Operation Torch: Officers with assault weapons and dogs will patrol subways

[madfloridian]

New Operation to Put Heavily Armed Officers in Subways

In the first counterterrorism strategy of its kind in the nation, roving teams of New York City police officers armed with automatic rifles and accompanied by bomb-sniffing dogs will patrol the city’s subway system daily, beginning next month, officials said on Friday.

Under a tactical plan called Operation Torch, the officers will board trains and patrol platforms, focusing on sites like Pennsylvania Station, Herald Square, Columbus Circle, Rockefeller Center and Times Square in Manhattan, and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

Officials said the operation would begin in March. Financing for the program will be funneled to the Police Department and will come from a pool of up to $30 million taken from $153.2 million in new federal transit grants to the state.

Michael Chertoff, the secretary of homeland security, and Gov. Eliot Spitzer announced the grants at a news conference on Friday at Grand Central Terminal, where Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly outlined his plans to add a layer of security to the city’s 24-hour transit system.

[aquart]

1. Did you ever round a corner and come smack up against an assault rifle?

I did in Penn Station. I am so glad those guys are so laid back and calm.

[madrchsod]

2. dam bin boy sure got his money's worth

terrorized an entire nation into being afraid of the unknown...

[TexasObserver]

3. A cure worse than the disease.

The fearmongers never rest.

[madfloridian]

4. I agree. It never stops.

Lordy, I just heard a snip of McCain ranting over how the terrorists are coming to get us...so to speak. I used to have more respect for him.

[fenriswolf]

5. Has their ever been a terrorist incident in the new york subway?

none that I'm aware of anyways. Jeezus.

[Eric J in MN]

7. I support preparation regarding the unprecedented, but only if it's effective.

The chance that someone will be carrying explosives in a subway car as the police with the sniffing dogs enter is one in a zillion.

This seems more designed to scare commuters than to reduce a threat.

[WinkyDink]

18. It is "designed" for graft. Pure and simple.

[DCKit]

8. It's not about preventing attacks, it's about inspiring U.S. to live in fear.

What better way than using G.I. Joes in full combat gear carrying automatic assault weapons with attack dogs? Ever wonder what the people of Iraq live with every day? The people of NYC are about to find out.

Terra! Terra! Terra! The Islamofascist bogeyman is coming to get you! Only we can keep you safe! Give us your money and your children for our endless wars and invasions, and we will keep you safe! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

[ninety lives]

13. Unless you count 9/11....

Have terrorists ever used the subway - domestic or otherwise?

Would you want a terrorist sharing the subway with you?

[WinkyDink]

19. Even if you believe the Bush story of 9/11, they FLEW. Get it?

[hootinholler]

23. What are you afraid of?

Who do you fear? Why are you focused on terrorists rather than say a rapist or a mugger?

-Hoot

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. You obviously do NOT live in any of the actual targets

if you did... you'd be laughing at this... seriously laughing

It is proven, the further you live from places like NYC, the more scared people are... it is a real and provable relationship

[Retrograde]

25. If I were a terrorist

that would be high on my list of prime targets. Large system, many, many access points, full of all sorts of people carrying all sorts of stuff at all hours - sounds like a perfect target.

Wait - it's been done. There were terrorist hits on the London Underground and the Tokyo subway system, as well as on the Madrid commuter railway and probably others I can't remember. Putting added precautions on the NYC subway makes a lot more sense to me than some of the TSA airport tricks.

I don't know about automatic weapons. I've seen them in airports in Germany, and they're unnerving. Well-trained bomb-sniffing dogs I don't have a problem with: they do then to be apolitical.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Well New Yorkers are not properly scared

my only explanation for this

And cute name... Torch... where have I heard this before? North Africa, WW II

[lurky]

9. Fucking great.

We really need assholes with machine-guns pushing us around while we go to work. I feel like I'm in Guatemala or something whenever I see cops strutting around in the street or in an airport in military gear.

Do they really think a fully-automatic rifle is an effective weapon in a crowded train station with hundreds or thousands of people, not to mention concrete walls? (ricochet, anyone?) Do they really think their dogs are going to catch a bomb hidden among the 5,076,000 passengers who use the New York subway system every day? No, they are not that stupid. It's about power, intimidation, and putting on a show so the rubes think they are doing something about terrorism.

If only they could have spent the money making the damn thing run better. :mad:

[ninety lives]

14. I live in a large city

.....when have there NOT been dogs patrolling our transportation systems?

Let us not forget that public transportation systems serve the airports.

Who says that all terrorists are "Islamofascist" anyway?

[madfloridian]

28. So...the fear mongering has worked on you.

Are you scared enough yet?

[MadHound]

10. Coming soon to a street near you.

Once again they are out softening up society for the oncoming police state. This isn't about bombs, if it was they would have bomb gear on instead of assault gear. This is to sensitize the public to the notion of the military out in the streets, patrolling with force.

[Girlieman]

11. effing ridiculous

Jack booted storm troopers with automatic rifles to counter terrorism?

I don't think so.

I read the article and nowhere does anybody explain why or how these troops are going to guard against terrorism.

They just want us to get used to seeing a military presence.

[ninety lives]

15. They're not "troops"

They're police officers.

Perhaps you think the use of assault weapons is extreme - fair enough.

However, as I said, I live in a big city and use public transportation -
I have always seen police and dogs at the train stations. Apart from
the assault weapons, how is this different?

[WinkyDink]

22. Where do you live? I've seen such in the Frankfurt Airport,

in the Bologna train station, and in some other places.

Because there have been DECADES of terrorism in Europe, in just those types of transportation hubs.

HOWEVER, European populations and borders are not ours. Nor have their acts of terrorism been ours.

[KG]

12. but, y'know, we don't live in a police state!

nope! :eyes:

[Vinca]

16. I can see the travel brochures now . . .

[WinkyDink]

17. Meanwhile, nothing* has ever happened there. More $$ down a rat-hole.

*terrorism-related.

[onethatcares]

20. third world country anyone?

once the shock of seeing them wears off, it'll be "Papers please", "where were you going?, with who?" "Why". Oh yeah, this is gonna grow big time. As far as them being "police officers", how could you tell if someone is wearing combat gear and carryng a m-16? I think Blackwater.

[rug]

21. This all started when they banned smoking in the subway.

[High Plains]

24. Who will guard our from our guardians?

Who has effective oversight over NYPD? Apparently nobody.

NYPD is the praetorian guard.

[madfloridian]

27. And who has the courage to speak up and say enough is enough.

No one does.