LL, is this where you were yesterday?

The bad news is They'll Be BAAAAK! Let's hope it's in July.

(cross-post from GICC)

Marines call off training exercise Homeless advocates protest, Phoenix acts  Marine exercise targeted (3/24)

By Pat Kossan The Arizona Republic March 24, 2000

On one side were the Marines, poised to drop from helicopters Thursday into downtown Phoenix in a training exercise.

On the other side were advocates for the homeless, worried about the psychological effects on homeless veterans.

In the end, the Marines blinked.

They and Phoenix officials surrendered to the advocates' all-day lobbying effort and canceled the training exercise, planned for the area around Ninth Avenue and Madison Street, which is filled with soup kitchens and shelters.

Advocates for the homeless feared that the sights and sounds of the exercise could have triggered trauma symptoms in veterans who live on the streets near the target area.

The advocates were surprised by their victory.

"They (city officials) haven't always moved that quickly -- or at all," said Jan Gray, whose jobs-service program sits in the targeted neighborhood. "We're very impressed that they listened."

She was among members of the Phoenix Coalition to End Homelessness who gathered Thursday morning to step up their lobbying efforts.

Police Chief Harold Hurtt and federal officials canceled the exercise after learning about the potential problems, City Manager Frank Fairbanks said, adding, "I don't think anyone thought through the initial impact."

The Marines plan to return to Phoenix for training, he said, but will work with officials to choose a more suitable site.

Members of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based in Camp Pendleton, Calif., have been in the Valley all week, training to rescue hostages, evacuate civilians and deliver humanitarian aid. They leave for home today.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/0324marines.shtml

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), March 24, 2000

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), March 24, 2000

Answers

Flash,

For the life of me I can't figure why anyone would want to "drop" into the heart of town.

(Methinks I smell a rat named Pat Kossen, or Martin Thompson.)

Aside from the fact that there's too much traffic to contend with, I have to ask WHY would they do that?

Don't the Marines do water-type stuff???

Thanks for the article, though.

Now I'm wondering, what do you think about it? Do you think there's any merit to that article?

:o)

~*~

-- Laura (Ladylogic@....), March 24, 2000.

Laura,

I'm not sure what you mean by "merit". I think that the article is for real, as I saw a reference to in the evening paper.

What concerns me is that this is part of a continuing saga of staging these "practice sessions" in metropolitan areas. It seems to me that what they are really doing is getting us used to the idea of seeing military "training" operations, so that no one gets excited about it.

There's no reason why the military can't build their own "training city" out in the boondocks somewhere (like 29 Palms) and practice there instead of disrupting people's lives and disturbing the peace. They did it in Oakland and Monterey, CA, and a lot of other places, too. Somewhere in Texas, they used an abandoned warehouse district and live ammo and grenades, and started some fires.

Incidentally, I wasn't kidding about the three black helicopters that zoomed over my house a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't see any markings or insignia on them, in spite of claims to the contrary. They were headed in your direction, too!

Seen any UFO's down there lately? Never a dull moment these days!

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), March 24, 2000.

Good morning, Flash.

I'm sorry, buddy. I've never seen black helicopters, or UFO's, and I really don't care much what the military does. I have a really great life and that's due in no small part to the great job my government is doing. (I don't agree with all the stinkin' programs we have to pay for, but as a whole, I can't bitch.)

Hey! It's nice outside. It looks like we're gonna have a nice day! I need to go enjoy it before this place turns into an oven. Are you in Sedona? I sure am jealous if you are.

:o)

~*~

-- Laura (Ladylogic@...), March 25, 2000.

"Advocates for the homeless feared that the sights and sounds of the exercise could have triggered trauma symptoms in veterans who live on the streets near the target area."

Sheesh! Can you imagine several homeless vets having delusions, grabbing a gun, and firing back on the Marines? Can't have that now, can we? The gobmint can spend megabucks on urban assult training, but can't seem to take care of the vets. I can see the headlines now: So and So General tells everyone what a nice guy he is because he cancelled the exercises. In the meantime, the REAL problem remains.

Hey, FM or Screenwriter Wanna Be: here's a tale for you -- the military builds this "city" for urban assult training, and stocks it with REAL people -- the homeless, petty criminals, runaway teenagers. Then Extreme TV broadcasts the exercises. The urban survivors win "valuable" prices -- hot meals, clean underwear -- they may even be allowed to leave if they kill enough soldiers (odds for that are as high as hitting the state lotto, and weak Marines don't deserve to live).

Go for it guys and gals! It wouldn't be any worse than the tripe from the Ramseys, and that junk is SELLING!

Might as well make some money from the circus.

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), March 25, 2000.

Yeah, and if anyone does write and sell the above tale, please donate money to my favorite cause: your local public library!

-- (kb8um8@yahoo.com), March 25, 2000.

kb8um8 - That's pretty impressive! Sounds good enough for Hollywood. Why don't you copyright it here, online?

Laura - Not in Sedona, although I love it there. A little warm for me in Summer. I like my summers a bit cooler. Also, I'm a bit more rural. Used to live in Phoenix about 30 years ago. Back then, it was marginally liveable. I don't see how you folks stand it down there, now! I can remember when there was NOTHING between Mesa and Apache Junction except a few signs. Chandler and Gilbert were totally argicultural. How does it go, "they paved Paradise and put up a parking lot"? I can remember Phoenix with almost no smog!

Regarding UFOs, what I meant to say is lights in the sky. If you aren't in the middle of city lights, it's interesting what passes over now and then. Regarding "black helicopters", you might get more interested if they buzzed your house once in a while. A week before I was at my mother's house about 20 miles from mine, and a big, gray, unmarked Chinook helicopter zoomed in low over her's and other's houses.

I'm glad to hear that you have a nice job, courtesy of our fine Governemnt. But, I'm surprised that you seem to be so trusting of It and Big Business. I would have thought that a former PI would be a little more suspicious.

Enjoy the beautiful day!!!

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), March 25, 2000.

LOL!

I don't work for the government!!

(I have to go jog with my nephew,...this day is too pretty to waste. I'll be back to discuss the rest of this stuff with you later!)

~*~

-- Laura (Ladylogic@...), March 25, 2000.