I am not sympathetic to the anti-war cause, but I do hope they are sensible at this hour. Air Force Base OKs 'Deadly Force' Action Sat Mar 15, 8:40 PM ET Add White House - AP Cabinet & State to My Yahoo! VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Security forces at Vandenberg Air Force Base are allowed to use "deadly force" in some cases if any anti-war demonstrators infiltrate the military complex, officials said. Some anti-war activists have announced plans to trespass in hopes of disturbing Vandenberg's mission and to vandalize sensitive equipment they believe helps the war effort. Vandenberg officials revealed Friday that military security police have always been allowed to shoot to kill, if necessary, to protect base residents and equipment. It is more critical now that people understand the severity of that policy, a base spokeswoman said. "This is not fun and games anymore," said Maj. Stacee Bako. "We're living in post 9-11. We don't know what's going to happen with the war effort in Iraq (news - web sites)." Military police will use their judgment, experience and training to determine if lethal force is necessary, she said. "It's impossible for us to determine what their intent is," she said. "Are they protesters? Are there terrorists in that group and (do) they plan on killing everyone on base?" The policy will not deter protesters, said Peter Lumsdaine of the Vandenberg Action Coalition, one of the organizers of the planned trespassing. "I think it does underline that people in the nonviolent resistance movement are willing to take some risks," Lumsdaine said. source
If you step on a base when you are not supposed to be there you deserve to be shot. These people shouldnt take **** too far.
However, if they get shot it would be a blackeye for the military no matter what (Kent State, anyone?). Best if nothing happens on this front.
Maybe I'm missing something, but a university protest gone terribly wrong is something entirely different than sneaking illegally onto a military base in order to vandalize important and expensive equipment. If troops in Iraq are depending on support from Vandenberg and don't get it because a handful of "activists" decide to show that they don't support the war by vandalizing needed equipment, I have no sympathy. Mr. Lumsdaine and his people publicly stated that they know the risks of their actions. I honestly don't see a difference between them sneaking onto the base to destroy equipment and a terrorist sneaking onto the base. The goals of the two are basically the same. To be perfectly honest, I don't know why Mr. Lumsdaine is still a free man. I'm sure you all will be able to explain that to me though. Protesting the war is one thing. Treason is an entirely different animal.
Hopefully the military has a supply of non-lethal weapons on hand, such as rubber bullets or tear gas or something, because this will be sad if people are really killed over this. I know the military has the right to kill the trespassers, but it will be sad if we have to kill citizens who are attempting to sabotage military equipment. I dunno....I guess I'm more disappointed that the "anti-war" camp has gone this far and has become this flippant to assume that they have unlimited freedoms and can do anything they feel like doing even if it means sabotaging our military and not suffer any serious consequences such as death.
Don't worry these protestors will act tough right up until they see a gun aimed att heir forehead then they (like the human shields in Iraq) will suddnely realize "Hey you know I thought this was important but I just realized Ihave to wash my car, I'm going home" But I agree if they trespass with the intent to screw up the operations of the base, then give the snipers a lil target practice
If these people belive in their cause, they will put themself in harms way, and are willing to die for it, why should anyone care?
