The Pentagon organizes its worldwide military operations through several Unified Combat Commands, including ones that cover Europe, the Pacific, the Atlantic, and the Southern Command, which encompasses Central and South America and the Caribbean. Last October, the Pentagon announced that it was changing its command structure to include for the first time the training of military forces for domestic use under a retooled U.S. Joint Forces Command, formerly the U.S. Atlantic Command. It is justified as an "antiterrorism" measure, but its real aim is the struggles of working people in the United States and to utilize military spy and intelligence capacities within the country.

Two years ago the Pentagon initiated this course with a program entitled Rapid Assessment and Initial Detection, or RAID. In January, after some criticism that the use of the U.S. military for domestic purposes poses a threat to civil liberties, the military brass changed the name of the operation to Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams, but its purpose remains the same.

Congress has authorized 17 more National Guard units, which will be operational in the largest population centers, including two teams in California. The Pentagon spent $60 million last year for units in New York, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington state. The federal government is budgeting $75 million more for this year.

While stationed in particular states, these units are being organized for deployment throughout the country, U.S. territories, and the colony of Puerto Rico. New York's unit, for example, is assigned to the Air National Guard base near Albany, but can be deployed to New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The teams will report to state governors unless federalized by presidential order.  
 
 
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