Joint military/police exercises in LA this week

[DasFuchs]

It bothers me so much in context of how the police have treated the various Occupy encampments. Their behavior has been barbaric enough without getting the military involved, because everyone knows what pillars of morality they've been.

Oh, you bet, they definitely need military training to accomplish things like that because look what a sloppy job they did. I mean they didn't execute people like a communist dictatorship and they didn't confiscate every camera capable of capturing evidence.

Why now they'll be able to mow the crowds down and shoot teargas more accurately.

In 5 years police will be touring the streets in Abrams tanks, I know it, it'll be just like New Dominion!

[largeham]

Why then do they need military training in the first place? The military and police are two separate institutions with separate goals.

Just because it has been going on for decades doesn't mean it is necessary.

[Sigmaleph]

It does mean it's odd to view it as a sign of the coming apocalypse, though.

[largeham]

I don't see it as the sign of the coming apocalypse, I would rather just not have the police and the military conducting exercises in my backyard.

[DasFuchs]

Why then do they need military training in the first place? The military and police are two separate institutions with separate goals.

Just because it has been going on for decades doesn't mean it is necessary.

Because, once again, sometimes the police and military need to work side by side in things like natural disasters. The police need to be able to respond in any way imaginable at least till the military can make it in to lend aid. The police are not fully trained to do this, not by a long shot. If anything Katrina proved this already.
This is what is called training for the inevitable so the police and military can respond when something devastating takes place.

Hell, here's even another reason for it
http://lapdblog.typepad.com/lapd_blog/2009/06/lapd-supports-urban-military-training-exercises.html

From 2009, and people were going stupid then even when it was explained, because SURPRISE, the military does indeed work in urban settings now as it has for the past 10 years

[Shane for Wax]

Why then do they need military training in the first place? The military and police are two separate institutions with separate goals.

Just because it has been going on for decades doesn't mean it is necessary.

Your first sentence is the problem. They're not getting military training they're getting training to work well with the local military unit in case of emergencies which are as varied as everyone's conspiracy theories. They're not learning how to snipe Occupiers. They're not learning how to throw grenades into tents. They are learning how to cooperate with the military in case of disasters. Which the police forces around the world need help with.

You have former military and military brats telling you it's routine (along with a swath of sources) and me agreeing with dasfuchs for the first time in a long time. Shouldn't this tell you something?

[Osama bin Bambi]

Sure is tinfoil in here

[Jack Mann]

But Shane, the TRUTHâ„¢ is much more important than any so-called "facts."

[m52nickerson]

"The exercises are designed to ensure the military's ability to operate in urban environments, prepare forces for upcoming overseas deployments, and meet mandatory training certification requirements..."

The military is training to operate in urban areas, which are hard to simulate.  The police are doing their part and keeping civilians out of the areas and ensure the safety of everyone.

Can we stop channeling Glen Beck now?

[Shane for Wax]

But Shane, the TRUTHâ„¢ is much more important than any so-called "facts."

Right. My mistake. I guess I'm part of the conspiracy then.

[largeham]

Ah yes, I've had a look around and this seems to be pretty common everywhere. It seems Soviet troops were even ordered to help to out with harvests.

However, I don't see what is so paranoid about being critical or skeptical of the police and the military.

[Sylvana]

However, I don't see what is so paranoid about being critical or skeptical of the police and the military.

I think skepticism becomes paranoia when you assume a task that has happened often before to suddenly have an ulterior motive, especially when there is little bases to assume any.

Sure the occupy crackdowns were brutal, but I don't think you need to worry some authoritarian military police conspiracy because of some training. Also with regards to police acting like military, the USA has SWAT members who basically receive military training to perform their job. Similarly in South Africa where violent crime is critically high, the local police generally are equipped like the military in combat gear. (They lack the training, but that's more corruption and incompetence.)

Also here is a positive thought. Perhaps if the US military spent more time training in urban areas they wouldn't destroy as much or cause as many civilian casualties when they invade another country again.

[Shane for Wax]

Ah yes, I've had a look around and this seems to be pretty common everywhere. It seems Soviet troops were even ordered to help to out with harvests.

However, I don't see what is so paranoid about being critical or skeptical of the police and the military.

It becomes paranoid when people go 'fuck it. we're all doomed! The police are training to be like the military to kill civilians! We're doomed! POLICE STATE! POLICE STATE!'

Are we all okay now? Can we calm down and let something very routine happen without squawking about a coming police state reminiscent of Communist Russia?

[ironbite]

Damn I evened out your Karma.

Ironbite-BAD RAPTOR BAD!

[Shane for Wax]

Damn I evened out your Karma.

Ironbite-BAD RAPTOR BAD!

LOL and in one minute it went right back to being uneven.