Four More Years

by Chris Bowers, Wed Nov 10, 2004 at 08:46:38 AM EST

Tanks were deployed to an anti-war protest in Los Angles yesterday: LOS ANGELES, November 9, 2004 - At 7:50 PM two armored tanks showed up at an anti-war protest in front of the federal building in Westwood. The tanks circled the block twice, the second time parking themselves in the street and directly in front of the area where most of the protesters were gathered. Enraged, some of the people attempted to block the tanks, but police quickly cleared the street. The people continued to protest the presence of the tanks, but about ten minutes the tanks drove off. It is unclear as to why the tanks were deployed to this location.

Here is the video.

Our period of mourning is over. The streetfight has begun, and we need to be fully aware that they are bringing tanks to this fight.

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52 Comments

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the picture looks kind of fake to me
it looks like it came from a video game

come on,  tanks?

by zoltar 2004-11-10 08:52AM | 0 recs
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Re: the picture looks kind of fake to me
Then watch the video.

If you don't believe this, you better start believing.

by Chris Bowers 2004-11-10 08:59AM | 0 recs
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Tanks in the Street
In January 2001, I sent a fax to Senator Schumer, pleading with him to oppose the confirmation of John Ashcroft -- because the AG of the US of A needed to be secular. Senator Schumer took my advice, and was carpet bombed for his courageous stand.

As a footnote in the fax, I wrote that if Dubya was confirmed as President, we would see tanks in the street before he left office.

It was intended as motivational hyperbole -- sad to say, it has become prophecy, made manifest . . .

by ck 2004-11-10 07:43PM | 0 recs
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Re: the picture looks kind of fake to me
We'd better start believing what...? That George Bush is going to start sending tanks to quell peaceful demonstrations?  Listen to yourself.  It's people like you and the alarmist 1984-ish nonsense you spout that makes fence-sitters come over to OUR side.  No one in their right mind is honestly going to think that tanks were called out to an anti-war demonstration.  No one even has that kind of authority except the governor.  Come on!
by Podgoblin 2004-12-09 05:18AM | 0 recs
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not fake
RTFA. That's just a screen shot from several minutes of video which you can watch for yourself. It's not fake.
by drewthaler 2004-11-10 09:02AM | 0 recs
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LAV-25
Looks like it might be an LAV-25, used by the Marine Corps. Note the sloped front and in particular the headlights. They're a pretty customizable vehicle, but here are some shots that emphasize the resemblance. pic1 pic2 pic3
by drewthaler 2004-11-10 10:44AM | 0 recs
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Re: the picture looks kind of fake to me
The Federal Building is across the street from the Veteran's Cemetary and down the street from a National Guard base. Perhaps the tank was just passing through?
by TheLonewackoBlog 2004-11-10 10:02AM | 0 recs
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The Red Scare
Can we say Tiananmen Square?
by buddy 2004-11-10 08:57AM | 0 recs
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Re: The Red Scare
Same thing popped into my head.  
by yitbos96bb 2004-11-10 09:11AM | 0 recs
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Re: The Red Scare
The sad thing is that you actually think this could be something like Tianenmen Square.  The scary thing is that you have the power to vote.
by Podgoblin 2004-12-09 05:19AM | 0 recs
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What???
I'm stunned...this can't be.  Is this real?
by BlueAndProud 2004-11-10 09:02AM | 0 recs
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Who ordered them there?
Rummy or Arnie
by zappatero 2004-11-10 09:03AM | 0 recs
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What the shit???
Errr...um...what???

Gee, the next four years are going to be lots of fun, aren't they?

I weep for America.

by Geotpf 2004-11-10 09:05AM | 0 recs
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crazy
That is one of the craziest things I have read in a while.
by j pratt 2004-11-10 09:07AM | 0 recs
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Late 60's
It's like the late 60's all over again.  As long as we don't have to wear bell bottoms again...of course more Free Love is always enjoyed ;-)

My big hope is that the GOP scumbag President is sent to prison this time before he is pardoned and actually impeached, although with our corrupt congress I tend to doubt that happening.

by yitbos96bb 2004-11-10 09:13AM | 0 recs
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tanks in Michigan, too.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/wbal/20041110/lo_wdiv/2448776

The Macomb County courthouse was evacuated in downtown Mount Clemens Wednesday.    

A bomb threat was made over the phone, according to the Macomb County Sheriff's Department. The building, located at Cass and Gratiot avenues, was evacuated while authorities swept the inside and ensured it was safe.

Tanks were brought in by the Sheriff's Department and police have blocked off the streets surrounding the building, according to images from Sky 4.

Sheriff Mark Hackel told radio station WWJ that a judge at the courthouse made the decision to evacuate the entire building after the threat was called in to a local media agency.

Hackel did not have an estimation as to when people would be allowed to return to the building.

by drlimerick 2004-11-10 09:19AM | 0 recs
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Re: tanks in Michigan, too.
This I can live with.  Bomb threats are pretty big things.  For a protest though, not cool.  Next thing you know we will have National guard members firing into crowds...Oh wait, they probably will all get shipped off to Iran or Syria.
by yitbos96bb 2004-11-10 09:32AM | 0 recs
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Re: tanks in Michigan, too.
You would bring in tanks to deal with a bomb threat?
by JHGrimson 2004-11-10 10:16AM | 0 recs
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Verifying information?
Local press, news agencies, any?  I hope the left doesn't start creating its own Reichstag fires.  Is there information from any other sources about this, or credible eyewitnesses?

Please post if there are.

by mady 2004-11-10 09:23AM | 0 recs
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Re: Verifying information?
I heard about this on the KPFK 6:00pm news last night.
by 1more thing 2004-11-11 10:50AM | 0 recs
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THIS IS NOT REAL
This is not mentioned in the LA Times nor can I find anything about it anywhere on the net.  It is really irresponsible to post this without checking it out first.  

We all need to be careful or we will lose all credibility.  

I recommend removing this from the site.  

by elscal 2004-11-10 09:28AM | 0 recs
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did you even watch the video?
Single images can be faked fairly easily. Minutes of video cannot. Some large light-armored vehicle, with a big ass gun in front, was in fact there and captured by the camera.

As far as removing it for credibility's sake... um, you are aware of the nature of blogs and the internet, right?

by drewthaler 2004-11-10 09:41AM | 0 recs
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Re: did you even watch the video?
I don't get any response from the link. Does anyone else?

Note that the video, judging from the URL, was uploaded to "indy media" so even if its there, we're not sure where it came from.

by desmoulins 2004-11-10 09:53AM | 0 recs
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mirror
Looks like their servers are getting flooded. Here's a mirror for the time being.

Since it's 6.8MB, and .Mac has a daily bandwidth cap, I would appreciate it if we kept this local to MyDD. If you want to pass the link around, please grab it and mirror it yourself, or start a torrent.

by drewthaler 2004-11-10 10:03AM | 0 recs
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Re: did you even watch the video?
Yes...I did watch the video.  Anything can be faked with the technology we have today - also this could have been staged etc.  Let's face it - someone would have put this in the news, somewhere, don't ya think?  

As for your inference that blogs, this blog, can be used to intentionlally spread lies or phony materials is, at the very least, disappointing.  

There's a place for that in the land of Jerry Fallwell & Pat Robertson...go for it!

by elscal 2004-11-11 07:14AM | 0 recs
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Re: THIS IS NOT REAL
If this is faked, we gotta find the people who did it and get them working on, say, Rick Santorum and a live boy or Joe Scarborough and a dead girl.  Oh, the possibilities!  The mind boggles.
by rfr 2004-11-10 09:52AM | 0 recs
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Re: THIS IS NOT REAL
ROTFLMAO!!!  We need one of Delay taking illegal bribes and misusing his power cause he has never don....OH wait.  
by yitbos96bb 2004-11-10 10:16AM | 0 recs
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Re: THIS IS NOT REAL
I think it's pretty sad that so many people's first reaction is to claim this didn't happen. Here is an eyewitness account:

http://www.polizeros.com/2004/11/10.html#a4686

I suppose you'll tell me Bob Morris is lying about it happening.

by Colorado Luis 2004-11-10 10:16AM | 0 recs
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Re: THIS IS NOT REAL
I wouldn't exactly call the Times a bastion of great reporting.  Besides they are owned by the Tribune Company, as pro bush a company as their is.  
by yitbos96bb 2004-11-10 10:19AM | 0 recs
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Re: THIS IS NOT REAL
The LA Times is anything but Pro Bush.  (thank god)
by elscal 2004-11-11 07:15AM | 0 recs
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tiananmen square anyone?
Shoot, now the Chinese can watch it on TV and we can deny it ever happened.  
by LionelEHutz 2004-11-10 09:44AM | 0 recs
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*gasp*
like others upthread, i first thought of tianamen when i saw the video.  

dear god, is this really america anymore?

by annatopia 2004-11-10 09:52AM | 0 recs
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Shock and Awe.
See, the mainstream press won’t cover something about this because there will be nothing to report.  Why were there tanks there?  Why did they sit there, even after the protesters were cleared away?  There won’t be anyone to answer these questions because they won’t know anything about it when called, and the troops left after a bit.  The message is simple, though, we know where you are and what your protesting, and although we haven’t figured out how to call you terrorist yet so we can use more force, we just wanted to show you what you we look like so you can all go home and think about it.
by Spartacus 2004-11-10 09:54AM | 0 recs
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Re: Shock and Awe.
Do you seriously believe that no one from any part of the media would not be reporting that US Tanks rolled down a heavily traveled street in Los Angeles because there what looked to me to a very small and peaceful "anti-war" rally?  Come on -- the cheese has slipped from your cracker!
by elscal 2004-11-11 07:17AM | 0 recs
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Domestic terrorists
The Republicans are domestic terrorists. Power is its own motivation.
by JHGrimson 2004-11-10 10:20AM | 0 recs
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That little group didn't warrent tanks.
I hate Bush, but come on. I suspect they were en route to somewhere and the protesters hassled them. The cops were on BIKES for God's sake! Kent State this ain't.
by kitebro 2004-11-10 11:15AM | 0 recs
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Re: That little group didn't warrent tanks.
"I hate Bush."  You know, I sometimes almost sympathize with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.  We as a country have lost something, something important and special, when there is no respect left for our leaders.  You don't have to agree with their policies.  You don't even have to really like them.  But they are our leaders, and deserve at least the respect of their office.  Don't start telling me about Bush's problems, cause Clinton had his own.  

It's easy to see why Islamic countries hate us.  Listen to you... listen to all of you.  All you talk about is hate, hate, hate.  All our countries problems are the Republicans' fault.  When Bush is in office, it's his fault.  When Clinton was in office, it was Congress' fault.  When there was a Dem in the White House and Dems controlled congress, it was STILL our fault.  

I know it's a lot to ask from people as close-minded as you folks are, but listen... the rift between Dems and Republicans is growing, and its ENTIRELY because of people like you who can't try to persuade people with reason, but instead must simply hate for hate's sake.  I don't leave us Republicans out either.  I don't agree with them a lot of times.  I'm not a right-wing religious nut.  But I AM a military man, and if you people keep on the way you're going (and the Republicans, too) the rift will widen to a chasm, and eventually there will be chaos.  Perhaps, at that unhappy time, tanks WILL have to be called out.

by Podgoblin 2004-12-09 05:37AM | 0 recs
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If there was a National Guard base nearby
Someone there probably got wind of the protest and in a fit of machismo decided to send them to cruise by and intimidate...
by cls 2004-11-10 11:31AM | 0 recs
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Re: If there was a National Guard base nearby
And probably somebody wanted them set up to display for Veteran's Day, you cynical turd.
by Podgoblin 2004-12-09 05:37AM | 0 recs
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Goings on in LA
My family lives in LA county. I have been away but I just spoke with my wife about this. She has not been watching the news lately (too depressed)but says she's heard nothing of this incident. She did say that last night there was a hostage situation at the Mexican embassy, and they went into lock-down, and several tanks were deployed. Methinks that the tanks that showed up at the protest may have been coming from the Mexican embassy.
by zardoz 2004-11-10 12:17PM | 0 recs
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No it's not tanks in the streets yet
I live next to the Fed Bldg.  Called the Times, got someone who basically didn't care. She thought it wasn't a big enough story for downtown to care to print it this morning.

So I called the Army Guard.  According to a sergeant I called at HQ 40th Inf. Div M Arty (which I assume means artillery) I was told they were NOT tanks, but Amphibious Personnel Carriers that were going to be part of a static display at the VA facility on Wilshire.  Why these APCs were in front of the Federal Bldg. is another matter, since the VA is on the other side of I405 from the Federal Bldg. and the APCs were headed east, away from the VA facility, not west, toward it. And there you have the "official" line from the Guard.
Political Physics
by RW 2004-11-10 12:43PM | 0 recs
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Re: No it's not tanks in the streets yet
Amphibious Personnel Carriers? I feel better now.
by j pratt 2004-11-10 12:57PM | 0 recs
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was anyone at the protest?
Were the tanks/ APCs/ whatever just driving through on their way somewhere else (which would have attracted a phalanx of angry lefties shouting and blocking their way), or were they sent there to threaten the protesters? Neither would surprise me a whole lot...
by accommodatingly 2004-11-10 12:59PM | 0 recs
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Re: was anyone at the protest?
Again I will say that ONLY the governor has the power and authority to mobilize the National Guard.  This includes tanks.
by Podgoblin 2004-12-09 05:38AM | 0 recs
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I walked past the tanks this afternoon
I work at the VA and walked right past the tanks this afternoon.  There were half a dozen humvees there too.  Today, the facility had their Veteran's Day celebration and parade.  There was also face painting for the kids which I was frankly more shocked about since, unlike military hardware, you hardly ever see children on the grounds.  

As to their use last night, I can't explain that.  They would have likely had to be driven down busy Wilshire Blvd to get from the VA to the Federal Building.  The National Guard facility is on the opposite side of the VA from the Federal Bldg and they could be stored there normally though I don't recall ever seeing them there (but I haven't really looked carefully).  I will say that the people manning the tanks seems pretty excited about it.  Perhaps, they were fooling around with them last night in preparation for today and decided to screw with the anti-war protestors (I assume this was a UCLA-based protest sparked by the recent events in Falluja; UCLA, like the VA, is within walking distance of the Federal Building.  Under the circumstances, it doesn't surprise me that the LA Times didn't see much of a story there.

Regardless, it wasn't appropriate for the tanks and protestors to mix.

by cthulhu 2004-11-10 07:58PM | 0 recs
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total believable
I live near Westwood (Barrington Ave. at Texas Ave.)  The National Guard HQ for Los Angeles is just down the street and I have seen tanks on the grounds there.
by brendonm 2004-11-11 03:40PM | 0 recs
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and now the rest of the story
http://wilddemride.blogspot.com/2004/11/tanks-in-los-angeles.html

Nothing like rabid fear mongering to get the blood flowing.

by ogawa 2004-11-13 06:34AM | 0 recs
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Yet again...
...we see that you leftist nutjobs go out of your way to elevate your blood pressure, and scare yourselves (and attempt to scare the rest of the country) by jumping the gun on anything that remotely looks like it fits in with your distorted, distrustful view of America.  "Ooooh, Big Brother is rolling out the tanks.  Dubya is tired of the anti-war crowd, so he's gonna go '1984' on us!"  Yak, yak, yak, until someone actually checks his facts and finds out that the APCs were headed to a Veteran's Day display.  

You guys think Republicans are the only ones who put the best face on things, cover up things, or make things up from the whole cloth to suit their purposes.  Well, folks, welcome to the club.

Feel stupid?  You should.

Come on, people! Use your heads.  Regardless of what you THINK of the President, this is STILL America.  No one is going to roll tanks out to quell a disturbance.  That's what police are for.  And even if they DID call out the National Guard, they would NOT bring out tanks.  

by Podgoblin 2004-12-07 09:21AM | 0 recs
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Re: Yet again...
Tiananmen Square - Well this only goes to show your complete and utter ignorance. The situation in China a few decades ago (and, indeed, even today though slightly less so I believe) is somewhat different to the USA. Feel lucky that you live in a country where you can enjoy free speech, where women can step outdoors without having to completely cover up, where hundreds of thousands of people are not 'vanished' and only found when dug up years later in mass graves, where you can elect a government of your choosing (and while 51% vs 48% is pretty close, it is still a definite result and you just have to live with it). Feel lucky that your government does not invade neighbouring countries, insist that they were always a part of your country, and then set about a huge resettlement programme to outnumber the original inhabitants, as China has done to Tibet. Feel lucky that you have never felt the crush of communism, or the repression of a radical Islamic regime - or indeed any totalitarian government. You are simply indulging your own puny tendencies to being frightened, working yourselves up into a Michael Mooronic frenzy of alarm over nothing in your parochial way, whilst either completely ignoring the real threat to Western democracy or seriously underestimating it (or misunderestimating! - actually it's quite an apt description, a combination of misunderstand and underestimate). Get the bigger picture.
by Tenacious Dave 2004-12-09 03:55AM | 0 recs
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Re: Yet again...
Hey Hobgoblin, the N.G. will do what they're ordered to do. If led by some cabbage chested
b.t.k.- be prepared to go through the process!
At that point, make sure and repeat,or "yell,this is Amerika!" If some L.A.
gang banger decides to loose his weapon on the
armour,maybe it's best you can the boca,because according to G.W.s' patriotic homeland you're a
terrorist. "A person of interest",in G.W.s'Nanny
State lexicon. And b.t.w. who's that pancake in the street? I think his name was hobgoblin.
As for me, I can only be thankful that G.W.'s
term will reach its end.
by northwest 2005-08-21 10:24PM | 0 recs
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I'll say it again.
This whole thread is insane. You people are insane.  Guess what?  You know that all this anti-Bush stuff... all this outright hatred of your PRESIDENT... it sounds JUST LIKE AL-QAEDA.  That's right.  Oh, you have the right to say whatever you want.  You have the right to believe it.  I just want you all to know what you sound like.  You guys sound like your own, little Taliban.  Congratulations.  The sad thing is that you believe what you do to the extent that you do.  The scary thing is that you have the power to vote.
by Podgoblin 2004-12-09 05:25AM | 0 recs
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Liberal ignorance
"The Republicans are domestic terrorists. Power is its own motivation."  This may be the dumbest thing I have ever heard.  Why dont we go back and remember the FDR presidency.  When German citizens protesting the Presidents support of the Lend-Lease Act marched on major cities in Maryland and Virgina, FDR called in the national guard and an entire infantry division to make sure these protestors never made it to Washington D.C.  It was nearing the presidential election of 1940 and FDR crushed the protest so he wouldnt look bad right before an election.  More recently, President Clinton declared a protest illegal over the lack of military action in Ruwanda when the hundreds of thousands of innocent people were mudered.  Uninteligent people like this should have their right to vote revoked.  Way to make a blanket statement that only proves liberals are hippocrats.
by Cwagmire 2005-05-04 05:21PM | 0 recs

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