Update on the 'Tanks in the L.A. streets' thing

[WilliamPitt]

This is from one of the truthout editors, who also happens to be one of the A#1 organizers in the Los Angeles area. If he says it, I believe it, because he is wired in. This is what he said in an email query we have been kicking around:

"I know about the armored personnel carriers. The scene is eerie but coincidental. The vehicles were from Camp Pendleton, looking for the National Guard Armory. They were up for a Parade scheduled for the next morning. Police spokesman were as stunned as the protesters."

So...seems like a weird confluence. Take it for what it's worth, but in my personal bank, it's worth a lot.

[Mick Knox]

1. Sure, thats what china said too

Just kidden, thanks for the info.

Thought it was odd..

[Swamp Rat]

2. I saw the video last night.

I guess it could have been a drag race between two tanks, cheered on by people shouting something about bringing troops home, but then broken up by police on bicycles. Apparently the bicycles intimidated the tank dudes so they skedaddled. Pretty weird man! :D

[shanti]

3. my son informed me that

tanks were around during the laker's championship 'celebrations' a few years back. it's not the first time.

[pschoeb]

4. This was announced by LA Police Spokesperson this evening

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tank12nov12,1,3910246.story?coll=la-headlines-california

So anyone could know this.

They were LAV-25's, which are Marines, so Camp Pendelton makes sense, the story pretty much checks out. Answer seems to be accepting this explanation as well.

[VOX]

5. I know the neighborhood well, and the Veteran's Administration cemetery...

is literally across the street from the Federal Building protest site. There is in fact a National Guard Armory Building at 1300 Federal Avenue, just a few blocks to the west. These guys probably came too far east by a few streets -- there also is a 405 Freeway junction about two stones' throws to the west from where they were photographed, and it can be extremely confusing to a newbie out there.

The surrounding intersections right there (Wilshire Blvd./Westwood Blvd. and Wilshire Blvd./Veteran Ave.) are some of the heaviest-traveled in the United States.

[NorthernSpy]

6. we should always make a fuss when this sort of thing happens

Even if it turns out to have a perfectly innocent explanation, we should never simply take in stride take the appearance of tanks in the streets. For the sake of democracy, and as a counterweight to the militarization of our society, our reaction to this incident was both healthy and necessary.

[bobbieinok]

15. 1000% agree

[WilliamPitt]

7. .

[DELUSIONAL]

8. Excuse of tanks being lost? They had GPS --they knew where

they were.

I know -- my husband and I can find a mooring buoy in the middle of the night using GPS.

[Piperay]

9. Well

GPS is only as good as the person who programs it. We have one in our car but we still get lost because we suck at programming it. :shrug:

[DELUSIONAL]

11. You must have an old civilian version of GPS

and you don't understand it.

I simply do not believe the military and never will.

1. I am a Navy brat and KNOW the military ALWAYS lies.

2. I remember Kent State -- and the murder of 4 students by the National Guard.

3. The military always lies.

4. GPS -- a map with a BIG -- YOU are here symbols for the "troops" -- the same "troops" who would slaughter American citizens. (see # 2)

[annabanana]

12. So.. That jet that strafed the school in NJ....

Was leaving a message to the NJ Republicans who failed to deliver the state to shrub?

[DELUSIONAL]

13. Who knows? That report sure got my attention

I lived in Egg Harbor when I was very very young and had a friend I called annabanana!

Small world.

[althecat]

10. Makes sense.... that said the Irony of when it happened is too sweet...

.. to forget.

Might have been a message from the other side about what is in store for America after this election :)

[Catherine Vincent]

14. I think I would go with that explanation.

When I saw the video, it looked like they were just passing thru. And they looked lost. I think it was a coincidence.

[MidwestMomma]

16. Kind of reminds me of Thursday here in Kansas City

We kept seeing and hearing these army transport helicopters buzzing around the area all day. You're first thought nowadays is "What's going on? Is there something happening?"

Then my sis is on her way to the store and sees one of them landing not far away. She's like, why the hell is that army helicoper landing at the Hyvee. (That's what it looked like anyway.)

So she drives that way and come to find out, they landed at the local Veterans Memorial and were part of a Veteran's Day service.

So I figure the other copters had been to other area services. So ends up there was a perfectly harmless reason for their presence but it was still a bit unnerving.

So it seems that the tanks could have really just taken a wrong turn.