great file, I give to the guys in the "cafes". Thanks, guys.
Please notice that your "faithful" political servants did not tell you about this law. But they wrote and passed it. It took someone about there years to find it. And they had to force it out into the open. Congressman Gonzalez admits that it exists. Gee, thanks a lot, you guys.
-
Go back the List of Control Stuff -
Go to the Uhuh Home Page -
- This web page can NOT be altered or sold, but may be copied intact for reasonable distribution in keeping with the philosophy of uhuh and GR Force, who can assume no liabilities. Please make you own decisions.
- The term U-Mail, uhuh and this web page are Copyright 1996 by Forest Glen Durland.
- garden.htm. Revised 11-5-98. uhuh and GR
Force are non-profit.
