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According to the Army Times, U.S. military troops will begin what is expected to become "a permanent mission" here at home, for the first time since the Civil War.

The 3rd Infantry DivisionŐs 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys.

Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT will be under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks.

...this new mission marks the first time an active unit has been given a dedicated assignment to NorthCom, a joint command established in 2002 to provide command and control for federal homeland defense efforts and coordinate defense support of civil authorities.

After 1st BCT finishes its dwell-time mission, expectations are that another, as yet unnamed, active-duty brigade will take over and that the mission will be a permanent one.

In case this sounds to you, Poor Reader, like a violation of The Posse Comitatus Act, you haven't been paying attention. On October 17, 2006, President George W. Bush signed the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 which, as clarified in Wikipedia, states that:

"The President may employ the armed forces to restore public order in any State of the United States the President determines hinders the execution of laws or deprives people of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law or opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws."

Certain provisions of the Warner Act were repealed by HR 4986: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 -- however in signing H.R. 4986 President George W. Bush attached a signing statement indicating that the Executive Branch did not feel bound by the changes enacted by the repeal.

The bottom line is that starting October 1st -- that's in six days -- U.S troops will be stationed in the United States to "restore public order" at the discretion of the President, for the first time since the Civil War.

Just in time for the election.