Military training in Washington scares small town

nooshinjohn

Is it me, or are we seeing something that appears to be unprecedented? It seems that weekly, we learn of a surprise, unannounced military training exercise taking place in cities across the U.S. We had one here in Los Angeles not too long ago that utilized dummy rounds and flash-bang pyrotechnics in the downtown area, and there have been a few in what is called the Chatsworth reservoir, that even involved makeshift tent cities that looked more like detention camps...

I don't want a word of politics in this thread, please... just asking if anyone else feels this is highly unusual and what you feel might be driving these events. Thanks in advance foe keeping it clean.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/13/army-says-its-helicopters-buzzed-washington-city/

An Army official apologized Friday for conducting an unannounced training mission around the small city of Port Angeles, Wash., using special operations helicopters that the mayor said "terrorized" his city.

Dozens of alarmed residents called police to ask what was going on and said the noise and light from the mystery helicopters buzzing around the city panicked horses and other livestock, The Peninsula Daily News reported.

The Army said the helicopters involved included both twin-engine Chinooks and Blackhawk attack helicopters.

"No one had any warning about the helicopters, no one said anything afterward, and today city officials had to spend hours just trying to find out what had happened -- who had invaded Port Angeles," said Cherie Kidd, mayor of the Olympic Peninsula city about 60 miles west of Seattle.

The training exercise involved part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which is based at Fort Campbell, Ky., but has individual units in various locations, said Sgt. Jimmy Norris, an I Corps spokesman at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Wash. Part of the 160th is based at Lewis-McChord, he said.

"Our watch commander last night reported that we received `dozens of calls' complaining about low-flying helicopters over the city," Deputy Police Chief Brian Smith said.

After multiple calls to Puget Sound-area military bases, Clallam County Sheriff Bill Benedict was finally able to determine about mid-day Friday that the helicopters belonged to the Army, the newspaper reported.

"Because of the volume of the complaints that we heard, I want to let the Army base know that if it's necessary to fly over populated areas, we want advance notice," Benedict told The Peninsula Daily News.

Army Col. H. Charles "Chuck" Hodges Jr., garrison commander at Lewis-McChord, told the newspaper that he had launched an investigation and was meeting with unit commanders at the base.

"I apologize, this is totally unacceptable," he said.

Hodges said the helicopters -- he mentioned four Chinooks -- were over Port Angeles from about 11:15 p.m. to shortly before midnight Thursday.

An Army spokesman for Hodges' office did not immediately return an Associated Press phone call Friday evening.

Kidd said she plans to meet Monday with Hodges at the base about 90 miles south of Port Angeles.

The helicopters were "training to work in urban environments," Norris told the AP, adding that the exercise involved landing at the small Port Angeles Coast Guard base. It's located across the city harbor from the downtown business area.

"I guess a lot of people got spooked because they had their lights on and the lights were bright, but I guess they had to have the lights on as part of the operation for landing at the airfield," he added.

The Daily News reported that the unannounced training mission prompted an immediate response on social media websites as hundreds of messages about the incident flooded Facebook and Twitter.

Port Angeles resident Eric Phillips said he saw four helicopters traveling in two sets, with the leading set flying without lights. The aircraft circled the city for at least an hour, he told Daily News.

Army Maj. Michael Burns, interviewed by telephone from Fort Campbell, told the newspaper the exercise also included Blackhawk helicopters.

He said he couldn't discuss many details of the mission or say why the Port Angeles area was chosen, only that "the particular area just gave a different training environment for the pilots, something unfamiliar.

"We do our best to try to avoid populated areas, but (with) those aircraft being so large and so loud, even if we're not very low, it seems very loud," Burns said.

Specific law enforcement agencies in the area were not notified of Thursday's training mission, Burns confirmed, saying that's not typically done for operations as short as a one-night exercise.

Also, the aircraft used in such missions can cover such a wide area, "it's tough to notify every agency," he told the newspaper

obieone

There have been reports of this stuff in Miami, and either Dallas or Houston as well as a few other cities. They're replicating something, but no word from the gov't, and no coverage from the 'MSM'.

I try not to partake in the 'tinfoil' discussions, but, when it's happened as often as it has, it does give me pause.

Msabot1

I dont care for politics either,but it's been my experience to know that the military doesn't conduct exercises for nothing. If this is really happening then they are prepping for something....population suppression maybe?

joeparaski

Preparing for World War Z

Joe

soundfreak1

It is a sign of "future passiveacation opperations" once the population has had enough of this crap and finely stand up, they will be practiced in handling us!

decal

joeparaski wrote: »

Preparing for World War Z

Joe

Sounds reasonable to me !!!!

George Grand

Hysteria and bad grammar seem to go hand in hand.

codyc1ark

Yeah, I'm glad I bought my AR so I can go toe to toe with those Blackhawks. Oh wait, I didn't, because I couldn't... :cheesygrin::eek:

tonyb

Military doesn't do anything without a reason....most the time anyway. Ever get the feeling that your the last on the list to know things ? Somebody knows something you don't ? Whatever it is, it's not by chance. This is being orchestrated.

John,
Pretty hard my friend to keep politics out of this one. We've politicized so much these days, everything comes down to politics which means you can't talk about anything.....besides audio. :cheesygrin:

George, I have a great respect for the military and those who have served in it and do so still today. You have to admit however, the military of your day is not the same military of today. Soldiers may be the same, it's the upper brass and leaders that have been compromised.

Systems

Got a little taste of this earlier in the year.

There is a vast Army training base about 50 miles southwest of me, that has a major river running thru it (the Arkansas).
So, Army units from all over the world come to train river crossings, ect.

I guess it was Feb. March? A US Army battalion size unit flew over head.
I quit counting @ 30 Chinooks, and a large number of smaller helicopters in a long column.

The earth shook, a surreal experience to see and hear, I am sure they scared alot of folks en route to the base, I truely thought my windows were going to shatter.

They used to train in the mountains north of my house, with vast numbers of tanks and vehicles, but people raised hell, and got a huge petition and the Local Goverments got involved and put a stop to it.

George Grand

tonyb wrote: »

George, I have a great respect for the military and those who have served in it and do so still today. You have to admit however, the military of your day is not the same military of today. Soldiers may be the same, it's the upper brass and leaders that have been compromised.

I think the Department of Defense is as at least as much of a threat today to the well being of the average US citizen as it was on V-E or V-J Day 1945. Maybe less.

You guys crack me up. Oh wait, I'm a sheeple. And sheeple can't laugh. Good thing I can think though huh?

cfrizz

I agree George.

They have to train somewhere and it has to be here in the states. Like it or not the world has changed and terror now takes place right here in our own back yard. So it makes perfect sense that they train to be able to deploy within cities should it ever be necessary.

You guys are such a bunch of double talking alarmists. You praise, salute etc. all current and former service members here on the club, but then turn around and have a hissy fit because they decide to do some urban city training. But then considering who started this thread I shouldn't be surprised.

Do try to make up your minds and show a bit of consistency!:rolleyes:

Kevinvb11

Ummm, this isn't too far offline. Have you tried purchasing some rounds for your gun lately? If you could find them, you're lucky. The DoD has been ramping up, homeland security is getting millions of rounds, guns, vehicles and what not for some type of event. We got briefed on evac situations here in the AF. Something is going to happen, might not be this year or next, but the military is getting ready for something....

George Grand

cfrizz wrote: »

I agree George.

They have to train somewhere and it has to be here in the states. Like it or not the world has changed and terror now takes place right here in our own back yard. So it makes perfect sense that they train to be able to deploy within cities should it ever be necessary.

You guys are such a bunch of double talking alarmists. You praise, salute etc. all current and former service members here on the club, but then turn around and have a hissy fit because they decide to do some urban city training. But then considering who started this thread I shouldn't be surprised.

Do try to make up your minds and show a bit of consistency!:rolleyes:

The gospel according to Sister Frizz.

The whole alarmist concept makes no sense. I don't think the US Gov't. is ready or willing to incite the worst guerilla insurgency in the history of mankind, seeing how we're a country whose citizenry is armed to the teeth three times over. I just can't imagine what "end" they might have in mind, knowing full well the thing would never end. It's not like anybody could look forward to better jobs, nannies or cars as a result.

The top brass is compromised? You're nuts. The O's are okay, some of them are even half-human. They are all cheaper than free lunch, but other than that there is no other blanket statements you could make about them. Just a microcosm.

Systems

At least the "Alarmists" have many, many, many references to point to throughout history, across every continent on earth.

The ones that say it could/would never happen are the ones with no references to point to.

cnh

tonyb wrote: »

Military doesn't do anything without a reason....most the time anyway. Ever get the feeling that your the last on the list to know things ? Somebody knows something you don't ? Whatever it is, it's not by chance. This is being orchestrated.

John,
Pretty hard my friend to keep politics out of this one. We've politicized so much these days, everything comes down to politics which means you can't talk about anything.....besides audio. :cheesygrin:

George, I have a great respect for the military and those who have served in it and do so still today. You have to admit however, the military of your day is not the same military of today. Soldiers may be the same, it's the upper brass and leaders that have been compromised.

I believe all those exercises were to prevent the Twinkie RIOTS that were on the verge of breaking out NATION wide before they went back into production and Walmart restocked the ENTIRE U.S.?

With George and others, I really don't think top brass are compromised. As for politics. Well, the LINK contains FOX and politics in it so how are "we" keeping those out, pray tell?

Paranoia doesn't become us. But there are some internet and TV personalities that make MILLIONS feeding the public a DAILY dose of it. Some of us, it seems, enjoy this diet--can't get enough of it! I recommend more fruits, nuts, and vegetables along with that daily MEAT! lol

cnh

SCompRacer

Back in the ‘80’s the wife and I took a vacation to Hawaii. It was at the time of the airline strike. We rented a 'vette dirt cheap and were cruising around the big island. Suddenly the road ahead was crawling with a brigade strength of soldiers in battle dress. Other than awe struck, I recall being really glad they were ours.

Systems

SCompRacer wrote: »

Back in the ‘80’s the wife and I took a vacation to Hawaii. It was at the time of the airline strike. We rented a 'vette dirt cheap and were cruising around the big island. Suddenly the road ahead was crawling with a brigade strength of soldiers in battle dress. Other than awe struck, I recall being really glad they were ours.

X2
When I saw the unit fly over my house, not only was I awe struck, I was quiet proud.

tonyb

cnh wrote: »

Paranoia doesn't become us. But there are some internet and TV personalities that make MILLIONS feeding the public a DAILY dose of it. Some of us, it seems, enjoy this diet--can't get enough of it! I recommend more fruits, nuts, and vegetables along with that daily MEAT! lol

cnh

While what you say is true, there are differences and being the teacher that you are, I would think you know the power of words. "PARANOIA".....is one of those words which depending on the context used, is usually used to defuse an argument or discussion.

Are some Paranoid about everything ? Yeah, I guess so, we live in a very untrusting time wouldn't you agree ? Paranoia to some degree is really just a lack of ability to trust. Just for the sake of discussion, generally speaking paranoia if wrongly suggested hurts nobody, but if that paranoia happened to be true what would/could you stand to lose ?

For me anyway, that word is thrown around like a baseball in the world series. Used to stifle conversation or when questioned about suspect actions. While the meaning of the word holds true, the use of it however gets abused and more so used as a label. For myself, I guess the older I get the less trusting I am of my elected officials. Is that paranoia ? I dunno man, but I do know I have at least 2 active brain cells that says something isn't right here in the USA.

History tells us that putting all your eggs in one basket, all your trust into one person or group of people is the path to domination. Certainly our founders knew this and tried to create those checks and balances within the branches of our own government. When you start to see those distinct lines of separation start to mesh together, not so sure you can start calling that "paranoia".

Drenis

Without getting too much into this discussion, There were military exercises taking place at the same time as the Sandy Hook School shooting and 9/11... Those exercises were for dealing with school shootings and terrorist attacks (How ironic).

I've simply stopped caring how corrupt and what the current, present day government and world order is up to. Why? Because I don't need to disappear in my sleep tonight never to be seen or heard from again. I live my life and try to enjoy it and ignore that stuff.

Lots to read out there folks.

tonyb

Hey man, whats shakin' up there ?

I get you don't care, most don't, and that my friend is the problem as I see it anyway. Once you stop caring about things, the evil side of man shows it's face. Just sayin' is all. Most in this country don't care either, they feel the vote is rigged and even if not wouldn't matter a spit of difference anyway. Can't blame them, they may even be right, but where does that leave 300 million people ? To succumb to the will and laws of whatever man or party takes control with no checks or balances ?

We complain, myself included, but never feel like anything we do would make a difference. Some would even say our demise has already been written and is now being planned out for a big transition into something else. Maybe...maybe not, who knows but it would seem prudent enough to care just enough to at least avoid another war, internal or foreign, to save a lot of lives and protect what you own. Seems reasonable...no ?

cnh

tonyb wrote: »

While what you say is true, there are differences and being the teacher that you are, I would think you know the power of words. "PARANOIA".....is one of those words which depending on the context used, is usually used to defuse an argument or discussion.

Are some Paranoid about everything ? Yeah, I guess so, we live in a very untrusting time wouldn't you agree ? Paranoia to some degree is really just a lack of ability to trust. Just for the sake of discussion, generally speaking paranoia if wrongly suggested hurts nobody, but if that paranoia happened to be true what would/could you stand to lose ?

For me anyway, that word is thrown around like a baseball in the world series. Used to stifle conversation or when questioned about suspect actions. While the meaning of the word holds true, the use of it however gets abused and more so used as a label. For myself, I guess the older I get the less trusting I am of my elected officials. Is that paranoia ? I dunno man, but I do know I have at least 2 active brain cells that says something isn't right here in the USA.

History tells us that putting all your eggs in one basket, all your trust into one person or group of people is the path to domination. Certainly our founders knew this and tried to create those checks and balances within the branches of our own government. When you start to see those distinct lines of separation start to mesh together, not so sure you can start calling that "paranoia".

Things in the U.S.are in the process of "changing"! CHANGE causes a rise in ANOMIE (see DURKHEIM). Transitional periods in history are always accompanied by uncertainty concerning a nostalgic past--which may have never existed as remembered. But fear not, new norms, values and traditions restore social order and some certainty, that is NOT to say the EVERYONE will embrace those or herald them as "better" than what they remember, but such is LIFE and HISTORY. Humanity moves on, there is not much that individuals can do in such scenarios.

There are some who would argue that when we allowed the economy to decenter itself, go GLOBAL (with NO respect for national boundaries) and become more SPECULATIVE than ever before, we destabilized the Nation state and its local culture/values and it became caught in the waves of a world market economy that could care less for any tradition, history or local norms and values as it profited more and more by moving capital in micro-seconds and shifting its production facilities to the cheapest possible land of labor, endlessly, in "small batch production cycles". This CEASELESS change and quest for PROFIT at any COST is what is creating most of the world's problems, NOT Big Gov't which can only respond, and respond LATE to what is largely outside its control and beholden to no one.

This economic revolution birthed a theoretical movement known as Postmodernism in its wake. See David Harvey and Frederic Jameson on this. Neither of which will ever be understood by conservative thinkers. Neo-cons who haven't the faintest idea of how this global economy works or why but merely worship it and applaud it. Uncritical thinking is not becoming to either the Left or Right!

cnh

mrbigbluelight

cnh wrote: »

This CEASELESS change and quest for PROFIT at any COST is what is creating most of the world's problems, NOT Big Gov't which can only respond, and respond LATE to what is largely outside its control and beholden to no one. cnh

Agree, to a certain degree.
When a company's initial response to overwhelming displays of worker discontent is to put up suicide nets, then there is a problem with priorities.
When reducing working hours from 16+ hours a day and possibly increase a day's wage by $5 can not be done because the "competition" doesn't due it, then there is a problem with priorities

You mention that there are things that are "largely outside its (the govt) control". That is partially true in some circumstances.
Yet, I have a bit of difficulty in accepting this in its entirety.
When I think of our government's subsiding the closing of factories in this country and providing tax breaks AND grants for US companies to relocate overseas, then I tend to think, "Something's wrong".


It would seem that Big Govt is beholden to someone.

tonyb

Hmmm.....you have me confused on your stance CNH. On one hand you chide growth/corporate greed at any cost, on the other you give high hats to a globalized economy......which operates on the same principles.

Greed is good.....to an extent. Some believe all greed is bad....I say your a hypocrite then. I fall more so on the side of MBBL's post above, government does have a hand in the greed business too. Who do you think pays them to write the laws they write ? Certainly not a bunch of soccer moms lobbying them with empty pockets. Would you not agree to that ?

The problem more so as I see it anyway is not so much the feeding of the greed beast among corporations, but the marriage of big corporations and governments. Their should be a separation there, a huge one, no ? Otherwise we go down that path traveled before as outlined in some of your history books. You do still have history books in the higher educational circles ? Or are those just deemed fairy tales now a days ? :biggrin:

I'm more a principle type of guy. I read many books on theory/politics/history. Most are one mans thoughts or ideas of what should be but offer no idea of how to get there without ripping apart everything we know that works. No conservative I know is against change or moving the human race forward, or even a global economy. This can all be done while maintaining a core belief rooted in principle/morals/ and sound financials while still keeping individual borders/culture. That however is not the mission statement of these so called enlightened ones.

DMara

{Yawn}... There are so much bitching at home and CP. The only good thing to do is to fire up the BBQ pit and gulp down some bottles

Hobbyguy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5M_Ttstbgs

amulford

Sounds to me like they are having exercises. The face of conflict has changed, our military needs to practice their skills, they can't just go into another sovereign state and do it.

What is the big deal? Population suppression? Ok Johnny, just try this coat on and step on into the van....

tonyb

amulford wrote: »

Sounds to me like they are having exercises. The face of conflict has changed, our military needs to practice their skills, they can't just go into another sovereign state and do it.

What is the big deal? Population suppression? Ok Johnny, just try this coat on and step on into the van....

Antny,
That's the question now isn't it ? If the practicing of skills is the purpose, then you intend to indeed need those skills at some point, yes ? After all, they aren't practicing the skill of basket weaving because they would never have use for that skill. If the face of conflict has changed as you say, who's face is it then.....ours ?

It's not so much the practicing of skills to handle mass amounts of people that has some questioning this, it's the fact that they are all over in various cities, accounting for different scenarios in terrain/detention/control. Now, given that other government agencies have also done similar exercises, such as Fema, one does take notice....or should at least. Buying up billions of bullets, millions of coffins....purchasing urban warfare vehicles,for what ? Is an asteroid on a collision course with us....what scenario could possibly warrant these practices and purchases ? That's a serious question I'm asking. A bio-chemical attack ? A civil war style uprising ? Who knows my friend, any scenario that warrants this is not good for the masses.....wouldn't you agree ?

I'm no conspiracy theorist, or paranoid moron sitting in a closet worried about the end of the world. I am however a study of mankind. I do like a good old fashioned game of connect the dots. I've come to the conclusion that all of man's problems stem from within. I've said in other threads we need to build better human beings for any of our global problems to change otherwise the problems stay the same over the course of time and just the faces change. Is that not evident even in our own government....let alone the worlds governments ? Is that also not evident socially....in your neighborhood ?

As a husband/parent/grandfather, we seek to lead our own families by example....I would hope so anyway. Should not world leaders and even our own do the same ? What examples are being set forth for our youth of today ? See where I'm going ? You reap what you sow.

wayne3burk

When there was a national debate about gun control after the Newtown Connecticut school shootings, I mentioned to my brother that the only people who need assault rifles are the people who need to defend their homes against zombies or the federal gov't. He says the revolution is coming and we should all be armed to the teeth so that we can join in on the fun.

He might be crazy.

Respectfully yours,
Wayne

cnh

The revolution will NOT be televised. It will occur without anyone noticing. And when it is over. You will ALL be working part-time for less than minimum wage for Walmart (no benefits, no social security, no medicare, nothing)! There will be NO real jobs, job creators or job security and people will still be telling us we're the greatest nation on earth! lol

The SIGNS are all around you and they are ALL "economic" in nature! They will ALSO bankrupt the Gov't so that you don't have to WORRY about IT anymore!

As for "greed", take a look at HOW many times the U.S. has had to legislate restraints against its Captains of Industry in periods where their excesses threatened the collapse of labor and the economy. They are, I'm afraid, perennial! And without them the vaunted free market system would collapse every other day! Because our Captains are NOTHING if NOT MORAL! lol TODAY no single nation can rail against this economic system anymore and it is only a matter of time before collapses become the NORM world-wide!

A "moral market" is an oxymoron! Riddle me this, if something is inherently AMORAL, and it is the ground of the production and reproduction of society, how can it reconstitute a "moral" social life and citizenry that is concerned with anything more than SHORT term profit as its PRIMARY and ONLY goal?

cnh

brgman

cnh wrote: »

The revolution will NOT be televised. It will occur without anyone noticing. And when it is over. You will ALL be working part-time for less than minimum wage for Walmart (no benefits, no social security, no medicare, nothing)! There will be NO real jobs, job creators or job security and people will still be telling us we're the greatest nation on earth! lol

The SIGNS are all around you and they are ALL "economic" in nature! They will ALSO bankrupt the Gov't so that you don't have to WORRY about IT anymore!

As for "greed", take a look at HOW many times the U.S. has had to legislate restraints against its Captains of Industry in periods where their excesses threatened the collapse of labor and the economy. They are, I'm afraid, perennial! And without them the vaunted free market system would collapse every other day! Because our Captains are NOTHING if NOT MORAL! lol TODAY no single nation can rail against this economic system anymore and it is only a matter of time before collapses become the NORM world-wide!

A "moral market" is an oxymoron! Riddle me this, if something is inherently AMORAL, and it is the ground of the production and reproduction of society, how can it reconstitute a "moral" social life and citizenry that is concerned with anything more than SHORT term profit as its PRIMARY and ONLY goal?

cnh

One bright side of this revolution will be the fact that all of those tax dollars used to prop up a bloated government filled with 10's if not 100's of thousands of non-productive employess will go bye bye along with the worthless elitist educators and their unions that teach nothing but their radical violent leftist venom while sucking on the government teat that they rail against so much.