So, What About Those Tanks In L.A.?

[Steely_Dan]

Someone must get to the bottom of this....

Does anyone have anything substantial on the presence of tanks at an L.A. protest.

Who sent them out...?
Who are they...?
Why didn't the media cover this...?

Any reliable information out there?

Thanks...-Paige

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. SWAT in LA has two APCs if menory seves

Bradleys

[leftofthedial]

8. those weren't police APCs

or Bradleys

those were tanks.

[RivetJoint]

15. They are NOT tanks!

[leftofthedial]

17. reviewed the photo

you're right

why do they need them for that kind of civilian use?

why is the dude in the turret dressed like military, not like cop?

[LeftHander]

9. 8 wheeled light armored vechicles - LAV-25's

The headlights and weapon is consistent as is the structures on the side when the vehicle drives away....

Probably used as a reconissance, night capable....

no doubt they sent these in to eval the situation and do a threat assesment. Once satisfied they either leave or call in APC with 11 men in each to subdue the crowd.

I would guess that this a homeland security operation...

Being it occured in front of a federal building....

THose hitting the streets should get used to seeing these in the future.

Just ignore them and they will go away. If you attack them or start destroying property then the shit will hit the fan...

[GregD]

20. CHP has some of this stuff too

We had shiny blue ones with the gold CHP (Calif Highway Patrol) in Sacramento, Summer 2003, when the GMO protests were going on. There was another model with a rear hatch and capable of carrying troops inside and outside on rails.

[htuttle]

2. The video wasn't convincing enough?

You don't believe your own lying eyes?

http://la.indymedia.org/news/2004/11/118865_comment.php#118868

:shrug:

[Steely_Dan]

5. What????

What kind of question is that? Of course it's real and convincing...that wasn't my question.

I'm asking if anyone has additional information on this.
Specifically...

Who are they and who sent them out.

If this is, indeed, the first volly over the bow of free speeach, it requires immediate attention.

-Paige

[htuttle]

10. Sorry,...

...there are some in other threads who appear to believe that this didn't happen, even with the video and photos. I assumed from your questions that you had doubts yourself.

For background, they HAVE brought out this sort of equipment in the last few years. Miami's FTAA protest last year saw a number of police/military vehicles like this on the streets.

I think it's done to both intimidate and provoke protestors.

[Steely_Dan]

13. No Worries...

[kimchi]

6. Thank you; I've been wondering where the info came from. n/t

[agingdem]

7. Check out an old movie...

8 Days in May.

[htuttle]

11. That's 'Seven Days in May'

And it's a rough rewrite of the coup attempt against FDR (that was exposed by Smedley Butler, BTW).

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

3. Too new to post, so thanks.

Yes that's what I want to know, but I'm too new to post. Please someone let us know. e

[SmokingJacket]

4. Tanks for a bunch of chanting people with bucket drums???

This wasn't about protecting anyone.

This is about the scaring the shit out us.

And frankly, I'm scared.

[Betty]

12. I was looking the the JohnTitor stuff again...

and although I think it was a hoax, it does seem ratther prescient in that he claimed we'd be in a Civil War that would start around 2004-2005, but that we wouldn't totaly realize this until about 2008. That it would involve a series of "Waco-like events" if I remember the quote properly.

At any rate, tanks in the streets just a week after the election? One does have to wonder what this country is going to be like in four years.

[izzie]

14. I think that went on a long time ago.

When the federal govt. gave money to help the police many got tanks. People talked about it at the time but I do not re-call when it was.

[DELUSIONAL]

16. to everyone who blindly supports the troops -- same troops will kill you

with no hesitation.

Kent State 1971, 4 students murdered by National Guard

If and when protesters hit the streets for real in large number -- bushie or one of the rabid Governors will call out the National Guard -- the same ones who are today learning urban warfare slaughter techniques in Iraq.

Taken as individuals there are good decent soldiers but taken as a mob -- soldiers are like any other mob -- dangerous.

We are back in the -- them against us -- period of the Nixon era. Troops are trained to do what they are told -- and enough of them WILL fire on unharmed citizens without hesitation -- the good guy troopers will avoid hitting humans -- but there are enough blood thirsty troops to kill enough protesting citizens to send a chilling message.

[Cleita]

18. Nothing sinister, really.

This post explains what happened:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2664845

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

19. I remember tanks in cities....

Tianamen