Intro: "If you notice a heavy military presence around downtown Los Angeles this week, don't be alarmed - it's only a drill. Joint military training exercises will be held evenings through Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department."

Police around the country held Urban Shield training drills much like the police-military drills being run in Los Angeles. (photo: angelikabayri/flickr}

LAPD in 'Joint Military Training' Exercises in Downtown LA

By CBS News

24 January 12

f you notice a heavy military presence around downtown Los Angeles this week, don't be alarmed - it's only a drill.

Joint military training exercises will be held evenings through Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The LAPD will be providing support for the exercises, which will also be held in other portions of the greater Los Angeles area, police said.

Training sites "have been carefully selected to ensure the event does not negatively impact the citizens of Los Angeles and their daily routine," a department official said.

The training, which a department official said would involve helicopters, has been coordinated with local authorities and owners of the training sites, police said.

Police said safety precautions have been taken to prevent risk to the general public and military personnel involved.

The exercises are closed to the public, police said.

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, police said.

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+54 # Kayjay 2012-01-24 17:29

It looks like the "goon squad" of the one percent, is preparing for the revolution as well. It seems that military tactics work well in keeping "We the people," in line. Offer a bit of overtime pay to the police and they will do the will of anyone.

+19 # Huck Mucus 2012-01-24 18:09

God, I hope you are wrong. But we all know about the audacity of hope. I fear you are right, and we all know how well fear works.

Remember your Second Amendment and keep your enemies close. I think a hear a train a comin'.

Hey, I like that: It could be a universal symbol that both the right and the left could agree upon, kind of like the "Don't Tread On Me" snake, only better. It's a train of cattle cars being loaded with people. Or better yet, to simplify it, just a train coming toward you on some tracks. Everyone gets that. Dibs on the copyright! I can see the T-shirts now, selling like hot cakes at the OWS rallies this spring!

+18 # Majikman 2012-01-24 23:00

You nailed it, Kayjay. The only prayer the 99% have is for the military and police to align with the populace and screw their corporate masters. hmmmmm is it a mere coincidence that the first attack is the Left Coast? Oh, did I say "attack". Surely, I meant "exercise".

+7 # Huck Mucus 2012-01-25 06:13

Yeah, and where the hell are the people of LA in all this? Did anyone think to ask them permission first? Or is this something the elected "leaders" get to authorize without even floating it by their constituents first?

Was it just popped on them as a done deal, so they didn't really think they were even allowed to voice opposition? Or are they actually behind this?

I guess I'm just a little surprised that the first time I hear about it is on RSN. Oh well, maybe it's been all over the T.V. Since I killed my T.V. I am now ignorant of all important goings-on in the world.

+16 # Huck Mucus 2012-01-24 17:34

I think I can hear a lonesome whistle blow.

+16 # BobHG 2012-01-25 02:46

Hitler had similar "exercises" in the 1930s, but, never mind - this is, perhaps, all part and parcel of the change we were all supposed to believe in.

+23 # 666 2012-01-25 03:53

and to think obama just signed the ndaa creating "battlefield america" less than a month ago!

gosh, things happen quick

+7 # Billy Bob 2012-01-25 08:30

Yeah, but don't worry about it. They'll never actually use any of that new power...

unless they feel like it.

+2 # Doubter 2012-01-26 16:49

"don't be alarmed - it's only a drill."

+10 # tedrey 2012-01-25 05:49

The intent of this is obvious. At no time in the last century, even during Watts or the Great Depression, was that level of police force necessary or desirable. This is aimed directly at us.
The military may be preparing for "upcoming overseas deployments" - but at the same time they are being prepared for a homeland battlefield.
The Italian, German, and Jepanese ultra-nationalist takeovers actually happened to peoples who thought themselves civilized and secure. I swear that it is happening to America now. If we can't stop this, the next world war may star US as the bad guys.
End of my rant . . . for now.

+3 # Glen 2012-01-25 16:25

tedrey, you have omitted some rather huge parts of American history relative to violence against citizens. Check out the use of the military against WWI veterans while camping in DC demonstrating to the government that they deserve what they were promised - resulting in many deaths when they were sent to Key West just before the hurricane hit. That, after the military (and do check out who was in charge) burned their tents and ran them and their families out of DC. Or - how about the murders occurring when workers were attempting to organize and begin unions. How about the violence against blacks? Moving on - there was a bit of a bombing on 10,000 protesters, hoping to improve the lot of miners. Matewan.

It will come again. The preparations began a while back, most especially under George W. A crap load of people have been warning of the coming put down of citizens.

+1 # tedrey 2012-01-26 19:41

I agree with you, Glen, and I already knew most of that. What I said was that it was neither "necesaary nor desirable." It wasn't then, and it isn't now. "Mokokit-ki-amimat" - "get tough and don't give up!" (Blackfoot.)

+9 # in deo veritas 2012-01-25 07:12

Just goes back to the "lesser of two evils" nonsense. Evil is evil-period. There is always an alternative but it is never easy to recognize it much less support it. What ever befalls us now is the result of our failure to realize that "the good of the one (or 1%) outweighs the good of the many" has taken over. That is comsummate evil.

+8 # Kootenay Coyote 2012-01-25 07:32

Intimidation.

+7 # Billy Bob 2012-01-25 08:30

They're practicing for the eventual economic/environmental collapse that will make 99% of us the feared enemy of the other 1%.

Besides, it's just so much fun to play with all their new toys!

+3 # brianf 2012-01-25 12:36

I think you are right. The 1% might survive a little longer than the rest of us, but they will collapse too. Just as we can't exist without other species, the 1% can't exist without the 99%.

+6 # brianf 2012-01-25 12:34

The new Gestapo?

+5 # RMDC 2012-01-26 04:55

This is just disgusting. "Operation Urban Shield." Who are they protecting. Who are they pointing those "street sweeper" full automatic shotguns at? Who pays the salaries of these jack booted cops?

Why is it that the people always become the enemies of the state. Governments which are said to represent people always seem to end up pointing guns at these people and herding them around like cattle.

IT is time for the USG to just go away. What good does it do?

+1 # Capn Canard 2012-01-26 08:59

It is coming, and the 1% are about as arrogant as you can imagine, they still rationalize that their laws and guns make them our moral superiors. There is no hope for the 1%, the 99% has to sit up and make some noise. I suspect that we will learn far more in the coming year.

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