ABSTRACT
The possible employment of American military forces in a large-scale domestic terrorist incident is a matter worthy of consideration. In the comparatively recent period since the beginning of World War II, the American military establishment has passed through several distinctive phases. The contrast in ideological and public evaluation of the American military establishment over three wars is revealing. Coupled with the concern for the perceptual considerations of the military as an institution is yet another serious aspect. The current state of constitutional and statutory law severely limits the use of military forces in domestic situations. The use of military force must be an option taken after due consideration of the social, legal and political context of an incident. Garden Plot provides the basis for planning the use of military personnel and equipment to respond to terrorist acts. The true nature of the US military counterterrorism capability began to unfold in 1980 in the wake of the aborted Iranian rescue mission.
