Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

People are complicated. Love is not.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

Everybody saw this coming.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

Cancel the cowardly Times and Post and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

Not all heroes wear capes.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

No Kings: Americans standing in the way of bad history saying “Oh, Fuck No!”

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

Welcome to day five of every-bit-as-bad-as-you-thought-it-would-be.

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Peaceful Assembly and Personal Security – Re-upped

Peaceful Assembly and Personal Security – Re-upped

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I know a number of you all are planning to join one of the various protests, actions, and/or demonstrations that will begin taking place this weekend as a result of the President’s family separation policy. So I wanted to re-up the post for anyone that missed it the first several times I posted it. I also saw a tweet, which I can’t find right now, from one of the protesters at the Vice President’s event two weeks ago in Ohio who said that the audience assaulted her and other protestors before event security came and escorted them out. So you need to prepare yourself that there may be violence if you protest at this type of event. I would recommend designating one member of your group to begin to record video as soon as the demonstration starts and for that person to do nothing but quietly stand and video events so there is a record and they don’t have to worry about being attacked. And one other person as the dedicated video recording person’s buddy so they can keep their head on a swivel and look out for that person’s wellbeing. Also, stay as close to the perimeter of the event, near an exit, and with your back to a wall if at all possible.

(Originally posted on 18 December 2016)

Congress shall make no law… abridging…the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. — Amendment 1, Bill of Rights, US Constitution

One of our readers/commenters emailed me about a week ago and asked if I would put up a post about personal security for those going to peaceably assemble to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. I put a list together and ran it past a select group of our Balloon Juice legal eagles (those I’ve corresponded with before/have corresponded with me, so if you didn’t get asked, don’t be insulted I didn’t want to just impose on you with a cold request) – thank you all for getting back to me. Here’s my list of what I think anyone going to peacefully assemble should do to enhance their personal security.

  1. Go with a buddy, that way you have at least one person looking out for you/watching your back and vice versa.
  2. Carry cash and make sure to carry a valid picture ID!
  3. Bring a pocket flashlight.
  4. Get and wear a go pro that is automatically updating to the cloud.
  5. Bring a pocket charger for your cell phone and go pro regardless of whether it is supposed to be a long day.
  6. Make sure your personal electronic devices all have sufficient password protection and encryption on them. And have them set to upload to the cloud at a regular interval.
  7. Turn off fingerprint access to unlock your phone and delete your finger prints from the memory. Some jurisdictions allow law enforcement to compel you to unlock your phone if it has finger print based access. Or get a disposable phone just for this occasion.
  8. Turn off your phone and other personal electronic devices option to connect to known wifi as it can be used as a way to fail your encryption.
  9. Bring a bandana or neck gaiter and water so you can make a make shift gas mask in case things get out of hand and tear gas or pepper spray is deployed.
  10. Bring a bottle of saline eye rinse in case you need to rinse your eyes out if tear gas or pepper spray is deployed.
  11. Bring plenty of water and some snacks to make sure you’re properly hydrated and you’ve got enough fuel in your system to get through the day.
  12. Dress in layers so you are prepared for the weather and make sure you have good shoes/boots and a change of socks in case they should get wet. A set of silk base layer undersocks is a good idea regardless of the weather. They’ll help keep your feet warm or cool as needed and they’ll provide some protection in case your shoes/boots and socks get wet. And something to keep the back of your neck and your ears warm if you’re going to be someplace cold.
  13. Bring/wear a hat to keep the sun off your head or to keep it warm depending on the weather.
  14. Bring/wear eye protection. Specifically sunglasses that are impact rated. (You should be able to pick up military surplus ones pretty cheap).
  15. Sunscreen, skin moisturizer, and lip balm. Even if its cold you’ll need these.
  16. If you need to take regular/routine prescription medication: bring it in its original container, with the prescription details on the label. If its a gel based application and comes in a packet, make sure you’ve got a hard copy of the prescription with you.
  17. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. You don’t have to be paranoid, but have a sufficient level of situational awareness. If something looks and/or feels hinky or the hair on the back of your neck stands up, head on home or go get a drink or go back to your hotel. Know who and what is around you, keep your valuables in front pockets or in secure/securable purses/bags, and keep those where they can’t be easily snatched or accessed.
  18. Have a contact plan for both linking up and communicating in case one gets separated from anyone you’re with.
  19. Have a contact plan to stay in touch with someone who isn’t at the march, but knows that you’re there and a regular set of contact times.
  20. Have a lawyer you can contact if necessary and that your outside contact could contact if you don’t check in. Make sure you have all of your contact’s phone numbers memorized in case your phone is damaged or taken by law enforcement should the worst happen and you’re arrested.
  21. Bring a sharpie to take down badge numbers if necessary. And if necessary write them on your hand.

Should the worst happen and you get caught up in a peaceable assembly that suddenly turns not so peaceable:

  1. Do not resist law enforcement. Just do what they say, let your arms go limp, and do what you can to avoid a reflex response to resist – that can get you charged with assault on a law enforcement officer.
  2. Be respectful and polite when dealing with the authorities – law enforcement, the National Park Service, whoever.
  3. If you are arrested, ask for a lawyer and then shut up. Do not say anything else or answer any other questions until your lawyer arrives. In fact let the lawyer do the talking.

One last item: some of you probably carry a pocket knife or multitool everywhere. Or everywhere that you’re normally allowed. I would recommend not carrying anything on your possession that could be construed as a concealed weapon or even an openly carried one. Even if you’re in a state/jurisdiction that allows for concealed or open carry of knives and/or other weapons – don’t. Being part of a march or peaceful assembly that turns ugly is not a good time to attempt firearms (or knife) normalization.

Stay Frosty!

Reader Interactions

108Comments

  2. 2.

    VeniceRiley

    Someone could (and likely does) make a living selling Protest Essentials kit on Amazon.

  4. 4.

    Omnes Omnibus

    Do not resist law enforcement. Just do what they say, let your arms go limp, and do what you can to avoid a reflex response to resist – that can get you charged with assault on a law enforcement officer.

    Cecily McMillan.
    And yes, I believe that her hitting the cop was a natural response to having her breast grabbed from behind.

  5. 5.

    Mandalay

    If you are arrested, ask for a lawyer and then shut up.

    That is very good advice.

  9. 9.

    TenguPhule

    So how normal is the whole “how do we withdraw our troops from Germany” thing, Adam?

  12. 12.

    Mnemosyne

    Thanks, Adam! LAPD has been allowing signs on sticks to the last couple or downtown protests, so I’m hoping that my silly pink protest parasol with no pointy bits will pass muster with them. Need to buy a few snacks tonight …

    And, a last reminder for LA folks: 10:30 am, corner of Hill and 1st outside of the Metro Red Line Civic Center Station. Possibility of lunch in Little Tokyo afterwards if Team Gimpy, Grumpy & Slow’s various health issues allow.

  13. 13.

    A Ghost To Most

    I don’t go anywhere without both a utility knife and a multi-tool. I would feel naked.

  15. 15.

    schrodingers_cat

    I was planning on going but I have been a bit under the weather all this week and the temperatures are going to be close 100 with high humidity. I wilt in those conditions even in normal circumstances. Thanks, everyone who is marching.

  16. 16.

    Mnemosyne

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Is screaming really really loudly considered “resisting arrest” in that situation? Because I would be willing to start screeching, “OMG YOU PERVERT GET YOUR HAND OFF MY BREAST HELP I’M BEING MOLESTED” instead of hitting if it would get me in less trouble.

    If it would be the same trouble, then stomping on his instep it is.

  17. 17.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @A Ghost To Most: I carry a nice little Laguiole single-blade pen knife all the time. It is staying home tomorrow – and I am in a very protest friendly city. Exercise your rights but don’t give assholes an excuse.

  20. 20.

    schrodingers_cat

    @Mnemosyne: You wanted a happy ending, so a political satire or a rom-com? I was thinking of Newton which was India’s entry for the Oscars this year or a rom-com (many to choose from in this genre)

  23. 23.

    Mnemosyne

    @NotMax:

    I’m a petite middle-aged white woman wearing a knee brace. LAPD wouldn’t want that footage on the news.

  24. 24.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: Not normal at all. What gets me is he was president for a year before he ever bothered to ask for a briefing on where US forces were around the world. As long as Mattis is SecDef, even if the reporting about his relationship with the President being strained, those personnel aren’t going anywhere. And I don’t see the Joint Chiefs going along with pulling them out no matter who is SecDef.

  27. 27.

    B.B.A.

    It’s supposed to hit 95 degrees tomorrow in NYC.

    I’m an agoraphobic shut-in but I’ll be out there. Since we’ll be going right to Il Douche’s doorstep, I expect trouble, but I’m trying to steel myself for it. I don’t mean to quote Mandela in vain, and as a white person I don’t know that I have the right to, but: I am prepared to die.

  30. 30.

    NotMax

    @Mnemosyne

    You’d also be one among many, in a fluid crowd. Operating as if the cameras are focused on you is a sucker’s bet.

  33. 33.

    Omnes Omnibus

    Protesting is expressing dissent. Showing up doesn’t make you at hero, but it does make you a dissenter and that can be dangerous. You may be among a large crowd in a protest-friendly city, but things could turn in a couple of seconds. Be careful and be prepared.

  37. 37.

    Mnemosyne

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Newton looks like it might be fun, and I can stream it through Amazon Prime for free. I’ll try to watch the trailer on IMDb when I get home tonight.

    If the voting plot seems too close to home right now, I think there was another recent movie you talked about where the guy’s father or grandfather was in a coma and the family was dealing with the repercussions of that?

  39. 39.

    TenguPhule

    @Mnemosyne:

    I’m a petite middle-aged white woman wearing a knee brace. LAPD wouldn’t want that footage on the news.

    They’d simply confiscate the cameras.

  40. 40.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    And I don’t see the Joint Chiefs going along with pulling them out no matter who is SecDef.

    So they’ll risk disobeying direct orders from superiors? Just to be clear, I just want to know if we’re exchanging one slow burning crisis for another crisis.

  41. 41.

    Mnemosyne

    @NotMax:

    I can flop like Divac when necessary, but I’m going to do my level best to avoid the situation. I’m going with Ruckus and James Powell, so I won’t be by myself.

  43. 43.

    NotMax

    @Mnemosyne

    Mentioned it the other day; cannot recommend The Royal Tailor on Amazon Prime highly enough.

    And, right in your bailiwick, it’s a historical costume drama.

  46. 46.

    TenguPhule

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    I doubt that he’d like an ugly incident on his first week on the job.

    I’m sure he wouldn’t. But do the cops on the ground understand that?

  48. 48.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Mnemosyne: I agree that that sort of thing has been protection in the past. But more than 600 were arrested in DC, and several in Santa Fe yesterday. Things are heating up. Tomorrow’s demonstrations have permits and should be fine. But one of these days, and we don’t know which one, all hell will break loose.

  49. 49.

    Mnemosyne

    @TenguPhule:

    LAPD once started beating news reporters inside a tent while they were broadcasting live. They don’t worry much about cameras.

    Though, in fairness, a bunch of people got fired over that one. It was about 10 years ago, I think?

  50. 50.

    NotMax

    Halfway watching A Very English Scandal in the background. The years have not been kind to Hugh Grant.

  51. 51.

    TenguPhule

    @Mnemosyne: I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed the sudden rush to outlaw filming the police in action. Be careful and don’t take chances please.

  53. 53.

    Mnemosyne

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    To be clear, as part of Team Gimpy, Grumpy and Slow, we will definitely be on the fringe of anything going on and have no plans to join any large crowds.

    I was just trying to figure out if screeching instead of hitting was considered resisting arrest if worse came to worst.

  54. 54.

    TenguPhule

    @Mnemosyne:

    I was just trying to figure out if screeching instead of hitting was considered resisting arrest if worse came to worst.

    People have been charged for that before (the screeching) under disturbing the peace & resisting arrest.

  55. 55.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: 1) It’s going to take an act of Congress to close those bases. They can’t even do a domestic BRAC, closing Ramstein, Landstuhl, Stuttgart, Weisbaden, Baumholder, Grafenwehr, Hohenfells, etc is going to take decades to work out. 2) The Joint Chiefs will just leverage this to slow walk the planning.

    All of that said, I’d be very curious how often he talks to Putin on his unsecured cell phone after he says goodnight to Hannity.

  57. 57.

    ruemara

    Stay safe, all of you. I won’t be out there. I just can’t any more, but stay safe.

  59. 59.

    Mnemosyne

    @schrodingers_cat:

    I’ll check out the trailers for both of them tonight and then email you. I’m leaning towards Newton since it has so many good reviews.

    @ruemara:

    You and SC should snuggle your respective kittehs and relax tomorrow. We got this.

  60. 60.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @ruemara: The other night you said that I often come off as very, very white male. Maybe here, I can use it to our advantage. Do what you can when you can.

  61. 61.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    1) It’s going to take an act of Congress to close those bases. They can’t even do a domestic BRAC, closing Ramstein, Landstuhl, Stuttgart, Weisbaden, Baumholder, Grafenwehr, Hohenfells, etc is going to take decades to work out. 2) The Joint Chiefs will just leverage this to slow walk the planning.

    What happens if he orders the troops out but doesn’t bother to close the bases (leaving just the janitors there)? i don’t think he’s thought this out beyond “just do it!” but will the Joint Chiefs refuse a really stupid order like that? Especially if he uses his new “national security bullshit” toy the GOP SC majority so kindly handed to him to smash?

  62. 62.

    TenguPhule

    @Adam L Silverman:

    All of that said, I’d be very curious how often he talks to Putin on his unsecured cell phone after he says goodnight to Hannity.

    Why hasn’t the transcripts been released yet? Our Deep State is really letting the home team down here! //

  63. 63.

    germy

    EXCLUSIVE: The @nytimes on previously unreported emails from Brexit-financier Aaron Banks, who appears far more engaged with Russian diplomats than acknowledged, & whose biz partner took up a lucrative deal offered by the Russians @ddknyt @AllMattNYT https://t.co/22mo8aWO7Z— Matthew Rosenberg (@AllMattNYT) June 29, 2018

    Wait. Can you expand on "the two men discussed what role Jeff Sessions, then a senator, might play in the cabinet?”You’re saying Banks and the Russian ambassador discussed Sessions in November 2016?— Zach Lipton (@zachlipton) June 29, 2018

  65. 65.

    schrodingers_cat

    @Mnemosyne: You might also enjoy Hindi film noir of the 40s and 50s, like Aar Par. This is an early Guru Dutt film before he made classics like Pyaasa (Thirsty) and Sahib, Bibi or Gulam (Master, Mistress and slave). Guru Dutt is considered one of the greats of Hindi cinema.

  67. 67.

    TenguPhule

    U.S. Circuit Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy who is viewed as one of the leading contenders to replace him, has argued that presidents should not be distracted by civil lawsuits, criminal investigations or even questions from a prosecutor or defense attorney while in office.

    Kavanaugh had direct personal experience that informed his 2009 article for the Minnesota Law Review: He helped investigate President Bill Clinton as part of independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr’s team and then served for five years as a close aide to President George W. Bush.

    Having observed the weighty issues that can consume a president, Kavanaugh wrote, the nation’s chief executive should be exempt from “time-consuming and distracting” lawsuits and investigations, which “would ill serve the public interest, especially in times of financial or national security crisis.”

    He sounds nice. //s

  70. 70.

    TenguPhule

    @NotMax: A man after Trump’s own heart.

    Kavanaugh has been a leading defender of the government’s position when it comes to prosecuting terrorism suspects through military commissions and takes a dim view of international law. He declared unconstitutional the structure of a consumer watchdog agency, finding that it gives too much executive control to a “single unaccountable, unchecked director,” in a decision reversed earlier this year by his colleagues.

    When the court on which he serves allowed a pregnant immigrant teen in federal custody to access abortion services, Kavanaugh objected, saying the majority had created a new right for undocumented minors to “immediate abortion on demand.” And in one of many challenges to gun-control laws in the nation’s capital, Kavanaugh said he would have struck down the city’s regulations banning certain semiautomatic long guns.

    I give it 80% he’s the nominee.

  72. 72.

    Jeffro

    @Adam L Silverman: “exactly!” x 4

    But what it does show (obvs) is that this guy is out to destroy all – ALL – of our alliances and commitments, period, full stop. And of course, this (directly, in most cases; indirectly in the rest) benefits one hostile foreign power in particular.

    Trying to talk Macron out of the EU?
    Musing aloud to the Swedish PM about leaving NATO?

    Come on folks, there aren’t a whole lot of explanations left…

  76. 76.

    Steve in the ATL

    @TenguPhule: anyone who participated in, aided, abetted, or enjoyed the Starr extravaganza should be permanently shunned from society

    ETA: trifecta—call me TenguPhule!

  79. 79.

    geg6

    It is a near certainty that I will be finding a way to jump into the Point Park fountain tomorrow. It’s going to be in the 90s and a Market Square will be packed. I’ll need to cool down quick at some point.

    Still not saving nym and email. iPhone.

  81. 81.

    TenguPhule


    Trump administration plans to detain migrant families for months

    Breaking Wapo.

    Fuck fuck fuck.

    The Trump administration plans to detain migrant families together in custody rather than release them, according to a new court filing that suggests such detentions could last longer than the 20 days envisioned by a court settlement.

    “The government will not separate families but detain families together during the pendency of immigration proceedings when they are apprehended at or between ports of entry,” Justice Department lawyers wrote in a legal notice to a federal judge in California who has been overseeing long-running litigation about the detention of illegal immigrants.

  82. 82.

    Ruckus

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    From reading that bit about the cop it sounds like he’s a really nice fella. If you like assholes.
    He got fired from the police force. And normally they seem to reward their most direct and authoritarian officers. Curiouser and curiouser.

  83. 83.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @TenguPhule: Don’t pretend this is new or a surprise. They agreed to not separating families. They didn’t agree to going back to the Obama policies.

  85. 85.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Ruckus: I’ve seen the photos of the bruises on her breast. Grabbed from behind hard enough to have soft flesh bruised? You don’t instinctively hit back? Fuck that.

  88. 88.

    Bill Arnold

    Another piece, by EFF, that supplements Adam’s excellent guide:
    Attending Protests (United States)
    Note: It’s a few years old. It includes a reminder to consider stripping most metadata from photos before uploading them.
    (for geeks, this works
    exiftool -all= foo.jpg -o foo_stripped.jpg
    or, to overwrite the original
    exiftool -all= foo.jpg
    )

  90. 90.

    Bill Arnold

    @A Ghost To Most:

    I don’t go anywhere without both a utility knife and a multi-tool. I would feel naked.

    I have a leatherman squirt radio shack edition, with wire strippers, wire cutter, tweezers, etc. (Sort of a bombmaker’s emergency toolkit, perhaps. Don’t tell TSA. :-). In an event with TSA-style security last year, the searcher found it, and I immediately asked if i could break the blade and then keep it, did so before he answered, and he then agreed. About 2mm blade left, enough to cut plastic packaging, tape and string, and I suppose flesh if one really worked at it. Haven’t tried bringing it through airport security yet. It’s weird. I can do serious damage with hands and feet (not an exclusive list) (and as can many) and the multitool is just a very useful tool, and exudes thingness.

  91. 91.

    Ruckus

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    Yeah I’d probably take the word of a woman with bruises on her breast over that of a cop with major issues.
    Sure they can have lots of run ins with assholes, seeing as how assholes don’t seem to mind drawing attention/fucking with everyone. There is a reason they are known as assholes. But that’s their job, dealing with assholes. And regular people who shouldn’t have to act like cops are the ultimate authority and can kill you if they don’t like the color of your whatever. Like I’ve said before I played cop in the navy, more commonly known as Shore Patrol and I think because we didn’t have all that fire power, just a nightstick and a set of handcuffs, no body armor, no gun, back up was some other clown like me, that we had to calm things down, make a situation better if at all possible. Cops today just seem to do whatever the fuck they want, under the color of authority and superiority. And that’s just wrong.

    I had a thought the other day. These people work for us. They don’t own us, none of us are their ball washers or ass lickers or slaves. I kneel to no one. I don’t live in a kingdom, I live in a democracy. They work in a democracy, for the democracy, not for their “church,” or their paymasters. Their agendas shouldn’t exist. Sure they have rights as well as we do but their rights are not higher than ours. Their ability to go to a restaurant and eat unmolested depends on the job they are doing for us, not the other way around. We all pay them. All of them are our employees, including the shitgibbon.
    We shouldn’t let them forget that.

  92. 92.

    Bill Arnold

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    So, kind of like earrings, then.

    Yes, if the earrings are useful as tools. (In some manipulation spaces; ornamentation can be a tool, yes. :-)

  93. 93.

    James E Powell

    Something’s come up. Family matter. I will not be going to DTLA tomorrow. I am sad, but I have to be there for the fam.

  94. 94.

    Bill Arnold

    Also, even after the recent “CARPENTER v. UNITED STATES” decision, remember that your phone is a tracking device that is used (by your provider) to log all your movements (while carrying it while turned on) at (at least) a coarse level, with multi-year retention. (Typically 5 years, I read; dunno.)

  95. 95.

    J R in WV

    Just a note, I just got to the bottom of the comments, and my nym and email was right there in the proper fields!!!!! Amazing!!!!!!!!!!

    Linux Ubuntu 14.04, Firefox current V60.0.2

    Thanx Alain!!!! Have a nice weekend!

  96. 96.

    Bill Arnold

    @Adam L Silverman:

    All of that said, I’d be very curious how often he talks to Putin on his unsecured cell phone after he says goodnight to Hannity.

    Maybe he uses Signal or something similar for his calls with Putin. :-)

  97. 97.

    J R in WV

    @Bill Arnold:

    My phone is off 90% of the time. My battery life is AMAZING!!! This is because at home and all of our neighbors, there is no cell connectivity. Not for miles. The terrain in WV is such that cell towers aren’t line-of-sight for very far, unless you’re on a high ridge top.

    Most people don’t live on ridge tops. They’re narrow, rocky, steep, and roads just cross them at low points, called gaps. I know people in cities are different, and connect most all the time. And in town I turn on the phone if I need to look something up or call someone. If…

  99. 99.

    Ruckus

    @J R in WV:
    It ain’t just in the country.
    I lived for a year with my deceased sister’s business partner, in a rather nice area of Los Angeles county and there is no cell service anywhere in the entire area. That’s about 5 miles of road, with some multi million dollar homes and some hippy places. You heard me. Up until about 5 yrs ago there wasn’t even internet other than DSL. If I drove in any direction about 5 miles I was in urban area. OK except due west, then it was about 2 miles to the ocean.

  100. 100.

    Bill Arnold

    This is because at home and all of our neighbors, there is no cell connectivity. Not for miles.

    I have mixed feelings. Feel a bit naked and disabled without internet connectively (especially search engines) but the privacy loss hurts. (Really.)

  101. 101.

    Adam L Silverman

    @TenguPhule: If the troops are relocated, even if relocated home, they still have to be paid. They still have to be fed. They still have to be equipped. They still have to go through regular training. The bases themselves are sunk costs and have been for decades. Unless he’s going to draw down the over all US military by 35,000 personnel, there’s no savings here. Moreover, because a good chunk of these troops are assigned to EUCOM and AFRICOM, both headquartered at Stuttgart, US Army Europe at Wiesbaden, and the units and Soldiers assigned to US Army Europe (these are distributed between Wiesbaden, Grafenwehr, Hohenfells, and, I think, the 173rd is still at Baumholder), US Air Force Europe at Ramstein, if you pull these folks out you’re dismantling two Geographic Combatant Commands, two Service Component Commands, a Brigade Combat Team, several battalions, the entire training cadre at Hohenfells, a couple of Air Wings at Ramstein. Putting US Army Europe somewhere in the US makes no sense. Having AFRICOM in Stuttgart makes no sense, but the Bush 43 Administration had pissed so many folks off we couldn’t get anyone in Africa who was willing to host the command, but having it in Europe is closer than in the US.

    What you have here is someone who is convinced everyone is cheating him. And now, by extension/conflation, the US. He also thinks he understands the prices and values involved here, which he doesn’t. The result that you’re getting is that he wants to stick it to the folks he’s convinced are cheating us, but who aren’t cheating us. Elect a clown, get a circus.

  103. 103.

    Adam L Silverman

    @NotMax: I’ve got it, but won’t get to it till tomorrow night. I’ve a wedding to go to tomorrow – the daughter of one of my oldest friends, former teammate, and the guy I teach aikido with. My gift is all the deserts other than the cake. So I spent today baking: chocolate chip cookies, brownies, mini key lime pies, and mini tiramisus. I’m beat and have to be up early. So I’ll be checking out shortly.

  105. 105.

    dopey-o

    @Adam L Silverman:

    All of that said, I’d be very curious how often he talks to Putin on his unsecured cell phone after he says goodnight to Hannity.

    Won’t it be fun when the Luthuanians release those tapes! Or the Dutch, or the Germans, or ….. Christmas in July!

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