The riots that erupted in the U.S. showed the world what the U.S. police look like, what brutal methods they use. But the reforms promised by politicians are unlikely to make a difference.
This is reported by The Guardian.
The modern U.S. police force was formed largely due to American military interventions. Each war made its own contribution, replenished police departments with veterans and even the remnants of ammunition. After the Second World War, the police were even provided with machine guns. And Orlando Wilson, who was engaged in the defeated Germany “democratization” of local police, returned home and wrote the most popular textbook for law enforcement officers. In the book, the author praised strict hierarchy and no less strict subordination to the state.
“Although the mechanism has changed, the American police have always paid attention to suppressing political rebellion. Colonial activities on distant lands, theaters of war served as crucibles for testing and improving methods of policing”, – the article says.
At the same time, since the end of the last century, the so-called 1033 program has been operating in the United States. It was implemented by the Bill Clinton administration. The program allows transferring surplus military equipment and weapons to the police. Thus, now the U.S. law enforcement agencies have not only bulletproof vests and helmets, but also rifles and armored vehicles.
The Guardian stresses that the situation with militarization of the police was aggravated after the 9/11 attacks, although it is explained not only by the demand in the fight against terror, but also by the oversupply of weapons produced in the U.S..
The Washington Post had previously given reasons why the United States would remain a police state despite the protests and promised reforms.