# So, are we ready for a land invasion? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 5, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014 "2018-11-05T16:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014/101 "2018-11-13T15:41:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > While Russia is physically close to Alaska, that’s not really going to help in any realistic invasion plan. The part of Russia that’s close is way out beyond any supply network. So a Russian invasion would have to be launched from some place like Vladivostok or Sovgavan. At that point, you might as well put China or Japan or the Koreas up as possible invaders; they’re effectively as close to Alaska as Russia is. > > As for Canada, it’s true Canada is in the best position to invade Alaska. And it’s also in the best position to be counter-invaded by the rest of the United States. I disagree. Russia actually has the logistics and lift capability (well, somewhat) to do something like that if they had total surprise and they weren’t planning to hold it for very long. Flat out, China doesn’t…nor does Korea (either of them) or Japan. They simply don’t have the assets for it. I agree that Canada doing something like that opens them up for a counter invasion, so not something that’s very likely. Then again, it’s pretty freaking unlikely Russia would invade Alaska either. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014/102 "2018-11-13T16:43:43Z")
Okay, so how does the US military get around the Posse Comitatus Act to conduct the operations necessary in a state to repel an invasion? ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014/103 "2018-11-13T18:17:16Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > Okay, so how does the US military get around the Posse Comitatus Act to conduct the operations necessary in a state to repel an invasion? Congressional authorization is allowed to override the act for one, but what ‘posse comitatus’ actions are you expecting the military to do in preparation for an invasion? Rounding up saboteurs? The Coast Guard also is not subject to Posse Comitatus and are the only group that is both fully military and fully law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014/104 "2018-11-13T18:49:10Z")
The Japanese captured the Aleutian islands in WWII. Couldn’t they drive over on highway 9, for that matter? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2018, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014/105 "2018-11-13T18:52:00Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > Okay, so how does the US military get around the Posse Comitatus Act to conduct the operations necessary in a state to repel an invasion? AIUI, Posse Comitatus means the military can’t be used for _law enforcement_. Repelling a foreign military invasion (i.e., Mexican army) is entirely different - indeed, as fundamental a military mission in nature as can possibly be. It has absolutely nothing to do with law enforcement and Posse Comitatus would be irrelevant. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014/106 "2018-11-22T00:07:48Z")
The US [Posse Comitatus Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act) included some exceptions from the beginning and has been amended several times, and there are many situations in which the US military can currently be used for law enforcement, and [will now be so used](https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/11/21/white-house-approves-use-of-force-some-law-enforcement-roles-for-border-troops/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-are-we-ready-for-a-land-invasion/824014.md?page=5)