Marines In Indianapolis for Urban Battle Training

[EV_Ares]

I had missed this about this training that just started in Indy.
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A force of about 2,300 Marines will use Indianapolis for urban combat training for two weeks, beginning June 4, 6News' Jack Rinehart reported.

The Indiana State Fairgrounds is one of many landing zones in which Marines will jump out of helicopters to fight mock battles.

The Marines will land for two weeks of situational training. The expeditionary force of 2,300 troops will fire weapons, conduct patrols and react to ambushes in an unfamiliar urban environment.

"I think it's very good training for them. Actually, city fighting, urban fighting is really the most dangerous type of fighting there is," said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a former Marine. "When you bang down a door … you never really know what's behind there."

The city surrendered several public sites, many of them city parks, where the Marines plan to land helicopters and deploy troops.

In addition to war, the military plans to wage a public relations campaign to let people know what's coming, something that may be needed to keep the public from fearing the worst.

Link to article: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/16405766/detail.html

[seemslikeadream]

1. This is NOT right

Do they want us to get used to the military in our streets?

[bluesmail]

2. I'm glad this was posted again. DU needs to keep it kicked

for discussion. I don't know, but this really scares me. Why weren't they helping with the flooding? Was it protocol?

[Postman]

3. Why didn't they "practice" in Crawford, TX or Kennebunkport, ME?

This is total bullshit.

If I lived in Indianapolis I'd be pissed. This shit is beyond the pale.

[TygrBright]

4. Watch out for those EM-50s... n/t

[deaniac21]

5. I bet they start murdering the local citizenry!

[Gabi Hayes]

6. they had something similar in Portland recently, didn't they?

I didn't read the threads, but there was definitely discussion here

[snappyturtle]

7. Being a native Hoosier I am infuriated over this! Don't the Marines

have their bases to practice on? I cannot think of why Indianapolis would prepare them for fighting elsewhere. Is Indianapolis on somebody's sh***t list? Indiana has sold off its tollroad for billions now I wonder if their treasury was enhanced with this exercise? When I read that Seymour and Mt. Vernon are also being used I became confused. If I remember correctly these two towns are not what I'd call urban in the sense of big cities. Of course, I live in a world of confusion these days.

[Smith_3]

8. Will they be carrying around real ammunition in residential areas???

This can become very nasty very quickly if someone snaps.

[OneBlueSky]

9. "In addition to war, the military plans to wage a public relations campaign" . . .

well, that about says it all, don't it? . . .