Bullshit Detector - Activated

We have some exciting news to report from Indiana. Marines are coming to train in the Indianapolis metropolitan area.

Here you go.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID
=/20080528/LOCAL18/805280444

U.S. Marine helicopters will land at the old Eastgate Consumer Mall, Brookside Park and other Indianapolis locations when the city becomes a mock battlefield next week.

About 2,300 Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., will conduct urban warfare training from Wednesday through June 19 in and around Indianapolis.

Most of the troops will be deployed at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and the Raytheon facility on Holt Road, said Debbi Fletcher of the Indianapolis/Marion County Emergency Management Agency.

“We don’t want anyone thinking that there’s an invasion happening or that we declared martial law or something like that,” Fletcher said.

Oh my gosh, Debbi, don't be silly! Who on earth would think that? Oh ha ha ha ha. What a card.

The Marines have been cleared by state, federal and local authorities, Fletcher said. The unit’s commander promised to try to keep noise to a minimum and give neighbors plenty of warning.

“Our aim in Indianapolis is to expose our Marines to realistic scenarios and stresses posed by operating in an actual urban community, thereby increasing their proficiency in built-up areas,” Col. Mark J. Desens, commander of the 26th MEU, said in a statement. “While some of the activity will take place around Camp Atterbury, residents in many areas can expect to see helicopters flying overhead, military vehicles on the roads and Marines patrolling on foot,” Desens said.

The Marines will practice firing weapons, conducting patrols, running vehicle checkpoints, reacting to ambushes and employing nonlethal weapons, according to a statement.

Well, let's get real for a second. The Marines need to be exposed to realistic scenarios? Only if you're trying to get them used to the idea of enforcing martial law in the USA. Don't Marines train for urban operations as a routine matter? And if not, what kind of blubbering incompetence is that? No, this activity is designed to expose AMERICANS to the idea of Marines flying around in helicopters overhead, driving their vehicles on the road and conducting foot patrols.

Look at the explanation offered: 'The Marines will practice firing weapons, conducting patrols, running vehicle checkpoints, reacting to ambushes and employing nonlethal weapons.' Practice firing weapons? Seriously, don't the Marines practice firing weapons, conducting patrols, running vehicle checkpoints and reacting to ambushes all the time at their military training facilities? Isn't that why we give billions of dollars to the DOD each and every year? Isn't that sort of training to be expected at the bare minimum?

Just think about the security around a military base. Can civilians just drive right in and look around? Of course not. Laughable. And why is that? Because the military does not want us pesky civilians poking around and observing all their training drills. No no no. It's secret, technical, military knowledge. But according to this bright little story, we are to believe that they need to practice all this stuff live in a real American city just so the Marines can acclimate to the stresses of urban warfare. Yes, because the Americans in Indianapolis will be waving and blowing kisses and asking for autographs and taking pictures and being awestruck at the tremendous might of the US Marine Corps, and it's all certain to be very stressful. Uh huh. Sure.

Last word: The military only lets you see this stuff when they want you to see it. This display is for your benefit, American Citizen, not theirs.

UPDATE: A good take on it here from some former military people.