....I can't believe how stupid you folks are. These 'tanks' weren't 'deployed' to this location, they were trying to get to another destination. Honestly, the folks on this site are dumber than a box of rocks. Are you all that desperate for your little negative fantasies? Whatever you do, don't stop. It's too much fun to watch how retarded you all are.

Strange indeed. i would not have believed it if I had not seen the video. I get the impression that some think the tanks were there to intimidate - but could it be that they were there in support of the protest? Did anyone standing near the tanks talk to any of the military personnel in the tanks and if so, what was said?

'You' were lost? So you stopped in front of the protest to ask directions? Dont reply with some crap about protestors blocking 'your' way -- 'you' could have inched your way out of the situation without ever stopping. Instead 'you' chose to remain at a stand still until one or two minutes after the police had cleared the street. The odds that you just happened along, lost on your way to a parade and then stopped at the location you did for such a long time -- are about ZERO.

The next american terror attack will no doubt take place in LA. Mark my words and remember where you saw this when it inevidably happens. It will be funny to hear what the reasons, culprits and circumstances of the attack will be, the spin will be gastly no doubt.

The "Real Idiots" are anybody who actually still believes that america is still a "Democratic" nation...I mean talk about "Stupid"!!! Have you bothered to notice that we have a president occupying the whitehouse that "Lost the election" to Kerry! Question is..are you "Smart enough to go and find out HOW he did it??? Its all over the internet "Moron"!!! Don't believe "Mainstream press" anymore!...They have become nothing less than "Pathological Liars"!!!The whole batch of them! Don't find out the hard way next year when america will be attacked again by the same CIA "Black-Opps" people responsible for what happened on September 11th 2001!!! Go and read a book called "Crossing the Rubicon" by Mike Ruppert available at http://www.copvcia.com It will make you feel really "Foolish" not to mention SHOCKED!!! Believe me YOU WILL BE SHOCKED!! I WAS!!!
Get smart folks before its to late!...PLEASE!!!!

Tinfoil hat alert! Cut the conspiracy crap, it makes you look bad, and a little loony. From what I can see, the anti-war demonstrators got in front of the APCs, which were probably looking for the National Guard Armory, and then they wouldn't get out of the way so that they could pass. Hence the appearance of the Westwood police on bicycles. There are identifiable incidents of incorrect vote counts, and overcounts, but nothing adding up to the 3.6M that Bush got over Kerry. And before you even accuse me of being a Republican, I'm a Democrat, I don't believe in taking shit from the Republican Administration, I'd really like to see Tom Delay go to jail, and I voted for Kerry, because I didn't want to see the Chimp get four more years, but please, next you'll be telling us about the black helicopters, just like those John Birchers we used to have to listen to back in the 80s.

But I'm also a former Marine myself, and I have to say, I'd be pissed off at whoever stepped in front of a vehicle I was driving, stopping me from dropping it off, and delaying me getting off work. Do you understand why they'd be just a little pissed off at you? If you don't, then I'll spell it out for you, being in the military is a thankless job sometimes, and guys like that don't need any of what I saw on that video from the demonstrators, which was close to being really disresepectful.

'the times, they are a-changin'
the slap of debt accumulation and infrastructure meltdown as food and fuel prices rise while money becomes worthless....
a community garden and well project might be useful. Wind power and water. That's the ticket. Yeah..

i'm Italian , as i look to United states now , it's like i'm looking trough a mirror which reflects the future of my country .
Bush and it's foot licker Silvio Berlusconi are uniformating the masses , destroying the oppositions , lefting us only misery . i would like that films like Farenheit 9/11 , Boowling for Columbine ect. they were used in schools to educate the next generations , to create an historical memory .Our generation is fucked by the habits , and the memory has been lost , so we must restart from young boys and girls , cuz they will " live "in a real state of control , the fact that i can write this it probably means that some hope is permitted .thanks

http://members.cox.net/macallan_the/falluja.asf

It's armor on our streets. No mussel cover on the big gun, pointing foward. Don't do it again.

dave dave dave. how do i know that they were there on accident and it was only to drop off their vehicles at the national guard center? why else would they drive 90 miles up north to mess around with a bunch of idiots??? plus i know, im in the damn video, i was walking by!!!!! they don't have tracks they have 8 wheels. you saying that its a tank cause it has armor is like saying a motorcycle is a car because it has wheels, so if you put armor on a hummer is it a tank too you idiot!!! go talk to your christian god and ask him to educate you dave, you ignorant fool.

Off your meds again? Whew. Haven't seen this much raving, psycho paranoia since a buddy of mine did 6 tabs of STP ....

Oh my god, conspiracy theorists UNITE!!! you are so good at pitting everyone against you, its all about "us vs them" isn't it. Those were MARINE RESERVES going to a VETERANS DAY EVENT!!!! They are from Camp Pen and don't know the area. You seriously cannot beleive that they could be lost? Yes, it is convenient that they stopped at an anti war rally, but could it be that maybe they did cuz they thought it'd be fun. The protesters were trying to draw peoples attention, apparently they did.

This is really silly.

With all due respect, wasn't Veteran's Day on the 11th? The incident in question occurred on the 9th.

The article about the tanks was published in the LA Times, November 12, 2004 (Friday), Home Edition, SECTION: CALIFORNIA; Metro; Metro Desk; Part B; Pg. 3, LENGTH: 357 words. The headline read Military's Presence at Antiwar Rally Is Called a Coincidence. Looking at the video, I would say it may have been a coincidence, but once the tanks got there, the military wanted to make a statement. The tanks sat there for what looks like a full five minutes. Cowboy intimidation, perhaps? As for the people who keep saying Dems like being beat up, sounds like you all have a bit of the abuser sydrome. Seek some help, eh? But I'll tell you all what the Dems are: frustrated, angry, embarrassed by Bush et al. This Dem. doesn't intend to stop being any of these until Bush et al is gone BTW, so to you Pubs who are hoping to trick the country into a "sane dialogue" (easy to ask for once you have your way, don't you think), you'd better be ready for a fight instead. Because that's what you've finally pushed us to.

doesn't any one else think it is odd at the great number of comments from people who think this a non-issue. what the hell are they doing on this website. who's signing their paycheck? dubya?

I heard that the tanks were practicing a parade route for the veterans day parade that was to take place the following day and the protesters just happened to be on the same route... I don't think we're at the point yet where they would send tanks out to meet protesters on purpose but it's probably not too far off.

Being a Democrat who voted for Kerry in one of the few Blue states on the map ( I love Michigan ) who opposes the war in Iraq as much as anyone who's actually paid attention to the debacle, it seems to me that the tanks were just trying to make a right turn. Seems to me that the only offense they made was holding up traffic in the right turn lane. Way to make a big deal out of nothing.

Wow, the internet is so skeptical. That is not a tank, it is a HALO2 video game conspiracy photo.

The Australian was right, you americans have mostly rolled over already. Why would anyone doubt the tanks? Because you wouldn't really need them in america, the land of the 'freedom' and 'liberty' and 'gun-toting' maniacs. Maniacs that can't see beyoind their own eyes.

[...Sorry for that outburst, not very constructive.]

In SUMMARY:

It is likely that these two tanks were there 'accidentally' for a 'veterans day' event. Some in the anti-war protest reacted with hostility, some with putting themselves in the path to disable the tanks, some with obsequeous reconciliation.

The event has had no media coverage beyond this website and links to here.

The debate on the comment thread revolves around a few issues.

Military jargon folk showing off their specialised knowledge of murdur machines "this is not a tank, this is an ABC XYZ and the gun is this big not that big" You amerricans are sure scary, I don't want to know so much about killing machines: I am neither homicidal nor suicidal. I can't imagine why else you would wnt to be anexpert of such disspiriting nonsense.

Trolls and those caught up by them: "this is not air I am breathing, I breath water and you can't prove me wrong because my conputer has no breathing interface"

A lot of sensible sad comments about how discouraging the election and the war and the tanks at anti war protests are.

Some sensibly angry folk who don't want to take it lying down but offer paranoid solutions like outmeal gasoline anti-tank weapons and psy-ops conspiracy

This rather shallow Peace Movement discussion instigated by 'Rev' who talks about the philosophical effectiveness of hostility versus compassion.

This last Peace Movement discussion is the most important and relevant response. I certainly agree with my ideals that compassion is the best way and cooperation is better than fighting.

Funny however, that such ideals can be perverted by narrow thinking and pacifist rhetoric.

I suppose it is obvious that the soldiers are not really the type to examplify those morals of problem solving by cooperation. It is indeed noble that one would try to compassionately convince with rational arguement even a soldier sworn to obey orders and kill those defined from above as 'the enemy'

But such idealism isn't always practical. Such idealism can be poisonous when to uphold those values requires blindness to other parts of reality.

Such as the quote from the real or imaginary soldier exemplifying the logic behind all wars:
"I think it is amazing how so many people
protest us for doing our jobs."

Think harder soldier, maybe 'doing your job' isn't really an acceptable response to the question: What is my role in this life?

But of course soldiers aren't trained to think harder. They are trained very religiously to not question [the root of thinking] and to obey.

Do you know about soldiers in wars killed by their own army? This happens all the time. The reasoning is sick if you believe the propaganda that it is 'us against them' and 'we are all in it together'. The kind of thing that is always said in war. However, the reality is that the top down control of the army will always supercede such solidarity - because that is what the army is built for: killing people. If you ask questions first, then you might not pull the trigger. Then our whole heirarchical society might come crumbling down. Traitors are more dangerous than the enemy really because a traitor can redefine the existance of the enemy - very powerful - imagine being able to have no more enemies just by using words rather than having to use all those guns and bombs to obliterate them...

"Just doing my job" is what all the concentration camp guards would say. "Just doing my job" is the mantra of the oppressor. Why? Because they fundamentally believe in the sanctity of that heirarchical system. The God or the King at the top must know better than I what to do - how else did he [mostly a he] get to the top? I am therfore obligated to obey. I am trapped under the minion above me, my only power is to lord it over those underfoot - all the way the top to the bottom. A well run army works like that: obediant, cold, precise, dumb as a board.

Of course not everything works so perfectly as the theory - thank god - and there is room for compassion when talking to soldiers.

But that anger against the soldiers is certainly not misplaced and you can get all your gods and policement to say it is but it will still not be so.

The soldier is responsible for being a soldier.

Yes, I believe in personal responsibility. That may sound harsh. But that compassion to the soldier is going to be wasted if he don't realise that it is not OK to pass the buck. It's like an alcoholic, he won't be helped by you until he decides he wants to change. Until then, you can't just rust him with the booze because he says 'I'm doing my job, I have no choice, I was born to this and am totally helpless.'

Yes, some soldiers need help getting out of that fascist structure of theirs. Others need to have their guns taken away and have women yell at them and have people step in front of their tanks....

After reading your post, I have only one question...Are you from planet Earth????

Are you from planet Earth???

I think you mean Kent State not Ohio State. Kent is where Nixon called out the National Guard and four people lost their lives. Ohio State is where Maurice Clarett called out Coach Tressel and the football team lost their respect. Two seperate things.

well probably the only thing that made scrolling down this page worthwhile was Rus's post!

come on so what if it was coincidence or not....there are plenty of other things to be pissed about. lives have been taken and books have been written....regardless of this event (if it was one)...the corruption and elitest views of this whole society only encourage me to dissent and to invoke all the civil disobedience i can possibly ensue upon this abstraction that we claim as our own....as we chant on the soldiers as they kill all those innocent families...as the elite ruin lives here...
corporations running down small business in my hometown and i read its not just here...everywhere these international fatcats overwhelm the votes with their lobbying tactics their politcal action committees and their "wine and dine"s with popular political officials. fuck their heirachy...fuck their lack of social responsibility in the name of profiteering.

the system no longer is capable of reform....we need to bring down the power of those who lie to us and steal the so called freedom and liberty we citizens of amerika are supposed to have.

NO GODS, NO MASTERS.
no one has the right to tell me what is best in my life and the best decisions are for me......whereever there is government there is oppression.

Steve, as I have been reading, all I am thinking about is Ohio State. Scrolling down and down wondering if I've gone through the looking glass and no one on this side remembers.....

Why are there tanks on our streets for any reason? In this time of intense emotions we can only assume there is an underlying message with their presence at an anti-war rally. To the Marine I respect your dedication, please just approach your commitment with open eyes.

It is likely the so called tanks, probably light armored vehicles (non-tracked) were at the site of the demonstration purely by coincidence in that the vehicles were apparently USMC owned and operated.
I believe it is more than likely, because of the date and the location (November 9th near the Federal Building) that their presence was there as part of the USMC Birthday Celebration the next day (November 10th) to be part of a display in connection USMC Recruiting, or, it was there in connection with Veteran's Day (November 11th). I don't believe the vehicle(s) was (were) there for reasons associated with controling the crowd.

Under the terms of Posse Comitatus, military vehicles and/or personnel are prohibited from enforcing civil law unless so directed by the President of the United States, and only then when civil authorities have lost control. In such a case, military forces are the last ones in and the first ones out once civil law has been restored.

The LAPD is not in need of military assistance to handle routine anti-war demonstrations. They have both the personnel and the equipment to maintain law and order during such demonstrations without military equipment or personnel. It is a farce to believe otherwise.

It is more than likely, from my perspective and experience that the crowd chnose to confront the vehicles rather than the reverse.

Vehicles of this nature are not considered a crowd control piece of equipment without supporting infantry due to their vulnerbility of attacks from hand carried / hand delivered incendiary or explosive devices.

It is my opinion the facts have been distorted in this instance to support a cause. It's a free country, but I will end by saying this "You can BS some of your followers, but you cannot BS the law enforcement and military players who know the rules and have played the game"

ROBERT N. PEMBERTON, SR.
MA, MS and ABA Certified Paralegal
Sergeant Major of Marines (Retired)
Nassau County, NY Police Department (Retired)

It is unbelievable how many ignorant rednecks are on here saying "I was there!" or " I'm the one who was in the turret!". You people are pathetic hicks who need to go to Iraq to go get you some terrorists. I hope they frag your asses and you come home with no legs.

Look, you guys can't be that ignorant. A bunch of you are convinced that these guys were "lost "and they were "on their way to a parade"? Or that "they came from Pendleton?". Give me a break! Pendleton is 80 miles to the south. These guys were there for the protest. This is the way that the BUsh administration does things now. Are you that blind? The whole world is having major protests about us being at war, yet we Americans can only muster up these small protests of a few hundred people? Why? because they've enacted this aggressive intimadation tactic against any and all protests. Look what they did to the thousands who protested in New York at the RNC convention. Or the inauguration even. Google "RNC arrests" you stupid rednecks. Do you really think a small independant free press would go to the effort of getting a bunch of jock actors to act like cops and buy a couple of LAV's just to post a mpeg on this small website? Get a clue. No wonder the rest of the world thinks we're dumb, we've got a ton of idiots in this country. You people are pathetic who write all this nonsense,. Even with a video clip and you claim they're going to a parade. I'm sure you're the same people that see Iraqi 2 year olds with burns all over, missing legs and arms and claim that they're fake photos!
I live in L.A. and I can tell you this isn't the first time these armored vehicles have been sent to the Federal Building for protests. This Fed Bldg houses the FBI, CIA, NSC, and probably Homeland Security now as well. I lived in West LA and have seen these vehicles before. You guys fail to realize they keep these vehicles all over the city. That includes the police depts and the sheriffs as well as the national guard.Idiots.

I was driving the LAV and we where there to intimidate the protestors. I can't hold it in anymore, Bush sent the order down the pipe from D.C. and told our commanders about a protest in L.A. and we had to go there. I am sorry!!! God Bless California

absolutely ridiculous to deploy these machines in the city. only time before these "lost" soldiers go apeshit on the protesters...

"lost soldiers" go apesh*t on the protestors...? Geez what a reactionary "moore-on". I am sure you would love the photo opportunity if they did. Unfortunately for you and those of your ignorant, bleating ilk, most of our men and women of the US Armed forces have several qualities that you lack - among them: character, restraint, self discipline, a sense of reality and proportion, honor and integrity, self-sacrifice...I warmly encourage you to grow up, move out of your parents' basements, and get real jobs that do not involve whining, nor a government paycheck (unless it is for military duty).

heres the deal folks. i am a marine, an Lav crewman in fact. i only know about this little forum because it was emailed to me for the entertainment value. you see, our boys WERE on their way to stage the vehicles for the parade. however, after a long drive up from camp pen, who could resist a little fun at the expense of screaming idiots? c'mon! they were standing on a street corner chanting and beating a drum! i can almost hear the voice over the intercom in my head "hey lets go around the block again then pull over and ask directions and see what they say." so here is the naked truth: did they go there to fuck with you? no. did they decide to fuck with you for fun? yes, yes they did. does the fun continue as we email each other this site? it sure does.

Did it occur to you idiots that they might have been there for a reason not having anything to do with you guys? Like celebrating the brave men and women who fought and died for their right to protest? You morons cannot fathom the amount of restraint it took for those Marines not to climb down off of those vehicles and smack you down like the whiny bitches you are.

-Mack

Freedome has a taste that only those who fought for it will truly know it. Just ask the marines who you encountered that day. the marines were on their way to be apart of the veterans day parade. As for the protesters, please step in front of my vehicle next time. Fucken hippies go to Canada.

Keep the heavy stuff off our streets and everything will be cool.
No one wants to have Americans spilling blood on the streets. That would really bring it home.

they were on their way to a PARADE. a parade held in OUR honor people. a parade where children smile and wave at us and want to be near us. just like the kids in iraq did. the majority of us were born and raised in LA/OC/SD. most of us have our degrees or are working on them in LA/OC/SD. most of us live and work in LA/OC/SD. we are cops, high school teachers, college students, professionals, chances are we live in the same neihborhood, eat at the same restaraunts, you might serve me coffee on my way to the office every morning. (and i appreciate it) the long and the short of it is, these are our streets if they are anybody's. we care about our hometowns and believe they are worth fighting for. so when we get invited to bring our vehicles home for a parade in our honor we'll be goddamned if we are going to take that kind of disrespect from a rabble of jackholes making asses of themselves on a street corner. who do you think you are going to convince that way? tell me that when you see a guy with a cross, a bible, and a bullhorn you don't shake your head in disgust. especially if your are a christian. those guys fuck it up for normal christians, you guys fuck it up for people who are against war and want a say. stop making asses of yourselves. hold a meeting, enjoy your free speech, glad we could protect that for you. stay out of the road.

Not if you're under arms in time of peace. That's why they have federal military reservations. Don't show up in armor, with an un covered gun, it pisses the people off.

i don't think you even read my whole statement. go back, try it again slowly. now think. now comment.

"we'll be goddamned if we are going to take that kind of disrespect from a rabble of jackholes making asses of themselves on a street corner"
Kiss my ass.
Now read that and comment.

there's yer comment champ

this isn't a pissing contest, and of course, everyone is a tough guy in front of a computer. some of us get to be tough all the time but that is besides the point. chill out.

Don't get too big for your BDUs. I've noticed that tankers have a particular mindset inside that very vulnerable shell. All they are aware of is the fire power they control. Oh well.

what a tool

"...a parade where children smile and wave at us and want to be near us."

....now that's just creepy....

now what is that about?

i, a marine, make a comment that shows compassion towards children, and this guy wants to make me seem like a pervert because he disagrees with what he assumes are my politics.

whats your problem there, damaged goods?
was daddy away too much?
did mommy lock you in a closet?

are you, sir, a danger to children?

or did you just get real ballsy all of a sudden, when you realized that you wouldn't have to back it up?

Somebody who is a tuffboy. Golly.

You all need to grow up.

We as a nation have more freedoms than any other in the world. In order for people in Japan for instance to protest anything they have to get permission from their government and schedule the times dates and location or they will all be arrested.

We are the least militant country in the world. At least of those countries that have a military. We have a law called the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 that was enacted after the Civil War that states that American service members under federal control (i.e. Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Reserve Components) cannot be used to enforce law or assist in the enforcement of law outside a federal installation or property. So the idea that those Marines where there to quell your little protest is absurd not to mention ILLEGAL. Now this law does not cover forces like the National Guard that are both federally controlled and state controlled. I doubt your governor called in the National Guard.

Here is a small bit of background info on me.

I have been a Military Police officer in the U.S. Army for over 8 years so I have practical knowledge on the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, crowd control and riot control and those strikers where not supposed to be there. I have served in eastern Europe the middle east and asia.

I am asked by many people that I meet “Why are you in the military? I don’t believe in the military.”

I give them two answers “I serve so you don’t have too, and I defend your right to protest me.”

If young people like me didn’t step up to defend our great nation then there would be one of two things happen. One people would be forced into service against their will a.k.a a draft. Or two we would be some other nation under some other countries rule and have no rights of our own.

I choose freedom for me, my family, and yours now and in the future.

So in closing protest the war protest me and I will stand to defend your right to do so and enable others in this world to have the same rights and freedoms you take for granted.

Who would invade a country of gun ownwers?

We did, we invaded a country of gun toting extremist named the Taliban when we invaded Afghanistan. There where bands of AK and RPG wielding idiots walking the streets. Fat load of good those weapons did them against F-15 Eagles and M1 Abrams. We need a military to defend our country from any aggressor. Sure you can go to your local gun store and by a rifle, pistol or shotgun but you can’t go buy a tank or strike fighter. Thank God.

Could you imagine being able to go buy a stinger missile at your local gun store. Thousands would be killed taking off from our airports alone. There would be no safety to fly; every extremist with a grudge would be able to take out Americans in the hundreds using our very freedoms against us.

We need a military if for nothing else but to be able to control those weapons needed to defend us.

the problem with having one is that it misused and taken advantage of by inauspicious characters and shady politicians. They send our troops off to fight nonsensical wars in deserts and jungles under the proclamations of "freedom" and that these impoverished countries hate ours. Our troops should be at home defending our borders, not traipsing through the third world conquering the wastelands.

Sure we invaded a country of 6 million and you better see how well that's going with a growing attrition and resistance. They wouldn't have much of a problem if Saddam hadn't allowed the citizens to have AK 47 with full auto. Think of the logistics of invading a country of 280 million who own fire arms. The only ones who need the military are the weapons contractors and the wall street parasites who use the men and women of our land to extract resources from unwilling populations.

around circa 1941. All of Europe and most of Russia would probably be sprucking da Deutch today if it weren't for the military .

The question is not whether we need a military. It's a given that we do.

The question is how we keep it from being abused by inauspicious politicians.

Looks like a lot of education was lost on little insignificant baa baa dumb sheep from November 10.
Okay......tanks alright? GOOD! Because in most paranoid, fascist police states, you'll be a goner simply because you draw too much attention to yourself, and THAT is a direct threat to ANY police state. God Bless America!!!!!!!!!!

merry christmas all you crazy left-wing anarchists! see you next year!

The amount of dissent in more repressive countries is GREATER than in America. Think about it.

In Mexico, the cops routinely beat the shit out of people, but they come out by the hundreds of thousands to protest. In Indonesia, there's a fascist police state that's oppressing people, but the oppressed take up arms and demonstrate.

These police-heavy states are characterized by internal dissent, typically due to racist or religious discrimination. People really have nothing to lose, and everything to gain, by exercising some "freedom of speech" they don't even have.

There was dissent in Iraq under Saddam. So, no wonder they are shooting back. They're used to fighting against awesome military power.

Americans are, globally speaking, a bunch of complacent sheep. We're fat and happy, and very selfish. The few who dare to suggest that we have a human responsibility to those who make our goodies and grow our food, by paying them decently, and making their work as safe as possible, are derided as hopelessly passe, and killjoys. What they say is, "gimme money, burgers, discount appliances and premium porn... and shut the fuck up you nanny state biotch."

Well, I hope y'all greedy imperialists get your asses kicked. Freedom isn't free, if it's just freedom to shop and waste. It's not free if it comes at someone else's un-freedom and misery.

You yanks are amazing......a couple of your own military vehicles get lost in one of the largest cities in America..........and they are lucky to get out of it without having to fight their way free....!

All during a "supposed" peace rally.

LOL...............Only in the US.....!

The funny thing here, is that these people have nothing better to do than stop traffic. Get out of the street or I'll run you over... Damn liberals!!!

Wow, just when you think people couldnt get any stupider, they do. Im not a big fan of the war, but these people act like they dont care one penny about the troops. There chanting, "bring the troops home now" while there are some very respectably Marines right in front of them, while some of the protesters flick off and even cuss at them.

Ruth said, "I never voted for the dictator , don't blame us , we have no idea who voted for him , well ,yes we do , the election was a fraud and the final part of the cuop has taken place. Stay in there if they want a battle let it begin here."

DITTO, DITTO, DITTO!!! I totally agree. I followed the events before and after the election, did the research, and it was outright VOTER FRAUD! Coup 2K! Twice!!!

Where are the protests in Southern California? I'm there!

COINTELPRO is back and confusing the waters once again.. I guess thats what happens when the natural pulse is to be free. The 3 year old playground bully has hired some witty heads...but thier wit cannot forsee the unforseen...sorry you lose.
There is tons of intentional disinformation on this page...some under the disguise of neo-liberalism..some as blatent nationalist rhetoric...
Can we stop being led like sheep now??? I feel sorry for all of us. We all have the same potential to be truely free outside of limitting human construct. Yet we keep getting sucked into these traps that are stopping us from forward motion. It is an ancient tactic..keep us responding to futile stimuli and we are not not changing the world.
Even the NSA CIA FBI Global Social Engineers are human undernieth all of thier brainwashed trained reasoning.. Wake them up and then the revolution is on!!!

Those vechicles were not tanks......look up what actual tanks...which weighs about 60 tons. They were personnel carriers.

You anti-war people are so full of yourselves. Tank. Thats not a tank you blundering fools. Its an LAV-25. A tank has treads not wheels. So that makes it an armored car. Can you say A-R-M-O-R-E-D C-A-R? I knew you could!

I found it funny that one of your own started to call this a Police State in the video. You baffoons are comical. You cry and whine about how much you hate that the US went to Iraq and cleansed the country of its murdering dictator and his cronies then you cry and whine when an armored car on its way to a frakking parade passes by you. Then when it stops you start crying that this is a police state and that its unfair the Marines were sent to quell your little party. Now that I have said that....how do you think the Kurds felt when they demonstrated against Saddam and the REAL tanks pulled up and started to shoot and KILL people?

How do you think the Kurds felt when Attack helicopters attacked them in the open with 30mm cannons blazing away. How do you think the the Kurds felt when they were shelled with mustard, sarin, and VX gas? How do you think the Kurds felt when they were machine gunned by Iraqi troops?

You will never know how they feel!! EVER!! Because you were never there. You were on your safe little sidewalk with your big sign protesting President Bush for going over there and stopping the madness.

I little history lesson for you liberals.....Saddam came to office in 1979 what liberal President put him there? Thats right Jimmy Carter.....What president was in office when the entire muslim world was crapping on us and Iran took US citizens hostage? Jimmy Carter!

Everyone in that video cried because an armored car showed up......I found it funny it drove away after it police escoort showed up. I also found it funny that the police and not the Marines moved the crowd away from the armored cars. IN Iraq in the 80's everyone of you cowards would be dead after that armored car showed up. and the police would have been beating the living life out of the rest.

Isn't it funny? You kept your protest going. No one killed or imprisoned you. No one gased or machine gunned you. No one beheaded you. You are free. You weren't tortured or mamed.

Pathetic people.............Free pathetic people




A soldier

You anti-war people are so full of yourselves. Tank. Thats not a tank you blundering fools. Its an LAV-25. A tank has treads not wheels. So that makes it an armored car. Can you say A-R-M-O-R-E-D C-A-R? I knew you could!

I found it funny that one of your own started to call this a Police State in the video. You baffoons are comical. You cry and whine about how much you hate that the US went to Iraq and cleansed the country of its murdering dictator and his cronies then you cry and whine when an armored car on its way to a frakking parade passes by you. Then when it stops you start crying that this is a police state and that its unfair the Marines were sent to quell your little party. Now that I have said that....how do you think the Kurds felt when they demonstrated against Saddam and the REAL tanks pulled up and started to shoot and KILL people?

How do you think the Kurds felt when Attack helicopters attacked them in the open with 30mm cannons blazing away. How do you think the the Kurds felt when they were shelled with mustard, sarin, and VX gas? How do you think the Kurds felt when they were machine gunned by Iraqi troops?

You will never know how they feel!! EVER!! Because you were never there. You were on your safe little sidewalk with your big sign protesting President Bush for going over there and stopping the madness.

I little history lesson for you liberals.....Saddam came to office in 1979 what liberal President put him there? Thats right Jimmy Carter.....What president was in office when the entire muslim world was crapping on us and Iran took US citizens hostage? Jimmy Carter!

Everyone in that video cried because an armored car showed up......I found it funny it drove away after it police escoort showed up. I also found it funny that the police and not the Marines moved the crowd away from the armored cars. IN Iraq in the 80's everyone of you cowards would be dead after that armored car showed up. and the police would have been beating the living life out of the rest.

Isn't it funny? You kept your protest going. No one killed or imprisoned you. No one gased or machine gunned you. No one beheaded you. You are free. You weren't tortured or mamed.

Pathetic people.............Free pathetic people




A soldier

I'll tell you what. When I find atleast ONE person that has gotten rectal cancer from an M1 series tank I'll let you know. After the liberal anti-military establishment put this out many of us tankers went and got tested. 400 in my battalion alone....nothing. not a speck or a spot. Just goes to show you what the liberal media can do with one story. BTW, the one guy they did show was in fact in a tank battalion but he was a mechanic so I guess that blows the theory out the window.....

Your comment is typical of the "We support the soldier but hate the President and the war" crowd. And think, I'm not hunting you down to kill you for making that comment...Damn, I guess this police state thing just doesn't work here in the US.


But hey, GREAT come back!!


A Soldier, A Sailor, an Airman, A Marine, or A Coastie

So let me get this straight they think theyre some kind of heroes for standing in front of a tank that wasnt armed for close combat situations and they beleived that a tank would even bother running over them? JESUS CHRIST how dumb can you get??? I sure as hell wouldve enjoyed seeing it unload a shell on the protestors but thats just me. Nobody wants to walk home and hear a bunch of hippies shouting thinking theyre making a difference. one piece of advice, go home and shut up before i send in a strike squad

The very idea of armor apparently ready for use as there were no gun covers, etc, is a third world act of intimidation. whether or not the intent was deliberate hostility or just a screw up in the chain, the citizendry should be justifyably outraged at the missuse of weapondry by an ever more arrogant military.

awesome, i can ignore this forum for four months and when i come back same crazy shit talkin'!

and c'mon people read UP before you post! armored car?! fuck dude, if i can distinguish armor from different countrys the least you can do is recognize a marine LAV-25 when you see one. i bought the 1:32 scale model at target yesterday!

the boys are going to get a kick out of this!
what a bunch of pathetic losers!

rock on baby!

So what, it's not a battle tank, a light tank or a golf cart.
Are you retarded?
You should read the posts yourself and close your pie hole.
They're our streets unless you are without your armor and weapons in a non agressive condision. Or do you think it's martial law already?
If you want to play tanker, there are military reservations for that.

You need to brush up on your history before you spout off at the lips.

You all blunder on and on and say nothing. I am surprised to see that while millions of people are actually FIGHTING for their rights...or at least publicly making them known, you are all sitting behind your computers "shouting" out in voices that NO ONE hears but yourself. You speak to hear yourself spoken to. Whether or not you are a protester or a supporter, I think you should stick your neck out on the line and get your ass out there to support your cause!

That's not a tank. It's a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Big difference to anyone that knows anything about the military. Bradley's carry troops and are known as "tonka toys" to tankers.

That's NOT a Bradley.
Ignorant dolt.
It's a LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) and it's enough of a tank to sport a 25MM chain gun. Some come with 130MM mortors. I have assembled these things, fool.
Get a real job in the real world where you have to be able to read.

I have found it funny that my correction of the hippie yuppy anti-America anti-war types has gained a big following. I will resond to those that are so bagged up in hippie worship they reak PEDA and GreenPeace memberships galore.

Mr. Citizen claims that there are military reservations for armor play. Yup, there are. He also states that we need to read what was said....same to you Mr. Citizen. The vehicles in question NOT BRADLEYS BUT LAV 25s were on their way to a parade setup point and were lost. A police vehicle arrived momentarily after their arrival at the corner and took them to the parade point a few blocks away. I will say it again, those men in those vehicle gave you the right to protest them. If you cannot believe that they were lost then that is on you. Mr. Citizen also goes on to say he "assembled these things fool" yet has no clue as to what they are. Mr. Citizen, read some books, We have no mortar carrying Bradleys in our inventory its called a "variant". BTW, its a 120mm mortar. To you that would be 4.2 inches. Also you call the LAV a tank.....A tank is a vehicle that was designed AFTER WW2 to take on other tanks. An LAV is an APC and the 25mm Hughes gun is not a tank busting cannon. It was designed to take out other APCs light vehicles trucks and small bunkers.

Then there is Mr. opinionsunwelcome who gives us his opinion. Unlike you Mr. opinionsunwelcome I have been there and have done that and have gotten the t-shirts the uniforms and retired...unlike you sitting behind your computer I tend to get out and blast anti-war types like I am doing here. I also box and ship stuff our troops need to them. How about you?

I am glad I live in this country with all of its baffoonary, its PEDA Greenpeace Amnesty International types. This is what makes America great. A place where people like me can spend 25yrs of their life defending asshats who spout anti-government rhetoric at the flip of a switch. Who spit on their soldiers in one generation and then turn and do it again on another.

One day though, it is not going to be the government that turns on you snotty asshat anti-everything types. Its going to be the people that spent their entire adulthood defend your right to do so. Your Vets are going to turn on you and not just bite that hand but shred your entire arm then rip it off and beat you to death with it.....

Quibbeling about armor is your stock and trade.
"We have no mortar carrying Bradleys in our inventory its called a "variant". BTW, its a 120mm mortar"
Also contradicting yourself in the same sentennce.
'That's not a tank'
And it's not a Bradley. Who cares? It is military armor and it has no 'right' to be on the streets apparently ready for action as there was no gun cover.
It was a mistake, alright to get 'lost' and the Citizen has every right to be outraged.
Deal with it and don't screw up again.

Red,

What part of freedom and diversity don't you understand? In a country diverse enough to have war mongers and total pacifists and the freedom that allows them all to voice their opinion; why would there be a need to move to Canada?

None. Unless one group chooses not only to disagree with another, verbally, but actually prevents dissent from being voiced at all.

Handing out invitations to Canada is great and all; but it sort of takes away your credibility when bitching about how you fought for the rights of others to disagree with you.

After-thought....

I really don't see your reasoning in asking someone that "doesn't like what the military does for this country" to leave.

Do any of the descriptions below describe you?....

A. When people question actions and their motives instead of sheepfully following orders; you get frustrated because you don't have the capacity to question what's being asked of you.

B. You really don't believe in fighting for "freedom"; you just believe in the job that's been handed to you.

C. You belive that your ability to serve without questioning, somehow, makes you more of a citizen than someone who hasn't served.

D. Hateing war really is a bad thing.

Now I invite you to enter the land of rational thought (contrary to popular belief; it still can be found in America). Ask yourself if the original Gulf War was fought for liberty. Did you liberate Kuwait from Sadam?
Yes you did. Did you bring Liberty? No, you didn't. You merely put an oppresive regime back in power. A regime that doesn't give women the right to vote or even resemble a republic or democracy. You helped out a Kingdom and you did nothing to defend the U.S. from anybody.

Did this new war in Iraq protect us from Iraq? No. We weren't being threatend by Iraq. Are we going to liberate the Iraqies and bring them freedom from oppression? I hope we do. Otherwise there will be absolutly nothing good to speak of when the dust settles.

An illegal war... yes it was illegal; because it was accepted by the people and started based on complete lies and/or complete ineptitude(you make the call).

An administation sent troops to battle without listening to advice from it's top generals that told them that there would need to be 300,000 to 400,000 troops on the ground to adequetly secure the peace. That advice wasn't taken because the administation knew that a troop mobilization of that size would surely make the newly minted psuedo-patriots wake from their fervor and actually ask if pre-emptive attacks on countries that have no sites on ours really is a good idea after-all.

So in closing, Red, I thank you for choosing to serve your country. I would just ask you to ask yourself; when the government wants to take away my liberties; whose side are you going to be on?

Hey Gunner Boy, With all due respect, it sounds like you're a little too involved with this blog. Get over yourself already. What's more, if what you say is true, that you leathernecks are dumb enough to be driving around LA without a clue, or even a map, it's no wonder we are losing our asses over this fucked-up oil grab in Iraq. But we all know it was no coincidence that you showed up at the protest and parked there for 10 minutes. We're not as dumb as you are. If you're really not a covert operative, then wake the fuck up and get a clue....

Well CPL...
You're not out protesting our right to be tree hugging because you'd rather have a nice draft.

Ah, love and hate.

SEIG HEIL! eh?

Please soldiers, don't act like victims.
After all, you signed yourself up.

Some day those tanks will be rusting into dust providing minerals for someone growing food or the grass on a small hillside. Maybe someone will use it as a big flower pot, as we live in a future where there is no war.

From the military. I did it and so can you.

Finally... a dose of sanity and insight from someone who knows. Thanks Marine!

Semper Fi!!!

Oh and Im a Tanker too, only from the other side of the world, and I stand corrected. Its not a LAV, but a Stryker

Either way, its not a tank. Get it right

Just a correction for this man who suprisingly knows the Canadian verision of the LAV-25 . THe vehicle in the video is a marine LAV-25, the coyote vehicle is a Canadian version used in the recce role. Enough said.

Come on people, get it straight, a Stryker AVF is NOT a tank; it's an armored recon/assault vehicle. It’s not meant to deal with threats that a tank would.

As for why they were there, who knows, maybe they DID make a wrong turn, stranger things have happened. Do you really think your protest is SO important that the military would deploy armed units to it? If they were that worried, you'd have gotten a lot more than 2 recon vehicles. Give me a break.

"dont have any big guns that could take out other tanks"
You and your Tiger would last about 2 seconds under the chain gun that piece of hardware sports.

You are ill informed. And ignorant.

There's another great armored tank video at Combat Films and Research. You should definitely check it out. http://www.combatfilms.com/cfrtv_archive_0004.asp

They do pretty awesome weekly episodes. http://www.cfr-tv.com

I was impressed by the tanks. I want to be be a tank driver someday. My mom made me go with her to the Federal Building with her friends but I don't like going with her. I would rather be with my own friends.

Can we delete these adds which have mucked up this thread?
I don't want to waste a credit on deleting this shit.

Yes, thank you for mentioning Kent State. Dating myself, now an old Grandma, I still get tears in
my eyes remembering that day. You young people
need to wake up! It is getting worse.

You should just use up the points on deleting the spam. There's enough really infantile garbage to go around. More will always appear. The scoring system tends to keep all the regular button-pushers near the borderline anyway. Generally, the only time the community editors get surges of points is when the collective editors neglect to hide-or-okay the reported posts.

I too get a tear in my eyes, thinking about some idiot throwing a 4 pound rock at my head, when a person goes out in public and attacks another person he or she get what they deserve, Nate

OSU Sucks too!. The American Schools have turned out nothing but idiots since the Sixties. Nate

People, please think. If the military was going to use Armoured vehicles to break up a demonstration a number of events must take place first. Where did the vehicles stage from? Who gave the authority to send them in? Why the Army? The LAPD has far more experience in dealing with civil disturbance than the military. I am quite sure that the LAPD would have employed a number of other assets at their disposal prior to "calling in the military". Finally as a former member of the Canadian Forces I am well aware that even with a GPS one can easily become lost/disoriented, particularly when operating in an unfamiliar urban environment. Please take a moment and consider these points before assuming the worst.
Cordially
KP

And this relates to the aggressive display, how?
Lost or found, their guns were uncovered and the posture was confrontational.
Bring your armor back on the streets to imply a threat, and it will be considered as an act of war against the public.
No shit.

fact: they are usmc LAVS
fact: they would have no routes mapped for the usa on their navigation if one is installed at all.
Why where they their :lost... most likely... well maybe to stir up trouble on their way to their parade?
To the commenter about the weapons being not covered or the troops hostile postures ... the military doesn't cover our weapons systems to drive or operate them. Simple:tank has gun. Gun is attached to tank. Where the tank goes the gun goes.

Definitely at the wrong place at the wrong time.

You all try to makes this off to be a bigger deal or something its not. this is far from the wrongs of our government or from the "oppressions" you claim to have felt from them. You can't and won't ever have the power to change anything when you show everyone else how weak and misguided you are. Find a purpose/cause to stand for and do more than stand. Screaming wolf for no reason/ over such stupidity and with the hopes someone ignorant will believe you is going to get you no where .

I lose more respect ,everyday ,for those who call themselves Americans.

me-usarmy
don't get me wrong..........!@#$ the government

look, everyone except the ya ya types who haven't read this tedious repitition of "that's not a tank" jabber parrot talk.
I built these eight wheeled mothers.
Like it only maters to morons what exactly it is.
It's armor on our streets without our concent.
We are civilians and we run this nation; not the military. They are our brothers in arms but they are not here to point guns at us in peaceful demonstrations. No matter the flimsy excuse,
That's anti-American and I wont put up with it. I'm not alone.
We pay your salary.

We are losing our freedoms, our individual rights, and out basic human rights to filthy rich people like the Koch Bros., the Rothschildren, Warren Buffet, and so on. Greed is a crime and the grreedy are destroying the environment, merely to control the rest of us and our commonwealth for their own evil ends. Greed is also a crime. Our first duty is to treat Mother Earth with respect, to waste nothing and take only what we need for our basic survival needs. Billionaires are criminals and need to be jailed and their wealth given away to single moms and their kids, to help the mentally ill, the infirm, the aged, the disabled and to environmentalists to fix the ecological damages done.

We are losing our freedoms, our individual rights, and out basic human rights to filthy rich people like the Koch Bros., the Rothschildren, Warren Buffet, and so on. Greed is a crime and the grreedy are destroying the environment, merely to control the rest of us and our commonwealth for their own evil ends. Greed is also a crime. Our first duty is to treat Mother Earth with respect, to waste nothing and take only what we need for our basic survival needs. Billionaires are criminals and need to be jailed and their wealth given away to single moms and their kids, to help the mentally ill, the infirm, the aged, the disabled and to environmentalists to fix the ecological damages done.