Crowd Control: It's Not War, but It Can Be Hellish

[struggle4progress]

By PETER EDIDIN
Published: May 8, 2005



THE United States Army has increasingly been involved in missions, like peacekeeping, requiring it to police civilian societies. But controlling protesters or quelling a riot in a nation with which America is at peace requires different skills and (usually nonlethal) responses than war fighting.

To teach these skills, the Army recently created a Civil Disturbances Operations manual (www.fas.org/irp/doddir/army/fm3-19-15.pdf), 256 pages long, covering everything from the roots of unrest, to crowd sociology, to the chemicals for dispersing rioters. Excerpts follow. <snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/08/weekinreview/08word.html?

[paparush]

1. They'll be Using these Techniques

On American crowds in DC if chimp-boy is not IMPEACHED!!

[struggle4progress]

2. I'm strongly inclined to agree with you. eom

[thegreatwildebeest]

4. They already are...

Witness Seattle, Miami, and every other world or globalization related event in any country in the world. Think its just us anarchists that are going to get the beat down when the time comes? Think again.

[kcass1954]

3. I haven't read the manual yet, just skimmed it.

I've still got this open on another browser page right now. But on the 1st page of chapter 2 ("Control Force Operations"), the second section almost immediately talks about the use of lethal weapons. This is especially scary because this manual has just been updated as of April 18. I think they intend to use it, folks.

I'm a "glass-is-half-full" person, and I've tried to think that it wouldn't come to anything like this. But after seeing this, I'm now willing to concede that it's probably going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.



STANDARDIZED POSTURES IN COMPANY TACTICAL STANDING OPERATING
PROCEDURES

2-2. Within squads, platoons, and companies, equipment may be increased or decreased, as needed. Some examples are as follows:
�� Choose the M9 pistol for extraction and apprehension teams. The use of a long weapon (for example, an M16 with an M203, an M4 with an
M203, or a 12-gauge shotgun) with NL munitions capability is also
recommended, especially for overwatch personnel.
�� Add nonstandard weapons such as shotguns for greater NL
capabilities.
NOTE: The shotgun is used to protect the M203 gunner as he reloads.
�� Add NL munitions to existing organic weapons systems, such as the M203.
�� Arm soldiers in the front line of the formation with their standard weapon. If the weapon is a long weapon, it should be carried across the back from left to right or vice versa, with the butt up and muzzle down. Ensure that the weapon is cleared and that the magazine is in the appropriate ammunition pouch.
�� Balance the mix of weapons and munitions according to the mission, enemy, terrain, troops, time available, and civilian considerations (METT-TC).
�� Establish command relations and determine who has or gives the
authority to fire NL munitions.
�� Maximize the distance and barriers between the crowd and control
formations. Use NL munitions to create a standoff distance.
�� Maintain a lethal overwatch of the control force at all times.
�� Maintain a reserve force at all times to reinforce the control force, as needed.
�� Create NLW range cards for static positions.
�� Consider environmental conditions and their effect on the
performance of NL munitions. Proper storage, periodic inspections,
and the rotation of NL munitions are critical to maintaining the
effectiveness and viability of NL munitions.