I live about 15 miles from Samson, Alabama. Had friends involved in this. Was sitting drinking coffee with a buddy when he got a phone call that his brother might have been a victim (luckily, he wasn't). The feelings toward Fort Rucker and the MP's who helped are totally different down here. There are two petitions I know of going around being signed. One commending Fort Rucker for the help, the other asking Obama not to overly punish those who, in a time of great crisis, helped.
I know the dangers of this action. I understand posse comitatus. I realize that the Army jumping in to help was wrong. I also know how totally overwhelmed the local LEO's were. More murders in one day than the last 7 years totaled. I know the very, very close relationship between the people in this area and Fort Rucker. I fully understand why the brass at Rucker did what they did.
This WAS NOT an action by the Army trying to take over local business. It was, ill timed poorly planned and hastily done, a sincere effort to help in a horrible situation.
Everyone, local LEO's and the Army, needs to learn from this.
But this is not an example of Obama trying to take over, and no one, especially the soldiers who were trying to help, needs to be burned at the stake.
alan