‘Who Will Step Up and Save Chicago?’ — Ex-Fed Martin Sheil Warns of the Real Coming Storm in His Latest Letter to Bette
Retired IRS criminal investigator Martin Sheil quotes Herman Melville in his fierce and poetic take on Trump sending military troops to Chicago
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Author’s note: Retired IRS criminal investigator Martin Sheil, a Chicago resident, warns of the trouble Trump’s military could face in his hometown in his latest Letter to Bette:
Letters to Bette: ‘Who Will Step Up and Save Chicago?’
by Martin Sheil
H,
By now everyone knows that president Trump via the Pentagon has decided to federalize policing in Chicago by sending in armed troops in clear violation of the Posse Comitatus Act.
The Posse Comitatus Act was enacted in 1878 — it is in fact the law of the land, and it clearly limits the use of federal troops to enforce civilian law.
Did Herman Melville anticipate Trump’s naked aggression against Chicago with his now classic poem The Coming Storm?
A demon-cloud like the mountain one
Burst on a spirit as mild
As this urned lake, the home of shades… (Chicago)?
Chicago is certainly a city of shades, its diversity one of its great strengths, and we know that this President is threatening multiple cities governed by Black and Brown mayors with armed troops, so it seems that it is now Chicago’s turn.
The fact that statistics reflect that violent crime is down in Chicago apparently makes no matter to the Man Who Calls Himself potus (small p), but he should take pause since Chicago has not always been an urned lake when it comes to political controversy.
The year 1968: Chicago saw police struggle with ferocious political protests by the people of Chicago surrounding the Democratic Convention.
While crime is down in Chicago, Trump is taking a chance on riling up Chicagoans politically.
That’s really not a good idea.
Military troops may find themselves outgunned in Englewood.
I have a lot of questions surrounding the coming military invasion of Chicago. For example, what is the legal basis for the Man Who Calls Himself potus to send armed troops to patrol and police a large civilian population when neither the Mayor nor the Governor have requested troops?
What are the rules of engagement provided to the military troops patrolling Chicago?
In simple terms — what directions have the coming armed military troops been provided as to just what circumstances military troops would be authorized to fire their weapons on the residents of Chicago?
I’m here to tell you that if an unarmed Black man gets shot accidentally or otherwise for the non-crime of driving while Black - all hell will break loose in Chicago, making 1968 look like a walk in the park by the lake.
The military troops likely scheduled to be sent to Chicago have not reportedly received any discernible police training which highlights the questions many have as to just what effectiveness military troops without specialized training will bring to law enforcement in Chicago…
Does the military understand such fundamental legal concepts such as probable cause and due process?
Not likely. Nor does our autocratic president (small p) seem to care as he seemingly seeks the drama and performative action that only the domestic application of military force captured by the media can supply along with the potential of hero status being credited him by imaginary adoring audiences known only to him.
Did Melville anicipate Dictator Trump when he wrote:
No utter surprise can come to him
Who reaches Shakespeare’s core;
That which we seek and shun is there —
Man’s final lore.
Trump fabricates false crime statistics to justify a military crackdown on the civilian population of Chicago in lieu of investing resources into the roots of crime, and investing in the people of Chicago, and therefore further ignoring the political leaders of this besieged municipality.
There is a coming storm and the demon-cloud has already been spotted on the horizon behind Sears Tower.
Only God or Congress or the courts can help the people of Chicago.
Who will step up and save Chicago?
Martin Sheil
Supervisory Special Agent, IRS, Criminal Investigations, retired… for now.
Marty in his milieu. Thank you to all Bette members who sent prayers his way as he recovers from some health scares this year.
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