We all know how government works: The president is in charge of the governors. The governors are in charge of the mayors. The mayors are in charge of the cities. We have a clear chain of command, right?

Not right, of course. The United States does not have such a hierarchical command and control structure for government. Let’s take an “all too possible” example:

A couple of marines are on leave in New Orleans and decide they are going to help stop the looting after another hurricane strikes the city. They find a spot to hold their ground in a building 100 yards from a Wal-Mart store. They decide to neutralize (kill) anyone leaving the store with anything in their hands since the store is officially closed. They start killing men, women, and children who leave the store with food and water. The men are in uniform and using their assault rifles to create the carnage. Communications are “out” throughout the city. The local police do not know if the men are acting under state, federal, or military authority.

Question: Do the local police have the authority to use lethal force, if necessary, to stop the soldiers? Do the local police have the authority to arrest the soldiers? Are the local police derelict in their duties if they do not stop the shooting? Do the local police know how to find out what they should do?

What if the soldiers are not acting alone but are under orders from their local commander to use “any means necessary” to stop the looting? Since the military is not authorized to “police” cities in the United States unless martial law has been declared, this would make it more complicated. What if the order is approved by the mayor? What if the order is approved by the governor? What if the order is approved by the president, but without invoking martial law?

What if a gas explosion starts a fire in a volatile chemical plant in the building next to where the snipers are operating? Do the firemen have the authority to order the police to back off while they try to prevent a huge explosion that might take out a city block? Do the police have the authority to make the firemen back off?

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