Sonic Blasters Used For Crowd Control In Georgia

Not in Georgia, U.S., however these not deadly, but highly dangerous weapons have been used twice, to our knowledge, in the U.S. (read on)

Georgia Police Turns Sonic Blaster on Demonstrators

By Noah Shachtman November 15, 2007 | 11:43:14 AM

Categories: Lasers and Ray Guns, Less-lethal

There's more evidence that the Saakashvili regime in Georgia is using sound weapons against opposition protestors. This English-language footage from Russia Today shows riot police rolling through the streets of Tblisi in pickup trucks, small dishes in hand. A high frequency pulse follows. "Georgian police used an acoustic gun -- it's a non-lethal weapon that disorients people for a period of time," says one "special weapons expert."

"Similar such guns are also used by the Iraq police," the Russia Today piece claims. That, I'm not so sure about. But the sonic systems -- which can also be used as a long-range "hailer," projecting sound far, far away -- have been tested out by American troops in Iraq. They were employed by the New York Police Department during the last Republican National Convention -- and by military police during Hurricane Katrina. A cruise ship even used a sonic blast to ward off Somali pirates in '05.

(So, protesters get the same treatment as pirates? Talk about values being all screwed up! Everyone knows that in the true definition of pirate, pirates are murdering thieves. Protesters these days, for the very most part, are about as peaceful and non-violent as it gets?

Reader TM points out that short-range versions of the same technology can be bought online -- for as little as $898 a pop.

Oh Gawd, that's all we need! A bunch of freepers running around with sonic blasters, that when used inappropriately, we have been alerted, can burst ear drums, leaving the unfortunate protester deaf as a post, for the rest of his/her life.

I doubt seriously that such a person would be eligible for Disability payments, if the blaster is used by the authorities

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. I.U. has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is I.U endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)


The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.

White House Manual For Dealing With Protesters

The whole point was to keep Junior from seeing the protests or the protesters; keeping bubble-boy neatly in his bubble.

Un-freakin'-believable!

White House Manual for Silencing Critics

July 9, 2007 By Matthew Rothschild

So the truth comes out.

After a myriad of stories about people being excluded from events where the President is speaking, now we know that the White House had a policy manual on just how to do so.

Called the “Presidential Advance Manual,” this 103-page document from the Office of Presidential Advance lays out the parameters for how to handle protesters at events.

“Always be prepared for demonstrators,” says the document, which is dated October 2002 and which the ACLU released as part of a new lawsuit. (For a copy of the lawsuit or the document itself, go to www.aclu.org/freespeech/protest/silenced.html.)

In a section entitled “Preventing Demonstrators,” the document says: “All Presidential events must be ticketed or accessed by a name list. This is the best method for preventing demonstrators. People who are obviously going to try to disrupt the event can be denied entrance at least to the VIP area between the stage and the main camera platform. . . . It is important to have your volunteers at a checkpoint before the Magnetometers in order to stop a demonstrator from getting into the event. Look for signs they may be carrying, and if need be, have volunteers check for folded cloth signs that demonstrators may be bringing.”

In another section, entitled “Preparing for Demonstrators,” the document makes clear that the intention is to deprive protesters of the right to be seen or heard by the President: “As always, work with the Secret Service and have them ask the local police department to designate a protest area where demonstrators can be placed, preferably not in view of the event site or motorcade route.”

The document also recommends drowning out protesters or blocking their signs by using what it calls “rally squads.” It states: “These squads should be instructed always to look for demonstrators. The rally squad’s task is to use their signs and banners as shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform. If the demonstrators are yelling, rally squads can begin and lead supportive chants to drown out the protestors (USA!, USA!, USA!). As a last resort, security should remove the demonstrators from the event site.”

The document offered advice on how to recruit members for such squads: “The rally squads can include, but are not limited to, college/young republican organizations, local athletic teams, and fraternities/sororities.”

The document does contain a warning in bold, however: “Remember—avoid physical contact with demonstrators.” It also advises to make sure that whatever action is taken to drown out the demonstrators does not “cause more negative publicity than if the demonstrators were simply left alone.”

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. I.U. has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is I.U endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)

The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.

What's Joshua's Real Story? Anatomy of a Rightwing Smear.

I was sent a copy of the latest article about Mr. Sparling this morning.

The name rang a bell.

The story, itself, left much to be desired. Like any real specifics at all; no names or descriptions, not even of police, who were allegedly aware of a spitting "incident," which holds that a member of the peace-movement spat at or near Mr. Sparling, a former soldier, wounded in Iraq.

The whole thing seemed very odd to me and then there was that nagging feeling that I had heard the name before. Well, seems I had heard it before, lots of times:

Joshua Sparling, (b. 1981- ) is a Private First Class in the U.S. Army from Port Huron, Michigan, who was wounded in the War in Iraq. Since December 2005, Joshua has received significant publicity for being the victim of numerous incidents of aggression, attributed to his status as a veteran of the War in Iraq.

Death Wish

Joshua Sparling was injured in Iraq by an IED on November 20, 2005, and returned to the U.S. on November 24, 2005 where he underwent multiple surgeries to treat his wounds, including severe injuries to his right leg. [1] According to a letter written by Joshua's Father 2005, [2] on the day he arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Sparling received a letter from the Red Cross that turned out to be anonymous hate mail expressing the wish that the soldier reading the card would die.[3] A white supremacist with anti-government views later claimed to be the source of the death wish letter. [4]

So, some Righting nut job took the credit for traumatizing this young man with hate mail?

There seems, however, to be a conflict in the time line for Joshua's various incidents of persecution. In one account, that of his father, the "death wish" card is received on his first day at Walter Reed. In another report, by the time he received the card, he had already been insulted by Code Pink, unnamed members, outside the gates of Walter Reed, while he was hobbling by on crutches. Which is it?

Verbal Abuse

In Spring 2006, his father described how Pfc Sparling claimed that he was insulted at an airport while in a wheelchair. [5]


Did the father witness this or not? If so, why did he not ask for the guard's identification, or simply get the name off the name tag or number off the badge?

The security guard said, “You are no different than any other passenger with no boarding pass - no go.” My son started to cry uncontrollably and told the guard to go to hell. Sparling's father claimed that another lady then spoke up and said, “That’s what you get for fighting in a war we have no business in.” Madder and very emotional I asked, “Can’t you remember 9-11?” She responded that was just our excuse to be in Iraq when we should not be there and we deserved whatever we got. That is when my son really lost it. Three WWII vets were coming off flights into DC, gave my son a hug, and stood up to the lady and security guard. They stayed with my son until he flew out.

Three WWII vets happened to be getting off flights about that time and just knew what the young man in the wheel chair was so upset about? How did they know? Did someone tell three elderly gentlemen. in civilian attire, about the young man's plight?

Mr. Sparling, who has been described as both a Pfc and a Corporal, also says that he was verbally attacked by members of Code Pink. Sorry, I find that very difficult to believe, however, if anyone can give me proof of it, as a member of the peace movement, a veteran Navy Hospital Corpsman, and a woman, I will personally confront the woman or women who persecuted this young man. Give me facts and they will wish to hell they had never opened their mouths!

Spit

On 27 January 2007, at an antiwar protest at Washington DC, Sparling claimed that a passing protestor may have spit near him, according to the New York Times. [6]

May have been spat at? Say what? This "incident" was reported because someone with a history of "being persecuted" says that someone may have spat at him?


Later, as antiwar protesters passed where he and his group were standing, words were exchanged and one of the antiwar protesters spit at the ground near Mr. Sparling; he spit back.


Supportive Publicity

Joshua's struggles have been featured by numerous media outlets and weblogs supportive of the Iraq War effort. Media coverage of the death wish triggered an outpouring of over 20,000 cards and gifts to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed. Joshua was championed by Fox News commentator Sean Hannity who gave him gifts of several movies and an Ipod. [7] He has appeared and spoken at Oliver North's "Freedom Alliance" concerts. [8] Additionally, Joshua and his parents were invited to and attended the 2006 State of the Union Address as guests of J. Dennis Hastert. [9]

Seems to me that either this is an orchestrated "flame-up" or a whole lot of people have been bamboozled by a con man or a very sick man.


Controversy


Regarding the "Spitting Incident" No "spitter" was identified and it is unclear whether the Times reporter actually witnessed the alleged incident. This raises questions about why it is that Mr. Sparling seems to be the only Iraqi War veteran to have received such demeaning treatment from the public.


As antiwar protesters passed where he and his group were hurling insults and holding signs stating "Hippies Smell", "Don't take the brown acid", etc., in complete disregard for the several hundred mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers of Iraq vets and current combat troops, words were exchanged and one of the antiwar protesters supposedly spit at the ground near Mr. Sparling, although there is no verification of this; he says he did not spit back. While the Freepers (one of the signs had www.freerepublic.com printed on the bottom) may have had a wounded Iraq vet with them, they obviously forgot, or were not aware, or simply didn't care, that Mr. Sparling was not the only Iraq vet at the rally. However, that seemed not to subdue their need to disrespect those veterans (not to mention those troops still in combat in Iraq who's families were at the rally) and their loved ones.

At least one account says that he admitted spitting back, not that I would blame him, if his story is true. As a matter of fact, Mr. Sparling should hire this old woman as his personal body guard. I can assure him that I would take care of any "spitters" he encounters in the peace-movement.

With the ultra-right, he is on his own.

[edit] External links

Brenner, Anita That your words may be put to the test La Canada Valley Sun

Hullaballoo No Spit Zone

Hullaballoo Spitting Image

Kilmeade, Brian Insult to Injury Fox News

Malkin, Michelle Good wishes for Joshua Sparling Malkin Blog

Murphy, Shannon Wounded soldier flooded with goodwill messages Port Huron Times Herald

Murphy, Shannon Some 20,000 well-wishers pen soldier who got hate mail Lansing State Journal

The Sean Hannity Show link to video from The Political Teen Blog

The Gunn Nutt Airport insult incident

New York Times Protest Focuses on Iraq Troop Increase

[edit] References
^ Injuries.
^ Injuries.
^ Malkin, M., Retrieved January 30, 2007.
^ Source of death threat., Retrieved January 30, 2007.
^ Insults
^ Times article
^ Hannity Gifts, Retrieved January 30, 2007.
^ Freedom Alliance., Retrieved January 30, 2007.
^ State of the Union Invite, Retrieved January 30, 2007.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Sparling"

Why the hell does this get under my skin to the point where I am like a snapping turtle; won't let go 'til it thunders?

Because I am sick of the lies. I've been sick of them for years!

I saw what was done to John Kerry, Max Clelland and anyone else who has opposed this pathological administration of chickenhawks, and their idiotic foreign policy.

From this moment on, I plan to fight back.

One might say that I am mad as hell and will not take it anymore!

Anyone who spreads hateful deceit about me or mine, will be exposed. Count on it!

That's right! I don't give a damn if you are a quadruple amputee. Lie about the peace movement and you will be exposed.

Anyone and everyone has a right to his or her own opinion about this war or any other issue. They also have a right to express their opinions. What they do not have a right to do is smear people who disagree with them, and I am sick to damn death of it.

Are these the same people who hate the 9/11 widows and say they should just get over it, that families of our Iraq soldiers, like Cindy Sheehan and the Gold Star Mom's need to shut up and get on with their lives?

The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.

Bob Herbert: Protesters are True-belivers and Patriots.

How true!

It was a few minutes after 11 a.m. when the scattered crowd began moving slowly toward the stage at the end of the Mall. The sky was a beautiful sunlit blue and the Capitol building, huge and white and majestic, offered the protesters an emotional backdrop that seemed almost close enough to touch.

“It’s so big,” said a woman from Milwaukee, who was there with her husband and two children. “It’s lovely. Makes you want to cry.”

You can say what you want about the people opposed to this wretched war in Iraq, try to stereotype them any way you can. But you couldn’t walk among them for more than a few minutes on Saturday without realizing that they love their country as much as anyone ever has.

They love it enough to try to save it.

By 11:15, I thought there was a chance that the march against the war would be a bust. There just weren’t that many people moving toward the stage to join the rally that preceded the march. But the crowd kept building, slowly, steadily. It was a good-natured crowd. Everyone was bad-mouthing the Bush administration and the war, but everybody seemed to be smiling.

There were gray-haired women with digital cameras and young girls with braces. There were guys trying to look cool in knit caps and shades and balding baby boomers trading stories about Vietnam. And many ordinary families.“

Where’s Hillary?” someone asked.

That evoked laughter in the crowd. “She’s in Iowa running for president,” someone said.When a woman asked, “What’s her position on the war?” a man standing next to her cracked, “She was for it before she was against it.”More laughter.

The crowd kept building. There were people being pushed in wheelchairs and babies in strollers. There were elderly men and women, walking very slowly in some cases and holding hands.

The goal of the crowd was to get the attention of Congress and persuade it to move vigorously to reverse the Bush war policies. But the thought that kept returning as I watched the earnestly smiling faces, so many of them no longer young, was the way these protesters had somehow managed to keep the faith. They still believed, after all the years and all the lies, that they could make a difference. They still believed their government would listen to them and respond.“I have to believe in this,” said Donna Norton of Petaluma, Calif. “I have a daughter in the reserves and a son-in-law on active duty. I feel very, very strongly about this.”

Betty and Peter Vinten-Johansen of East Lansing, Mich., said they felt obliged to march, believing that they could bolster the resolve of opponents of the war in Congress. Glancing toward the Capitol, Mr. Vinten-Johansen said, “Maybe we can strengthen their backbone a little bit.”

Even the celebrities who have been at this sort of thing for decades have managed to escape the debilitating embrace of cynicism. “How can you be cynical?” asked Tim Robbins, just before he mounted the stage to address the crowd, which by that time had grown to more than 100,000.“This is inspiring,” he said. “It’s the real voice of the American people, and when you hear that collective voice protesting freely it reminds you of the greatness of our country. It gives you hope.”

When Jane Fonda said, “Silence is no longer an option,” she was doing more than expressing the outrage of the crowd over the carnage in Iraq and the president’s decision to escalate American involvement. She was implicitly re-asserting her belief in the effectiveness of citizen action.

Ms. Fonda is approaching 70 now and was at the march with her two grandchildren. It was very touching to watch her explain how she had declined to participate in antiwar marches for 34 years because she was afraid her notoriety would harm rather than help the effort.The public is way out in front of the politicians on this issue. But the importance of Saturday’s march does not lie primarily in whether it hastens a turnaround of U.S. policy on the war. The fact that so many Americans were willing to travel from every region of the country to march against the war was a reaffirmation of the public’s commitment to our peaceful democratic processes.It is in that unique and unflagging commitment, not in our terrifying military power, that the continued promise and greatness of America are to be found.

The Nazis, Fascists and Communists were political parties before they became enemies of liberty and mass murderers.