posted
Well I guess this is for our "Protection" as well. Is it really worth it to militarize our whole nation to ward off ten thousand kooks? That is of course if you buy into the government's story about 9/11.
Teams of police armed with submachine guns, body armor and bomb-sniffing dogs are to begin patrolling New York subways today in an effort to "prevent terrorism".
The special bomb teams known as "Torch Teams" will consist of six officers and a dog will patrolling all platforms and trains in 12-hour shifts.
The cops will cary huge MP5 submachine guns that are usually used by Navy seals and FBI hostage-rescue teams.
ABC eyewitness news has a video report here.
The move comes after a 50 percent increase in a homeland security grant was announced earlier this year, translating to $153 million.
"The show of force will no doubt make many riders feel safer, although some weren't sure how much of a difference it will make." reports ABC.
If you believe six storm troopers pointing massive machine guns at passengers makes them feel safer I've got a bridge I want to sell you. "They will look similar to the NYPD's heavily armed hercules teams, which have showed up guarding city landmarks since the 9/11 attacks." ABC reminds us, slipping in the now ubiquitous 9/11 reference point, in case you'd forgotten that evil muslim terrorists want you dead.
Meanwhile CBS tells us "In this age of heightened security, commuters and keen canines will share the underground world of mass transit."
Though the "Torch Teams", presumably so called because they "shine a light" on evil terror in the dark and dangerous underground, are officially the first of their kind, the idea was road tested in late 2005 with TSA VIPER squads patrolling mass transit facilities in major cities conducting searches and checking ID's.
"The so-called "Visible Intermodal Protection and Response" teams — or VIPER teams — will patrol Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and Los Angeles rail lines; ferries in Washington state; bus stations in Houston; and mass transit systems in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore." reported the AP.
The move coincided with a federal judge's ruling that police had a constitutional right to randomly search passengers' bags on the New York City subway to deter terrorist attacks.
Though the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits searches without probable cause, the judge declared searches to be only a "minimal intrusion" of privacy.
Presumably the same gross violations of the Fourth will be within the remit of the new "torch teams" and you will be treated as a terrorist suspect and be forced to comply with their orders for your own safety.
The pretext for these jackboot subway patrols came in October 2005 when authorities in New York announced a major terror alert on the underground.
Police temporarily shut down parts of the transit system after a soda bottle filled with a substance resembling the household cleaner Drano was found near an Amtrak ticket counter, the announcement said.
However, it emerged that there was never any corroboration of any terror threat, merely some rumor about it having originated in Iraq:
"the plot to bomb city subways with remote-controlled explosives has not been corroborated after days of investigation, law-enforcement officials said Sunday amid an easing sense of concern."
This did not seem to matter as all the key phrases, "bombs", "subway" "New York" "Terrorists" "Iraq" "Afghanistan" and "Al Qaeda" steamrolled the incident into becoming a brand new terror alert. The random bag searches ensued. Even small children with pink My Little Pony bags were considered possible terrorists.
Everyone can see that this activity is absurd and contemptible, and that is the point. We are being acclimatized to consider this as normal and it's working, the typical reaction is simply, "oh well that's the way it has to be in order for everyone to be safe". The lazy and selfish reaction to this climate of fear is severely damaging our society, the masses are sleepwalking towards a police state, they see it, but it doesn't register.
The VIPER and Torch teams have nothing to do with preventing terrorism, they are there to get people to cower and accept they are under control. There has been no new intelligence indicating that terrorists are interested in targeting transportation modes, these programs are rolled out regardless.
Perhaps the subway stormtroopers will start taking a leaf out of the books of Canadian police and start tasering passengers who try to avoid paying fares.
Or perhaps they will demand middle aged women present ID or arrest those evil terrorists caught donating travel tokens to people without the right change.
This is textbook, mechanized, classic tyranny.
The federal government has ensured that the very same people who grope pregnant women and make 90-year-old men remove their shoes in airports are now going to be on American streets and subways.
Only through constant activism, lobbying and vigilance can we escort martial law away from American shores and live peacefully in a society where we do not cower in fear of the armed security guard barking orders at us when simply walking down the street, "citizen, show me your papers."
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posted
I wonder if this extra security is connected to the story about the upcoming attack on Iran? Are they stepping up security in advance of what the government knows is an increased threat in the very near future?
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posted
Threat from who? Wide eyed terrorists? Or citizens who can't afford bread? Nor the gas to go get it? Are sub machine guns a real good idea in a subway? Is that really necessary in closed quarters with tens of thousands of "civilians"? I'm thinking this nation is under greater threat from the food rationing that is being reported and $4 a gallon gas than any "terrorist".
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posted
but they're our friends propman. there's no need to worry if you aren't doing anything wrong.right?
"The mission is to dissuade reconnaissance that may be ongoing," Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said at the Columbus Circle station this morning. "Our transportation system has been targeted unsuccessfully - now our transit system is safer than it's ever been."
Kelly said the city is always wary of a threat level that "ebbs and flows."
"We're doing everything we reasonably can do," he said.
The teams look for a number of things, including suspicious packages, the commissioner said. "We don't have enough resources to cover it all."
On the No. 1 train platform at 59th Street, an impressed Josiah Guitian, 21, of Manhattan, watched the heavily armed team go to work.
posted
Of the people, by the people and for the people indeedie. The job is to protect ourselves, is that is what is going on? This country has lost sight of it's goal, as government is so concerned about fighting for other peoples right for democracy that American citizens suffer because of it. Our chance at democracy is coming up but why the F is it only every 4 years? A lot of Sh it can happen in four years.............. OOOOH lets impeach the president for f'ing up, yeah, theres your great Areican hand slap. The office should be voted on every two years (if not yearly) and if there is an impeachment trial, the people should vote on the outcome!!!!!
..... I love beer
-------------------- If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?
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posted
More than a first step. I heard this while flipping radio stations. America has 5% of the world's population. America also has 25% of the world's prisoners. Seems we already are a police state.
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quote:Originally posted by Relentless.: More than a first step. I heard this while flipping radio stations. America has 5% of the world's population. America also has 25% of the world's prisoners. Seems we already are a police state.
the way we imprison people is a disgrace too. white collar criminals get fined for stealing peoples life savings so they can eat Alpo they purchase at work in WalMart in their retirement while people do hard time for smoking pot.... it's crazy.
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
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quote:I don't know being an american I do not like to see such sights in public it would make me feel as though I was in a fascist state.
Since New Yorkers are not allowed to protect themselves (by carrying handguns), someone's got to do it! Therefore, you have storm troopers carrying machine guns. My idea is to honor the 2nd amendment and allow citizens to protect themselves.
posted
Everyone can see that this activity is absurd and contemptible, and that is the point. We are being acclimatized to consider this as normal and it's working, the typical reaction is simply, "oh well that's the way it has to be in order for everyone to be safe". The lazy and selfish reaction to this climate of fear is severely damaging our society, the masses are sleepwalking towards a police state, they see it, but it doesn't register.
Though the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits searches without probable cause, the judge declared searches to be only a "minimal intrusion" of privacy.
Presumably the same gross violations of the Fourth will be within the remit of the new "torch teams" and you will be treated as a terrorist suspect and be forced to comply with their orders for your own safety.
posted
Actually the desire of the average person to have a cop nearby is a direct result of not being allowed to carry protection. This is all very well planned out by the government, who are the ones furthering this idiotic notion that guns cause crime, and the idiotic notion that "civilians" aren't responsible enough to own guns. This is precisely why the government is getting away with this enormous power grab.
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quote:Originally posted by The Bigfoot: Not to say it is normal but I'd have thought last weekends activity in Chicago would have moderated your last statement there RD.
and the gangstas blasting each other got these guns legally? i doubt it. 9 die in spate of Chicago shootings Breakdown cited in gang discipline
By Don Babwin Associated Press / April 23, 2008
CHICAGO - Nine people were killed in 36 shootings over the weekend in Chicago, reflecting what some community leaders say is a deadly breakdown in discipline among gang members after a crackdown over the past few years put many of their leaders behind bars. more stories like this
"The older guys in the past looked out for the little ones. Now they're all locked up," said Nick Stames, a social studies teacher at Crane Tech High School on the city's gang-ridden West Side. "There's no sense of discipline in the projects. Everybody's doing their own thing
you think the "storm troopers" will go patrol these guys turf? i don't think so... they never have before, why would they start now?
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
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posted
Not sure that stripping the rights of 300 million people because half a million are morons is really an argument you can win Bigfoot. I just want you to win an argument is all. Trying to look out for you.
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quote:America has 5% of the world's population. America also has 25% of the world's prisoners.
How many on that list of prisoners would be removed if we actually utilized the death penalty? How many 3rd strikers are just waiting to die of old age (or a shiv) on the tax payers dime? How many repeat sexual offenders would no longer be a threat to the general population? If we as a society have determined that they are no longer capable of playing well with others, why do we continue to feed these monsters?
Sorry, Glass and Big, not going to lose any sleep about a bunch of gang bangers 'offing' eachother. I feel bad that they chose that path, and I feel bad for the innocents that get caught in their path; but a few less criminals to give MS13 and other groups the ability to threaten good, hard working people doesn't exactly strike me as all that bad.
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posted
LOLOL... ****ing brilliant Just ****ing kill them Most of the prisoners are simple drug offenders.. Petty offences against a corrupt state. And instead of cleansing the corruption, you say kill the ordinary men, merely guilty of ordinary actions. I smoked more than my share.. Gonna kill me too?
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posted
Read carefully. We are ALL felons. We are ALL just a coincidence away from a life term. Read the second patriot act. They intend to turn any violation of law into a terrorist act. Sure it isn't implicitly written as such.. it's written more like the laws differentiating drug possession with intent to distribute... I never once sold a drug. But if ever I was pulled over I would have been charged then convicted of it.
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posted
First, Relentless, re-read my post. I never endorsed 'kill them all and let God sort them out.' However, repeat violent offenders and sexual predators have almost a one hundred percent recidivism rate. Almost every single repeat offender in these areas are back in jail for the same or closely related crime within five years. How many passes do we have to give them before we stop the cycle? How many innocents have to suffer to ease your concience about capital punishment?
Oh, and I call your bluff on the convicted of drug possession with intent to sell. My brother DID get pulled over with pot in his car. Guess what he got...a plea in abeyance and a year probation.
posted
Ounce of weed in most states is intent to distribute. Morover.. any amount individually bagged is intent to distribute. Most anyone who smokes weed and has a job buys weed by the ounce to reduce risk. Most anyone who smokes weed has bought a quarter or a half and had it in two bags because the seller already had it ready for lesser buys. The law is written by morons and enforced by idiots. All while evil men hold the strings.
Innocents don't have to suffer. Enforce the second amendment on our sadistic government and the innocent will not suffer. The innocent will walk with eyes level.
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quote:innocents don't have to suffer. Enforce the second amendment on our sadistic government and the innocent will not suffer. The innocent will walk with eyes level.
quote:Nine people were killed in 36 shootings over the weekend in Chicago, reflecting what some community leaders say is a deadly breakdown in discipline among gang members after a crackdown over the past few years put many of their leaders behind bars.
That got me thinking about the crime problem. Maybe trying to keep guns out of the hands of criminals is a big mistake. How about a new entitlement to provide free guns to ciminals? Then, they will simply all kill each other and we won't have these idiots to deal with!!! Conservatives would like it because there would be fewer criminals. Environmentalists would love it because fewer people would be around to exhale carbon dioxide. Socialists would certainly love it because it's another handout!
quote:I smoked more than my share...I never once sold a drug. But if ever I was pulled over I would have been charged then convicted of it.
Relentless, if you don't want to worry about being arrested, THEN STOP BEING A DRUGGIE! Very simple.
Drug abuse is NOT a victimless crime. When more dangerous drugs are involved, such as crack, meth, and heroin, theft goes hand in hand with the drug use. I see this every day. Druggies are out there stealing to keep up their habit. Druggies are also involved in a lot of violent crime (although fortunately this is usually loser on loser crime). I frequently see this also.
In addition, that same drug dealer that you buy from is also selling dope to our children.
Why not grow up and become a responsible citizen, instead of a doper?
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posted April 25, 2008 23:56 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- innocents don't have to suffer. Enforce the second amendment on our sadistic government and the innocent will not suffer. The innocent will walk with eyes level. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted
Drug abuse is NOT a victimless crime. When more dangerous drugs are involved, such as crack, meth, and heroin, theft goes hand in hand with the drug use. I see this every day. Druggies are out there stealing to keep up their habit. Druggies are also involved in a lot of violent crime (although fortunately this is usually loser on loser crime). I frequently see this also.
In addition, that same drug dealer that you buy from is also selling dope to our children.
the temperance movement preached the same stuff about alcohol. the industrialists funded the social activists believing that if they got rid of alcohol? they would see improved productivity. it didn't work out that way.
oddly enough drugs were outlawed by the same lawmakers that passed the 18th amendment.
at first? the people getting thrown in jail for violation of drug laws were DOCTORS. anti-drug laws were developed thru a series of international treaties. interestingly? Bush backed out of the SALT treaties with the USSR because he felt like it, and of course the USSR ceased to exist. The govt we signed the original drug control treaties with ceased to exist long ago. Treaty laws have some very strange anomolies attached to them. the Feds really have no constitutionally founded rights to restrict the consumption of drugs or alcohol (otherwise? they didn't need the 18th to begin with)
the reality of the world is that people enjoy all kinds of different things. you want to fix the drug problem? make it a health care issue between a doctor and their paient and it will be cut in half overnite.
legalising alcohol was the answer to the rampnat alcoholism that erupted after prohibition.
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise.
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Glass, why not just confess that you're a socialist. I don't believe for a minute that you were ever a capitalist or conservative. With the exception of the gun issue, I don't see a view that you have that isn't far left.
quote:the reality of the world is that people enjoy all kinds of different things. you want to fix the drug problem? make it a health care issue between a doctor and their paient and it will be cut in half overnite.
Actually, that's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard. You clearly have no idea what goes on with these druggies. It's very nice of you to say that it should be an issue between a doctor and their patient, but unfortunately the innocent taxpayers have to pay for this stupidity. For example, meth causes the user's teeth to rot away in a rapid fashion. I see this everyday on the street. Many female crack addicts turn tricks (and get diseases) trying to get money for drugs. Crack, meth, and heroin addicts will do ANYTHING to get their drugs, including stealing, not paying their rent (thereby ending up on the street), etc. This is a HUGE cost to society in both ruined lives and dollars. All you socialists whine about helping the poor, but by encouraging drugs use, you are HURTING PEOPLE!
I don't personally care if drugs are legalized or not. However, the bad behavior needs to be severely punished and I shouldn't be required to pay the medical costs of these idiots!!!!
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