Paramilitary commandos guard mine from locals in Wisconsin

[adipocere]

Check out the photos (http://www.commondreams.org/further/2013/07/09-4) of these guys. Is this going on anywhere else in the US? And I don't mean Wackenhut - These guys are geared up like South American right-wing guerrilla terrorists...

http://www.commondreams.org/further/2013/07/09-4


Bulletproof Security: Mining Company Hires Paramilitary Commandos to Guard Their Precious Equipment, Wisconsin Is Unhappy
by Abby Zimet

http://www.revleft.com/sites/commondreams.org/files/imce-images/security_site_gun1_0.jpgIn response (http://www.wisconsinwatch.org/2013/07/09/paramilitary-style-guards-are-going-to-stay-mining-company-vows/) to protests (http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/271905/) against test drilling for a controversial (http://www.milwaukeemag.com/article/4292013-BattlefortheHills)proposed $1.5 billion open-pit iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin by Gogebic Taconite, the mining company has hired (http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/bulletproof-arizona-security-team-raises-hackles-at-gogebic-mine-site/article_24cb77d0-9444-5ba8-948c-acad96f5e315.html)masked, camouflaged, assault-rifle-toting guards from a self-described "no compromise" security force that boasts (http://www.bulletproofsecurities.com/)of "rigorous tactical firearms training" and "professional operators" who combine "logistics with tactical support" to "instinctively and smoothly manage surrounding threats." Thanks to the mindless Rambo-ing up, the "surrounding threats" are now mostly the once-peaceable (http://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-wisc-dnr-offers-another-hilarious.html), now-pissed (http://www.indiancountrynews.com/index.php/tv/indian-country-tv-com/13869-hired-guns-in-the-penokee-mountains-6min) residents who, in a letter (http://wispolitics.com/1006/130708JauchBewley.pdf)from Democratic legislators, blast the company's “confrontational and incendiary step that will clearly do more to intimidate local citizens and increase local tensions than it will to make you, your staff, or your equipment any safer.”
“Some of the local people are wondering what the heck? It’s come to a sad situation when you’ve got to have a machine gun to protect a business that people around here don’t want.” - Paul DeMain, editor of the News from Indian County.http://www.revleft.com/sites/commondreams.org/files/imce-images/securitymine.jpg

[bcbm]

i would say expect to see lots more of this

[Taters]

I just think the whole image is funny.

multi-cam duds ✔
boonie hat ✔
suppressor ✔
balaclava ✔
dark earth colored Magpul accessories ✔
nomex knuckle gloves ✔

looks like someone wants to cosplay being an special forces commando tactical operator ninja.
(but yeah, this is a worrying development)

[MarxArchist]

I hope capitalists gets more brazen like this on a countrywide scale. Way to expose the conflict between not only labor and capital but actual "civilized society" and capital. Taters, they probably are either active or X military. Most of these "private security forces" are basically, mercenaries. Soldiers for hire.

[Le Socialiste]

This isn't terribly surprising, companies have long kept mercenaries in their employ so as to safeguard private interests. Nothing new, just a modern revamping of 19th-century tactics.

[bcbm]

This isn't terribly surprising, companies have long kept mercenaries in their employ so as to safeguard private interests. Nothing new, just a modern revamping of 19th-century tactics.

actually this has been happening throughout the entire 20th century, just usually not in america/europe.

[Le Socialiste]

actually this has been happening throughout the entire 20th century, just usually not in america/europe.

I know, that's why I said it's nothing new. :lol:

This has been happening for a long time, it never really ended.

[Flying Purple People Eater]

It's legal in America to hire paramilitary groups to protect a mining operation?

[piet11111]

One famous example would be the pinkertons.


It's legal in America to hire paramilitary groups to protect a mining operation?

Yes but machinegunning people is frowned upon.

[bcbm]

Yes but machinegunning people is frowned upon.

for now

[Brandon's Impotent Rage]

That's an actual person, right? Not just a mannequin, right?

Because that's pretty goddamn brazen for a corporation to do inside American borders.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

It's like the don't even fucking pretend anymore. It reminds me of the riot police that turned out in Anaheim a year or so ago that looked like they were prepping for Desert Storm. The bourgeoisie are arming their pigs at a ridiculous rate and no-one except us seems to realise the problems with that.

[adipocere]

I'm going to miss this guy...
http://oi13.tinypic.com/wldfcx.jpg

[Red Commissar]

The fact that the clown behind this private security firm also deals in payday loans speaks volumes to his shittiness. It's almost like we're getting back to some of the conditions back at the turn of the century with respect to labor conditions.

[MarxArchist]

The fact that the clown behind this private security firm also deals in payday loans speaks volumes to his shittiness. It's almost like we're getting back to some of the conditions back at the turn of the century with respect to labor conditions.

At one time capitalists created their own currency for their workers to use and they paid them in this currency which could only be used at their stores. Freedom under the "free" market that is. Many corporations are trying to bring this practice back to some extent.

[piet11111]

It's almost like we're getting back to some of the conditions back at the turn of the century with respect to labor conditions.

Actually that is the goal the bourgeois are working towards.

[Agathor]

actually this has been happening throughout the entire 20th century, just usually not in america/europe.

Western companies don't tend to hire mercs because the police usually does it for free.

[Synthesis-]

Wisconsin state legislatures asked the company to remove the guards we will see if they comply, but the images look freaky, i to expect more of this as the capitalist are extremely emboldened. If the mining operation goes ahead it will surely damage the local water supply and pump toxic junk in the air. The area around is Chippewa reservation land, they are apart of the ojibwe group of native americans and they are protesting as well.

[rednordman]

Surely this has to be a joke/fake right? if that happened in the uk (or anywhere in europe), we wouldn't hear the end of it for, well...ever. I know the US is right wing and all that, but that's just ridiculous.