Blueprint for police state America?

A US Army manual dated February 12, 2010 has recently been leaked and has been uploaded to a number of conspiracy websites. Is it genuine?

Image uploaded by John Bravo.

According to one of these websites: “It’s all in black and white and you can read the entire full text...here...Save it before it disappears down the memory hole.”

People who talk about conspiracy theories should first acquaint themselves with conspiracy facts. An earlier edition of the same document can be found in the catalog of the Library Of Congress from which it can be freely downloaded in portable document format.

If you have time, you might like to compare the two and see how the latter has been augmented. But here is just one point:

H-43: “During a nonlethal engagement, the use of designated marksmen provides confidence and safety to those facing a riot. If a lethal threat is presented, the designated marksmen in overwatch positions (armed with appropriate sniper weapons mounted with high-powered scopes) can scan a crowd and identify agitators and riot leaders for apprehension and fire lethal rounds if warranted”.

In other words, snipers are to scan a crowd and using their discretion can shoot and kill people. A bit like the execution in London eight years ago of Azelle Rodney.

On a plain reading, documents of this nature are not intended for everyday use but specifically for situations in which law and order is likely to break down. Having said that, there are those who will implement these conditions if we allow them. And when we look at what is currently going on in Egypt and Syria, we should perhaps be somewhat less critical of their governments.

[The above was published originally July 6, 2013.]


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