In December 2012, the journal of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association ran a laudatory article about the Coast Guard's drug boat interdiction squadron, HITRON, based in Florida. 

The author rode along as the chopper intercepted a suspicious boat.  After the boat crew ignored the warnings from the Coasties, they followed their standard procedure of "stitching" the water with 7.62 mm machine gun fire in front of the boat.  The vessel continued on its way, so a helicopter crewman brought a .50 caliber Barrett rifle to bear on one of the outboard motors.   After the engine disintegrated, the crew got the message and jumped overboard.

In the course of the article the author mentioned the boat crew was unarmed and likely to be under the duress of the cartels holding the lives of their family members back home as collateral for the safe delivery of the cargo. 

The article revolted me.

Not only are we bringing military weapons to bear on unarmed civilians, far worse, we are desensitizing the best and most capable members of our military to do it.  Without a critical word, the author cheered the skill and bravery of the Coast Guard crew, never asking what exactly all this dangerous bravado achieved.

The "War on Drugs" is a 41 year old boondoggle that has done nothing to stop the flow of illicit drugs into America.  On the contrary, the actions of law enforcement and the military, to the extent they manage to reduce the supply of drugs, have only increased the profits to the cartels and others who benefit from the drug trade.

In the name of fighting drugs we all have become accustomed to military style assaults on private property, the militarizing of local police with SWAT teams and armored vehicles as well as other support from the Beltway with all the strings that come with it.

At least the military action has been directed at foreigners.  At least until now.  This week, two videos of local TV news broadcasts featured surprise military actions in populated areas featuring low flying helicopters, automatic weapons fire and in one case military occupation of a school in a residential neighborhood.

These "drills" were surprise attacks catching at least some local authorities and media off guard.  The effect on the public is clear in both reports.

Before it's too late, we better ask some serious questions.  Chief among them are:  (1) who at the federal level authorized these unambiguous acts of terror on unsuspecting Americans?  (2) Who at the local level gave permission and then participated in such irresponsible federal actions?  What recourse to citizens of a free country have to protect themselves from being terrorized by their own authorities?

There can be no clearer warning shots across all our bows than these two videos. 

Calling Congress, anyone home?