Tampa Police Roll Out A TANK against OWS Tampa

[lovuian]

http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-19/news/30418859_1_protesters-tank-tampa-police

According to The Daily, the Tampa police produced this armored (tank) to deal with some protesters.

Let us call it for what it is Business Insider

its a freakin tank

are these people scared or what

[Cronus Protagonist]

1. They're not scared at all.... they're just getting to play with all the big toys

They have a fucking tank. How scared do you really think they are with that fucker against old ladies and kids?

[lovuian]

4. thats a freakin TANK right or are my eyes decieving me

that is a TANK

my kids played with them ...I have seen armored Brinks trucks
but that is a freakin TANK

[dionysus]

20. a cannon turret would make it a tank.. but it's still wrong that they'd bust this out on people.

[lovuian]

32. I don't want to hear how much that cost the taxpayers of

Tampa....I bet it could educate a couple of kids with that money for life

[cyberpj]

78. Most likely purchased with Bush/Cheney "Homeland Security" funds. Same for all the police riot gear.

Which is why they're so happy to finally be able to pull it out and use it.

Too bad they're using it on their own citizens.

[Synicus Maximus]

48. your eyes are decieving you, It is a APC, armoured personnel carrier not a tank.

[lovuian]

58. A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle

it can carry personnel too

[lovuian]

13. I bet this is an Iraq reject model ...if it was in the streets of Iraq

I bet it would be toast

[nadinbrzezinski]

43. They left US Miltary Service a long time ago

like decades.

[lovuian]

46. Bingo they are out dated and going out of style

the only use it has is intimidations and that is limited

what a freakin waste of money

[2pooped2pop]

68. I don't think they are scared

of losing a physical encounter. It's the change that occupy is bringing that has them scared.

[dhill926]

2. don't read the comments.....

if you have blood pressure issues.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. It is an APC, not a tank, yes there is a difference

2.- It has a valid use, like when you need to extract officers under fire... like hiere in San Diego where they did roll one out. Officers were pinned down by guy on high point with a 22 rifle. That was a proper use.

3.- At OWS it is not the correct deployment and it is meant to intimidate.

[lovuian]

6. 3.- At OWS it is not the correct deployment and it is meant to intimidate.

that is what it was used for

does it have weaponry like guns and missile capability?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. It is like ancient, no not kidding

so I guess they could back fit it with a Recoilles rifle or a Pintle Mounted 50 cal, or grenade launcher. The LRAD... maybe. Good question if the electronics in this thing can support it. In other words if they were modernized.

It is the command version of the M113

Oh god why do I know this crap?

[lovuian]

25. I'm interested what is it capabilities

does the hatch open in the front and gobble people up ....how does that rescue a policeman? how do you get in the dang thing from the top or side

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. Rear entry for transport of personnel

All M113 have a large transport bay... well not large, enough for a squad, that opens in the back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier

Stats are there.

And as I said, this thing is ancient by modern standards.

[lovuian]

41. they call it a Rescue vehicle? How does it rescue

it means you drive it into the firing area but it is going to be difficult to get in and out of that thing

who were they rescuing?

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Ah I see tactics is not your strong point :-)

and the one in San Diego is not an M113, but still rear entry. You drive that thing AHEAD of the pinned officers, the hatch is opened and they scurry in and then you drive back out. If anybody is injured you have a medic on board who comes out, grabs injured officer and pulls saith officer into the vehicle.

Here in san diego the shooter was so good, trained sniper, that he actually defeated the armor. He kept pinging on the same place. The armored glass was defeated.

[lovuian]

44. ROFL your right I'm not military at all savvy

well you see my point it was easily defeated
they were death traps in Iraq

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. They were not deployed to Iraq

the M113 left military service a while ago... ok the last deployment was in 1991 with Guard Units... during the first go around.

The Israelis still use it for training... but hey they were still using WW II vintage modernized Shermans for training even after the Merkava saw wide deployment.

The modern day APC is this guy.



The striker...

Which is slowly replacing this



The Bradley...

The M113s had some serious issues... but as a police vehicle in a proper situation... they could be valuable. Of course if we see the kind of crap that is happening in Mexico with the War on Drugs... those toys will have a survival of ten seconds... but that has to do with what the Cartels are able to field, a few generation ahead of what the M113 was designed to resist.

Sadly me, every time I cover OWS all those tactics one learns from working the streets, are coming back, with a vengeance, including routes of escape, not one, not two, multiple.

[lovuian]

56. those treads damage the streets too ....

the streets are going to be damaged and have to be fixed

in the 1960's did they bring out the tanks or rescue vehicles

I saw police but I don't remember tanks

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. They did use some reitred equipment from WW II

especially for back country rescue...

And those threads are heavily rubberized... so they do not damage the streets... they are not that heavy either.

[Throd]

57. Maybe ancient against a modern military

But this is not being deployed against a modern military. Or any military.

[nadinbrzezinski]

60. I know that is why they are good

for some police work in VERY SPECIALIZED uses. Aka NOT civilians peacefully protesting.

[Hangingon]

75. Because you read the comments on the story?

[krispos42]

74. Sometimes for riot work...

...they equip them with automatic tear-gas cannons or high-pressure water hoses. The vehicles can run over or push aside most barriers, are impervious to thrown rocks, and can't be flipped over by protesters.

But they can be used as rescue vehicles by the cops. For instance, smashing through a building wall to deploy a SWAT team. Or being used as a moving shield to extract hostages or police or trapped civilians.

Sometimes you just need a bulletproof box that moves.

Not for OWS work, though.

[qb]

5. I think this is exactly the scenario the pukes had in mind when they gave the cities their DHS toys.

:puke:

[lovuian]

7. they are INAPPROPRIATE and Militaristic

they have been itchin to pull them out and use them

[cyberpj]

79. I'm with you. Unfortunately, that also might include the private prisons as detention camps. nt

If riots begin, I'm totally prepared for that one too.

[RKP5637]

8. Wonder what they would bring out against a violent protest, a nuke? n/t

[Fumesucker]

71. There was a violent protest in Happy Valley..

Overturned two news vans..

The police didn't do jack squat.

[msongs]

9. our "government" will be killing us with drones sooner than you realize nt

[dionysus]

16. alex jones style woo, again...

:rofl:

[JoeyT]

76. Well except there's already a precedent set.

It'll be a Republican administration that does it, though.

[RKP5637]

19. And they have the really tiny remote helicopters now, or about to, for

surveillance ... won't be long until they arm them. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and the rest would have loved the tools in this country today. What the F have we become.

[woo me with science]

27. A sheriff's office near Houston already has a drone capable of carrying weapons.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2234991

[RKP5637]

10. Is this the new Hummer replacement ... n/t

[blkmusclmachine]

12. It's Tiananmen Square all over again.

OCCUPY! OCCUPY! OCCUPY!

[lovuian]

18. its Tampa Florida what do they have to worry about

I'm very surprised at Tampa shame on you Republicans

[EFerrari]

22. When this was first reported, I thought it was a fake. nt

[lovuian]

26. tell me its fake please

is it?

[EFerrari]

33. BusinessInsider doesn't tend to print fake stories.

I'm afraid it's true. :(

[lovuian]

38. thanks I was hoping

here is a yahoo article
its fascinating the spin given by the media
http://news.yahoo.com/police-tank-spurs-wild-speculation-occupy-tampa-rally-165800157.html
TAMPA, Fla. -- The police department's Tactical Response Team (TRP) rolled out a tank at the Occupy Tampa protest today at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown.

The purpose of the vehicle was unclear and its presence immediately sparked wide speculation among the protestors. I have to admit that when I first saw the tank, it felt ominous and an extreme measure.

But then I took a closer look.

The tank, it turns out, was actually a rescue vehicle. It does not have any weapons on it and the side is clearly labeled "Rescue 2." Its full name is Amphibious Rescue Vehicle -- "Rescue 2" and it goes by the nickname "High-Top Shoe." Despite its somewhat menacing appearance, it is just a vehicle that's built tough for transporting people in extreme conditions and circumstances.

and the reporter asked them WHY

Unfortunately, I was unable to get any comments from any TPD officers on the "Rescue 2" and why they felt the need to bring out to the protest.

[OnyxCollie]

53. From your link:

According to the city of Tampa's website, "Rescue 2" is a "12-ton Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)… can be used for search and rescue during a natural disaster or terrorist attack."

"Terrorist attack"

Says it all, doesn't it?

[nadinbrzezinski]

63. Ah been updated and given amphibious capacity

no, it still does not belong there, but the other use is in flooding situations. That thing will go into places other vehicles can't

If you were in a flood, it would be a welcomed sight.

[dionysus]

14. they really busted out a tracked vehicle, huh. damn

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

15. Not a tank.

[lovuian]

21. I don't know take off the top gun and its close to a Bradley

[dionysus]

23. i think the difference between a tank and an APC is the guns... it's still ridiculous to bring out..

[lovuian]

29. Here is Wiki's definition

A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tank

Firepower is normally provided by a large-calibre main gun in a rotating turret and secondary machine guns, while heavy armour and all-terrain mobility provide protection for the tank and its crew, allowing it to perform all primary tasks of the armoured troops on the battlefield.<1>



Tanks were used to spearhead the initial invasion of Iraq. As of 2005, there were 1,100 M1 Abrams used by the United States Army in the course of the Iraq War, and they have proven to have an unexpectedly high level of vulnerability to roadside bombs.

[aquart]

17. Our tax money was spent on a TANK???

[Dawson Leery]

24. Again, why fight to protect police benefits?

They should do "night work" for Wall Street executives if they want to be paid.

[lbrtbell]

30. +1,000,000

Bust the police unions to hell, for all I care. That's what the cops are fighting for, by supporting the union busters, you know?

[Dawson Leery]

52. I have always been an opponent of union representation for law enforcement.

When you have such power, you need no union.

[flvegan]

28. It drove by them on the way to a Teach In event.

According to the police and local media. Jesus, people. Step away from the paranoia spread via Facebook/Twitter.

[lovuian]

35. they just happened to drive by???

are you kidding me
yahoo article
http://news.yahoo.com/police-tank-spurs-wild-speculation-occupy-tampa-rally-165800157.html

[flvegan]

54. Um, I think you should probably READ that article you posted.

But, for the record, I wasn't there, and I'm not a part of TPD so I have no inside information. I just post it how I see it. When I see knee-jerkery, I call knee-jerkery.

[lovuian]

64. I believe it was Parked

http://news.yahoo.com/police-tank-spurs-wild-speculation-occupy-tampa-rally-165800157.html

from the article
An armored rescue vehicle parked next to otherwise lackluster and uneventful protest can in no way be compared to what might be one of the most horrible events to take place in the past 100 years.

that is the spin control

the writer got no answers
Unfortunately, I was unable to get any comments from any TPD officers on the "Rescue 2" and why they felt the need to bring out to the protest.

[flvegan]

65. Parked?

I find that interesting. There is no parking in front of Curtis Hixon that I know of. Maybe being stopped at a red light means "parked" to some. There are indeed red lights. A vehicle stopped might be seen as parked. Or something.

Context sucks on the internet. Again, reading the article might be good. Doing so without so much sought for anger might be better.

[Politicalboi]

31. Balloons with water based paint in them

Would smear that windshield. LOL!

[Politicalboi]

34. Soylent Green is People

?o=16

I don't have photo bucket but here is a link to a picture of the vehicles they used to scoop live people up.

[qb]

72. I think it's ok to hot-link to any photobucket pictures...

correct me if I'm wrong.

[Better Believe It]

36. Our "stimulus" tax dollars at work.

[lonestarnot]

39. And it's armed with what?

[Fire Walk With Me]

40. Love can defeat that.

[The Wizard]

45. RPG magnet (NT)

[Aerows]

47. I really hope that someone in leadership

Steps up to the plate and puts a stop to all of this before the police kill someone at one of these protests. It's to the point that it's just a matter of time. This militarization of our police forces is very alarming.

This is exactly how countries turn into fascist states

[Make7]

49. Check out its sponsors:

 
From: http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/21/8936197-the-tampa-police-have-one-of-these
 

[lovuian]

51. Get out of town! What a shot one is British BAE

BAE Systems plc (LSE: BA.) is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the second-largest based on revenues.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Systems

BAE Systems has been under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, into the use of political corruption to help sell arms to Chile, Czech Republic, Romania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tanzania and Qatar.<124><125><126> In response, BAE Systems' 2006 Corporate Responsibility Report states "We continue to reject these allegations...We take our obligations under the law extremely seriously and will continue to comply with all legal requirements around the world

Hello Tampa Police Chief

[Generic Other]

61. Here's a picture of the ocupation in Tampa.

A fierce looking group of occupiers. The Siege of Tampa is on.

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. That's the who's who of the MIC

[chollybocker]

55. Cops must be rehearsing for the 2012 gop convention.

And its inevitable Occupation.

"Things could get ugly pretty quickly." - Nostradamus ;)

[WCGreen]

66. Seriously, that is way over the top....

[tblue37]

67. A guy in a white shirt should simply stand in front of it and then

someone should take a picture of him.

The parallel would really embarrass TPTB!

[lovuian]

77. Is it downtown Tampa or downtown Iraq, Afghanistan

the police are taking a more militaristic army look

Getting the people of Tampa more use to a military presence

[JHB]

69. ...aaaand that's what your "antiterrorism" grants have bought, folks!

Armored personnel carriers that might make sense in a "Die Hard" movie, but not so much against protesters.

[mmonk]

70. "Freedom tanks" to meet the 1st amendment.

[KurtNYC]

73. I guess the Tampa PD don't want to "show me what Democracy looks like!"

or is it under the metal treads of that tank?

[Zoeisright]

80. Just like Tienanmen Square in 1986.

Oh, how far this country has fallen.

[bvar22]

81. Easily turned into an EZ-Bake Oven.

Just add fuel and a spark.


....not that anyone should ever do that,
but I wouldn't ride in one of those things.



Solidarity99!
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