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Ferguson violence: Police slammed for 'escalating the situation'
cnn.com ^ | August 14, 2014 | Josh Levs

Posted on 08/14/2014 4:03:16 PM PDT by Timber Rattler

To people on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, and many around the world who watched Wednesday night's violence unfold, it seemed like a scene out of another country.

(snip)

Some in the military community say the problem is that police are getting the equipment without the same training and rules.

"To call this militarization doesn't characterize the military very well," said Josh Weinberg, an Army veteran who focuses on security issues for the Truman Project. "We always were trained in escalation of force." To call this militarization doesn't characterize the military very well.

The police apparently "had their weapons up and pointed at protesters who are obviously unarmed," he said. In the military, he learned that "your force posture matches the threat. You only raise your weapon if there is a threat that requires lethal force."

With a pointed weapon, Weinberg said, "you could make a mistake, maybe get startled, put your finger on the trigger and shoot somebody who doesn't deserve to be shot."

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: ferguson; leos; looters; militarization; missouri; swat
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To: Timber Rattler
A good start to de-escalation would be to actually look like professional police officers instead of militarized thugs. The intimidation factor is not subduing anyone. It's making the situation worse.
21 posted on 08/14/2014 4:57:42 PM PDT by mikey_hates_everything
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To: Colorado Doug

” As soon as police start acting like police———— “


I grew up in the forties-——they were hardly officer friendly to teenage boys,or minorities.

.


22 posted on 08/14/2014 5:10:02 PM PDT by Mears
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To: Political Junkie Too

They do it TO INTIMIDATE AND SCARE. It’s part of the strategy. Because IT PROVOKES A RESPONSE. When you’re up against a bloodthirsty mob you need to strike fear into them.

If these people were rioting in your town, tearing up your businesses, lighting fire, and being generally uncivilized. You would be happy for these cops.

I hardly ever side with the police, but here I have to. We don’t even know the whole story of what the kid did. All I have been hearing is that the cop gunned the kid down for no reason. There is much more to it. I find it likely the cop was defending himself, and maybe went too far. But it wasn’t what the media is saying. The cops aren’t out here on a whim, they are responding to a mob of violent protesters. It’s a reasonable response.


23 posted on 08/14/2014 5:15:00 PM PDT by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
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FReepers, Let's go!
Everyone needs to donate!

All contributions are for the current quarter expenses.


24 posted on 08/14/2014 5:16:29 PM PDT by RedMDer (May we always be happy and may our enemies always know it. - Sarah Palin, 10-18-2010)
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To: DJ MacWoW

“Did CNN report that the “innocent looters” set Quik Trip store on fire after looting it?”

That was those other people.


25 posted on 08/14/2014 5:19:10 PM PDT by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious they are trying hard to ignore.)
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To: AppyPappy

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh. Okay. ;-)


26 posted on 08/14/2014 5:22:00 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Hammerhead

Huh?

They are getting shot at. Even helicopters too.


27 posted on 08/14/2014 5:25:47 PM PDT by Red in Blue PA (When Injustice becomes Law, Resistance Becomes Duty.-Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Greenperson

Sounds like Obama is getting his race riot.


28 posted on 08/14/2014 5:27:23 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: FreedomStar3028

In this case I believe you are absolutely correct. This is the situation where escalation of force is the rational response. Not so sure about the original shooting.


29 posted on 08/14/2014 5:28:16 PM PDT by Hugh the Scot ( Total War)
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To: Hugh the Scot

I’m reserving judgment mostly on the original shooting. I just don’t see any cop just grabbing a kid, pulling his gun out and gunning him down while he’s running away. Something else happened.

As far as the rioting is concerned the cops are in the right to respond to it like they are. You can’t let a violent mob burn your city to the ground. No matter the reason.

It isn’t right for a kid to be gunned down in cold blood by a police officer. It also isn’t right that dozens of business owners lose their livelihoods because people are mad at the cops. It isn’t right for an angry violent mob to shoot at helicopters, throw molotovs at cops, and burn buildings to the ground. It isn’t right for the media, and many people to urge this violence on, granting legitimacy to a violent mob.

It is right for the police to show up, intimidate, and show force. I would expect it, everyone is jumping the gun, surprised that the cops are out there trying to stop it.


30 posted on 08/14/2014 5:37:42 PM PDT by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
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To: Timber Rattler

I dont like cops much

I dont like looters with a race chips looking for excuse

I dont like president who inflames crap against whites at every turn

It all sux

Id rather just get on with it and settle this shite once and for all with constantly angry hostile minorities and militarized cop pricks

My side wins when its over

Then we are shot callers again like it oughta be and folks will behave again properly like they once did

And well never again elect a racist America and Christ hater

Is that sensitively enough outlined


31 posted on 08/14/2014 5:45:21 PM PDT by wardaddy (we will not take back our way of life through peaceful means.....i have 5 kids....i fear for them)
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To: Mears

“I grew up in the forties-——they were hardly officer friendly to teenage boys,or minorities.”

You’re right about that. They didn’t need tanks or bazookas, though. They’d take you out back and administer a “tune-up”. Ever see on of those T-handle gadgets they liked to clamp on your wrist and then twist? Those were a compliance tool if I ever saw one.


32 posted on 08/14/2014 6:15:57 PM PDT by beelzepug (You can't fix a broken washing machine by washing more expensive clothes in it.)
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To: Timber Rattler

burning down and looting stores, kicking in doors of houses and robbing them.... yet putting a stop to it is “racist”


33 posted on 08/14/2014 7:03:22 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Timber Rattler

looting and burning down stores is still being called “protesting”


34 posted on 08/14/2014 7:04:07 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: Timber Rattler

As if the military knows anything about how to stop riots and looting.

Take a look at films of Baghdad after Hussein fell. Even (especially?) the museums were looted, with US troops just standing there.


35 posted on 08/14/2014 9:09:31 PM PDT by VanShuyten ("a shadow...draped nobly in the folds of a gorgeous eloquence.")
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To: Hammerhead

“Fn Rambo wannabes”

I will tell you most of the cops would rather not be in a militarized presentation.

But you get orders. You go. You take with you what they tell you to take. And you look out for yourself and your buddies....try to acquit yourself honorably. But shit happens. Tragic cirumstances...same as they ever were.


36 posted on 08/14/2014 9:18:22 PM PDT by dasboot
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To: FreedomStar3028
They do it TO INTIMIDATE AND SCARE. It’s part of the strategy. Because IT PROVOKES A RESPONSE. When you’re up against a bloodthirsty mob you need to strike fear into them.

Don't you think that's a bit over the top?

Bloodthirsty? The robbed stores and burned one down. Did they behead anyone? Rape anyone?

If these people were rioting in your town, tearing up your businesses, lighting fire, and being generally uncivilized. You would be happy for these cops.

I'd be happy for cops if at first, civil leaders called for calm.

On the initial outbreak, police will respond with whomever is local. That's what I want.

On the next day, instead of using the day to work to de-escalate, it's clear that the police spent the day mobilizing their military toys. They dressed in war outfits, and marched into town with heavy machine guns pointing at the people.

That's NOT what I want.

The cops aren’t out here on a whim, they are responding to a mob of violent protesters. It’s a reasonable response.

Really? Jungle camouflage is a reasonable response? A machine gun is a reasonable response?

-PJ

37 posted on 08/15/2014 12:32:17 AM PDT by Political Junkie Too (If you are the Posterity of We the People, then you are a Natural Born Citizen.)
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