The second article is either poorly written, poorly researched, or poorly edited, more than likely a combination of all three. Considering that the REX 84 exercise that it continuously references was 21 years ago, and federal law regarding FEMA and the military has changed enormously in the intervening years, one would expect a bridge between the two, detailing the changes. The is no bridge of any sort in the article. It just jumps from REX 84 (if REX 84 was so secretive, how did the author find out about it, and some of the theoretical assumptions of REX 84 as listed are unconstitutional at best) then to present day in one leap. Laws, military regulations and court decisions have changed much in the last 21 years. The reason I mention the unconstitutionality of some of the premises of REX 84 is very simple. United States Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen swear an oath to UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. We do NOT blindly follow orders, and are briefed on a yearly basis on what constitutes a lawful order vs. an unlawful order.

Another piece of the article which shows poor research is the following quote....

" Waco, where Army tanks equipped with flame throwers were involved in the final conflagration."

The "tanks" in question were CEV's, combat engineer vehicles. They do NOT mount flamethrowers, the US hasn't had a flame thrower in inventory since the Vietnam era. That quote alone also eludes to the writer's bias on the issue at hand.

Yes, it is eminently possible to keep your personal opinion out of your writing. It's called journalism, as practiced by SOME publications in the current media era, but not many. My mother routinely kvetched at reporters and editors at the newspaper where she once worked, and HATED what passes for jounalism now.The Wall Street Journal (it routinely takes issue with politicians on both sides of the aisle), and The Economist are two examples of publications which have editors who do not let the reporter's bias twist the article. Opinions have a place, and that place is on the editorial page, not the front page.