Army field manual on crowd control (hey, police! For you!)

[cyglet]

"Inciting a crowd to violence or a greater intensity of violence through the use of brutish enforcement tactics should be avoided. Publicity can be detrimental to authorities and beneficial to crowds because it can further their causes."

"COERCION DISPERSAL
1-17. Coercion dispersal is caused by the use of force at some level. This is not
necessarily the best way to force the dispersal of a crowd. The negotiated
management of crowds is the preferred method and has proven to be highly
successful in getting crowd organizers to police themselves, especially if the
demonstration and/or protest leaders are available and willing to participate."

"THREAT ANALYSIS
2-19. Crowd control requires its own thought process. Emphasis should be on
prevention rather than confrontation. In combat, military forces are taught to
fight and eliminate threats. In crowd control, military forces must deal with
noncombatants that have internationally recognized rights. These rights must
be respected while maintaining public order."

"RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOPMENT
2-28. Working relationships between commanders and protest group leaders
are increasingly seen as the best means for preventing bad outcomes in crowd
situations. This is called the negotiated management model of crowd control.
LEAs in large metropolitan cities in the US and Europe practice it." (Snort, when they want to)

"2-37. Projecting a favorable image will require outreach to local leaders and
citizens. It will also require developing a relationship with the media. For
example, the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department often invites the media to
accompany their tactical commander during crowd control situations. This
shows that they have nothing to hide. It also provides an opportunity for
individuals to see the commander’s side of an event."

"2-50. In peace operations, the use of force is restrained while the diplomatic
solution is sought through negotiation or mediation. Accordingly, ROE are
more restrictive in peace operations, making them more politically sensitive.
In today’s world, peace operations are usually conducted by a coalition of
forces operating under the purview of the UN charter and customary
international law. Therefore, the UN may mandate certain restraints. Using
overwhelming force could compromise diplomatic efforts to reach a peaceful
settlement. Even a single, relatively small engagement could jeopardize the
legitimacy of the peacekeeping force and upset negotiations or mediations.
Commanders must beware that in any confrontation ROE decisions made by
soldiers can have strategic political implications on current and future
operations. Therefore, it is vital that leaders and soldiers hold a common
understanding of when, how, and to what degree force is to be used. This
requires training."

"By recognizing a use-of-force policy, soldiers must be taught
and understand that they use the minimum force necessary. Without the
appearance of a graduated response, the gathering crowd may consider
actions as excessive, causing a possible escalation of hostilities or violence."

"EMPLOYMENT CONSIDERATIONS
5-46. Nonlethal (NL) munitions and equipment are not completely NL; they are NL by
intent. The term NL does not guarantee zero mortality or nonpermanent
damage. NLW can add flexibility to combat operations and enhance force
protection by providing an environment in which friendly troops can engage
threatening targets with a reduced risk of noncombatant casualties and
collateral damage.

5-47. If the tactical situation dictates a NL response, a soldier who levels a
weapon loaded with NL munitions must be trained in distance to the target
and appropriate points of aim. Based on the soldier’s understanding and
training on the characteristics and capabilities of the round, they can easily
discern and engage targets to the desired effect. If the tactical situation
dictates a lethal response, soldiers can easily adjust the point of aim to a more
vulnerable target location on the body and move in closer to the target. NL
munitions can be used as a lethal response if the situation dictates and the
intent of the soldier is to inflict death."

(Emphasis is heavily placed on non lethal weapons being used to contain actual riots)

[Fumesucker]

1. This is the way the US military responds to enemy civilians..

Americans are not enemy civilians so it doesn't apply.





















:sarcasm:

[provis99]

2. amusing.

So the military procedure for enforcement of martial law is less violent than the reaction of the police in Oakland.

[cyglet]

6. They take a more civil approach, yes n/t

[Scuba]

3. On the other hand, if you've been ordered to incite a riot...

... then do as authorities across America are doing.

[Downwinder]

4. Do you have the manual for dealing with insurgencies?

[Sherman A1]

5. They all certainly have a copy(s)

along with their own versions, however the desire to read and understand them might just be lacking...