FM 3-39.40 represents a fundamental shift in military thinking. The manual explicitly moves away from traditional enemy prisoner of war operations toward what it calls “broader and more inclusive requirements of detainee operations.” That’s bureaucratic speak for casting a wider net. The document addresses internment and resettlement across “the spectrum of conflict,” including domestic operations on American soil.
The manual identifies multiple categories of people who can be detained: enemy prisoners of war, civilian internees, retained personnel, enemy combatants, and dislocated civilians. Notice what’s missing from that list? Any meaningful distinction between foreign enemies and American citizens. The procedures apply to whoever the military deems appropriate for detention.
https://open.substack.com/...
The manual identifies multiple categories of people who can be detained: enemy prisoners of war, civilian internees, retained personnel, enemy combatants, and dislocated civilians. Notice what’s missing from that list? Any meaningful distinction between foreign enemies and American citizens. The procedures apply to whoever the military deems appropriate for detention.
https://open.substack.com/...
The Blueprint for Tyranny: What FM 3-39.40 Reveals About Government Power
The Fathers envisioned the United States as a land of freedom, and in order to avoid the tyranny that would result from a government abusing its authority, they contained the government’s power.
https://open.substack.com/pub/mk3blog/p/the-blueprint-for-tyranny-what-fm?r=6ckwai&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
12:22 PM - Jan 16, 2026
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