Spec ops training takes Portland by surprise

[unhappycamper]

SEALs invade
Portlanders caught off guard by urban training


Spec ops training takes Portland by surprise
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Sep 6, 2008 7:16:04 EDT

SAN DIEGO — Combat-clad operatives dangling from small, black helicopters zipping over buildings is almost a routine sight at military training bases.

But the sight of troops along the Portland, Ore., skyline over three hours one evening last month caught many residents — and the mayor’s office — by surprise. Many flooded telephone lines and news blogs with complaints and outrage at the unexpected military activity.

“The feedback we got from the community was very loud and very negative,” said John Doussard, a spokesman for Portland Mayor Tom Potter. The response forced the police chief to cancel training planned for downtown two days later, Doussard said.

The Aug. 25 exercise was part of a two-week urban warfare training by Navy and Army special operators in Portland and in Salem, about 45 miles to the south.

For the Navy’s spec ops teams, the exercise provided a training locale that’s more realistic and less known to them than what they get at military training ranges.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/09/navy_sealsinvade_090608w/%2e

[Blaubart]

1. The mayor knew of the training...

From the article:

"The Portland mayor, a retired police chief, had approved a request by the Virginia-based Naval Special Warfare Development Group to permit the training, which would include helicopter flights, explosives, live fire and surveillance. “We didn’t have it much on our radar after that,” Doussard said."

The issue here is that the city failed to inform the residents of Portland.

Nothing to see here, move along.