November 9, 2008
Let’s Unroll
“You always hope that you don’t have to use it, but this is becoming a fact of life,” SWAT commander Lt. Joel Preston said.
Take a look at the Cobb County, Georgia police department’s latest toy. Donated by the military, the Armored Personnel Carrier — used by the U.S. Army in Panama — holds up to nine SWAT commandos. Retailing for $500K, Cobb dropped another $45,000 to tailor it for police use. It can hit speeds up to 60 m.p.h. and has thermal sensors, computerized tracking, night vision, tear gas launchers and more.
Beyond the show room details, this stands as a visual evidence of the disaster capitalism and terror war culture we now must reverse.
slideshow: Cobb police get heavy armor (ajc.com)
(h/t: NB)
(image: Bob Andres/AJC)
10 Comments Leave a comment
g said:
Oh come on. What are they going to use that for? A bar brawl out at the roadhouse on the bypass?
AJ said:
It’s “becoming a fact of life” because people like him are MAKING it a fact of life. It is becoming a ‘fact of life’ because no one in a position of influence is standing up to say, “NO” – standing up to say, “NO – I will not be a party to the militarization of the domestic police force which is tasked with protecting and serving the civilians of the United States of America – NOT to treating every citizen as if they are a terrorist first and an American second.”
Apologies for the rant, but this just makes me sick – and in a hystericized society (which America is thanks to the ‘war of terror’) it’s much more difficult to normalize our police forces than it is to amp them up into quasi-military forces of domestic oppression. At this point – they have their $500K toys (as do many police forces across the nation) – and will be looking for reasons to use them.
Will that change with the new administration? I don’t know.
Disaster Capitalism – the Shock Doctrine – HAS come home – make no mistake about it.
Sergei Andropov said:
Only 60 mph? My 1937 Honda Accord could outrun that thing.
This is what we’re spending our tax dollars on?
mjfgates said:
Ye gods. It’s the “SWAT Tank” from “Grand Theft Auto.” They’re getting their facts of life from a video game…
JayDenver said:
Warrior Cops
The Ominous Growth of Paramilitarism in
American Police Departments (pdf)
A 10-year old CATO institute briefing paper. This is not a new development. It is part of the trickle down effect of huge military budgets, the war on drugs, and now the GWOT.
Election Day Swat Preparation from Mother Jones
On the other hand, Some interesting police statistics
donna said:
Give me a good cop on the beat any day. I’ve seen them talk down people you would have never thought they could. I once met a little five foot tall woman parole officer who stood down an entire group of thugs by telling them she had a black belt. She did, right around her waist. ;^)
Frank Baker said:
Is that Michael Dukakis?
Frank Baker said:
Is that Michael Dukakis?
croatoan said:
“Send in the car. Send in the car.”
LanceThruster said:
We have identified the enemy, and he is us.