Why are U.S. Army MPs patrolling the concourses at Boston Int'l Airport?

[Pacifist Patriot]

When did this happen? I've flown in and out of Boston, Newark, St. Louis, Atlanta, Orlando...since 9/11. This past week was the first time I've noticed armed military personnel roaming the hallways of an American airport. When and why did Boston start this patrol?

I'd removed my shoes, stripped off my shirt (over a tank top so it constituted a jacket I suppose), emptied my pockets, taken off my watch, placed everything on the conveyor belt through the x-ray machine, dutifully avoided any liquids or gels in my position and presented my picture i.d. and boarding pass when I entered the security line and then AGAIN ten feet later as I was going through the metal detector.

What exactly did the MPs think any of us were going to do while waiting for the boarding call?

[flashman2006]

1. um

Did you ask the MPs??

[Frances]

5. I would NOT talk to the MPs

The MPs are VERY serious folks and it's not smart to ask for trouble, no matter how innocent your question. I don't think the MPs themselves are the ones who know the answer anyway.

[Pacifist Patriot]

37. I'm an Army brat, I was trained not to approach an MP on duty...

with such questions.

[Bonobo]

45. Good. Proper fearful/sheep response. Don't look in their eyes either.

[Pacifist Patriot]

48. That's quite an assumption and an erroneous one too.

Actually I flashed them huge grins, nodded my head and uttered "hello." Most smiled and nodded back. I just wouldn't interrupt their rounds to ask them what the hell they were doing there. If that's fearful and sheeple to you than so be it.

[Bonobo]

49. I'm so tired of all this fear...and pissed. Sorry to take it out on you.

[Pacifist Patriot]

51. Thanks. I understand. I'm sick of it too.

And I refuse to be beaten down by it. The terrorists in the White House and Congress unnerve me more than any Islamic extremist.

[mnhtnbb]

2. Military personnel were present at Raleigh/Durham post 9/11

but only at the Security checkpoints. Maybe they're expecting anniversary trouble?

[bbinacan]

21. I remember that.

There were MPs at RDU when I flew out in Dec. 2001.

[EFerrari]

3. Anniversary? Or maybe, theater. n/t

[Dem2theMax]

33. Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner! nt.

[Joanne98]

4. Getting people used to the police state...

It won't be long before we start seeing tanks. For our safety of course.

[Name removed]

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[WinkyDink]

10. Hello? NYC, pre-Iraq Invasion Marches, 2003!!

Police brutality; trumped-up charges and mass arrests; metal grates to corral protestors; mounted police with weapons.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

39. Yeah, I was at those marches.

The police were out of control.

[EFerrari]

12. Are you kidding? Did you see the pix of the last inaugural?

I just spent five minutes googling for them but it looks like they have been scrubbed.

The men and women of the US military follow orders. That's their job. And their job is about to get much harder as this government tries to deploy them against their own people.

It's just the way it is.

Edit: they're -> their

[Name removed]

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[EFerrari]

24. Katrina. People were made at gun point to board buses.

(I'm watching Spike Lee's movie and right now listening to these reports. Remember that poor lady who died in her wheel chair? Her son was made to leave her body at gun point and to board a bus.

I take no pleasure in this at all. It's already started. :(

[blonndee]

19. I'm not Joanne, but I do.

Do you really think they won't? Seriously?

[jpak]

23. Two words

Kent State

[Jazzgirl]

28. Hmmmm...

Several of your posts are makin' me wonder... :eyes:

[BrotherBuzz]

31. Is is comforting to know you are not alone?

:)

[uppityperson]

35. indeed.

hit those buttons

[alarimer]

29. Yes

They would have in 1968 at the Democratic National Convention. My boss was in the army then and he was in Chicago for that purpose, although they were never used.

I think it would be even worse now, with the fascists in charge.

[guinivere]

30. The military people have to do what they are told.

It's their training and the mindset.

[havocmom]

47. And let's not forget the military gets lied to along with their orders

Anybody recall an invasion of Iraq for WMD? Once the shooting starts, the war is on and troops can't back down. The junta just has to lie enough to get the shooting started.

They have already had great success with that trick.

They have a tendency to repeat successful tricks.

Lie about the threat, give the orders to shoot. Lots of bodies before anybody gets around to questioning the motive for the order...

Deja vu all over again.

[uppityperson]

41. Kent State.

[havocmom]

42. US Forest Service has privatized thousands of forester positions

We now have guys in the west wearing Forest Service Uniforms with big ass side arms. No one has seen rangers packin heat before either.

I would like to believe US troops would not fire on US civilians. But, the neocons might have learned that watching the Soviet Army when their people took to the streets.

Problem is, there are SOME people who look for the chance to be control freaks. With all the psy-ops done on the US people, isn't it possible some serious weeding out of some military units could also have occurred? Remember those 'prayer cards' troops in Iraq were asked to fill out, pledging to pray for bush? What sort of mind set was DOD looking for? A new, American Republican Guard just like Saddam had?

And let's think a bit more about the privatization of security. Shoot to kill permission in NOLA... anybody remember that?

Yep, the GOP is in trouble. If the opinion polls are not close, they can't steal elections by programming the computers. Would look WAY too wonkey. They are purging voters in highly DEM districts, but their own base is straying, so that may not be enough either. They need theater to get the sheep scared and back into the fold.

If theater doesn't work, there is always the threat of attack and Martial law.

Dick Cheney is NOT gonna run the risk of a DEM take over on Capital Hill. He goes to prison if that happens. He will do anything to stay in power. He has to.

Let us hope this is just theater. But it is also psy-ops and, perhaps, a prelude to more than just show. If we don't buy their movie crappola, they will have to go more direct.

We are at a very dangerous junction with the junta.

[Subdivisions]

44. The answer to your question is the only thing that I've been

able to take comfort in should this thing go south for us. I truly do not think that our troops and police will follows orders to put down dissent. Each and every one of them would have to realize that they were being used against their families and friends. I just don't think they could do it.

[aquart]

8. We have national guard at Penn Station with very big guns every day.

They don't bother us and we don't bother them. Sometimes they even have dogs.

[leftofthedial]

6. Same reason the SS patrolled the concourses at the train stations

in Berlin in 1936.

[Bluebear]

9. After the hairgel "plot", Gov. Romney called them out for show

He is running for the GOP nomination and wanted several poses with them to show how "tough on terror" he is. Plus he figured he could scarf up some free hair gel at the airport.

[globalvillage]

11. I flew out of Logan today.

Didn't seem any different. I've seen military patrolling in other airports, and yes, I did see them at Logan today.
Except for the hair gel rules (which are stupid and really suck), it seemed fairly typical to me.
There was also someone who appeared to be an air marshall on my flight. That seemed weird because he first went to the back of the plane, then two flight attendants moved him to first class. Maybe he was checking something, who knows?
Flying is really not fun anymore.

[bahrbearian]

13. They are doing it to get out of patrolling the streets of Baghdad.

[TheMadMonk]

14. Aren't the US armend forces specifically forbidden from doing this?

Acting as security/law enforcement within the borders of the US?

[Name removed]

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[blonndee]

20. Then why the incredulity here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2099599&mesg_id=2099663

[Pacifist Patriot]

43. This is what unnerved me. I wish their insignia indicated...

National Guard. I'm sure they were, but the uniforms indicate "U.S. Army" and their armbands were the big black and white MP ones. I wouldn't blink at increased security / police protection but their presence was clearly military. It's the military implications that gave me pause. Can we not put them in something other than cammos?

[BrotherBuzz]

27. The power of the Posse Comitatus Act has been erroded to the point that

it is meaningless and has no teeth. Soon come, they be will rescind the existing remnats of the Posse Comitatus Act and replace it with a new law (well, that's what the Homelamd Security boys want).

[Wilber_Stool]

16. MPs have no authority over

civilians. If they bother you tell them to fuck off.

[Name removed]

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[BleedingHeartPatriot]

25. flashman, welcome to DU, where you don't have to assume you're surrounded

by idiots. :hi: MKJ

[guinivere]

32. No, no. That is not a good idea. MPs are very serious, not to

be messed with guys.

[Pacifist Patriot]

46. ...and ladies.

One of the MPs was a beautiful young woman who looked like she couldn't have turned 16 yet. (Yes, I know she had to be older.) Damn I'm getting old when I think I could have given birth to her. Ouch!

[jpak]

22. There have been armed NG and MA State Police at/in Logan for a while

n/t

[salin]

26. this was common across the country for several months after 911

Given that Logan was one of the airports that was used by the terrorists, and that the anniversary is around the corner I am not surprised that someone might order heightened security - and given tight budgets at airports, to have heightened security might require outside help (ie gov calling in Nat'l Guard).

Then there is the cynical side of me - starting with the same given (around the anniversary, and one of the airports used) - would a republican governor do a pr (for pres/politics) stunt - by sending all flying a reminder of the 'dangers' that still exist 5 years later (ala a subtle Ws "Terra! Terra! Terra!")

[Pacifist Patriot]

50. Maybe I'm just oblivious. (And that is ALWAYS a possibility)

I've flown into Logan between now and then and didn't notice it. Same with Newark. Orlando, supposedly a HUGE terrorist target thanks to The Rat, has no national guard/military presence. I guess the different Airport Authorities are approaching the issue differently.

[hootinholler]

34. Sure they weren't TSA?

I've had enough of cops putting on the military look these days. Around here about half of the county sherrif deputies wear fatigues on duty instead of the more friendly uniform.

This is purely an intimidation tactic.

-Hoot

[Pacifist Patriot]

38. These were U.S. Army MPs.

The uniforms and side arms are very distinctive. I'm an Army brat and am pretty confident this was something completely different from the TSA personnel.

[Crabby Appleton]

36. MA National Guard sworn in as deputy sheriffs

MA National Guard activated to patrol Logan


There have been other kinds of attacks at airports besides hijacking - this was
one of the worst ones

[Pacifist Patriot]

40. Thank you.