Not sure but this is, I believe, an addition to the Patriot act as a result of the fiasco in Katrina for one. Not sure I support it anyway,but this is nothing like Sen Obama has proposed...this is a quote of his from July of this year...

"We cannot continue to rely on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we've set. We've got to have a civilian national security force that's just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded."

Now....what bothers me personallly is ....."just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded." Imagine he has proposed CUTTING the military but then proposes this.

I may have it misunderstood but this is what he said....a force "just as poweful, just as strong, just as well-funded" in comparing to our military !