Excerpted from the Revolutionary Worker #998, March 14, 1999
6,000 U.S. Marines and sailors will invade [Invaded. -- Ed.] the Bay Area in an exercise named "Urban Warrior." It is a huge operation designed to improve the ability of the U.S. military to suppress urban populations both overseas and in the U.S. The Marines say this exercise will strengthen their ability to wage "the wars of the future" and they claim this will help them to be able to "deliver humanitarian aid."
A Coalition Against Urban Warrior has been formed in Oakland that includes anti-war veterans groups, church groups, chapters of the American Federation of Teachers and the American Friends Service Committee, Berkeley CopWatch, the Gray Panthers, the Middle East Children's Alliance, the Peace & Freedom Party, and the Oakland Tenants Union.
A fact sheet put out by members of the Oakland coalition says, "Make no mistake about it: 'Urban Warrior,' as its name states, is meant to control urban populations by the use of force. It can be used to do this outside and within the U.S." S. Brian Willson, co-chairman of Veterans for Peace in Monterey, states that the Marines "are simply using terrorism as a new pretext for intervention."
...During the operation, the Marines will use humvees and armored personnel carriers firing blanks. Hovercraft and Harrier jets, as well as Sea Knight, Cobra and Huey helicopters, five Navy ships and the Marine's newest carrier, the Bonhomme Richard, will also be part of the exercises. An exposition will also be held to promote the Marines.
...The "Urban Warrior" exercises are part of a major effort by the Marines to refine U.S. military strategy for an increasingly urbanized world that remains highly polarized between a handful of imperialist powers and billions of oppressed people around the world. The Pentagon wants the Marines ready to invade and "pacify" major cities -- including the large, sprawling Third World metropolises. A Marine information packet on Urban Warrior states, "Our potential enemies also have a role in choosing where we fight. These enemies -- having watched Desert Storm on CNN -- know they cannot engage the United States with conventional methods. These potential foes view cities as a way to limit the technological advantages of the American military. They understand that cities -- with their complex and large number of civilian non-combatants -- place limits on our technological superiority and especially our use of firepower."
According to the Marines' official website -- www.mcwl.quantico.usmc.mil -- these exercises are the first time that urban combat doctrines have been re-examined since World War 2. "Current doctrine calls for avoiding fighting in cities altogether," a Marine handout states. "When combat in cities cannot be avoided, the standard tactic has been to shell the city and then send in the infantry with as much fire support as possible. While this method was suitable in past conflicts, it was costly in terms of human life and property. This approach will not be suitable in the future."
...Marine documents on "Urban Warrior" include photos of New York, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego and Miami. These documents do not contain pictures of Los Angeles -- but the Pentagon certainly remembers that in 1992 the authorities of the U.S. lost control of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the country, during a mass rebellion over the police brutalization of Rodney King. "We've got to recondition our populace again, so that a soldier practicing for a war...is seen as a regular and necessary thing."-U.S. Army strategistÉ
Please read the complete article which is posted in English and Spanish online-www.mcs.net/~rwor.