From her third-floor balcony, Muir then watched the soldiers fire off flares and smoke bombs before searching floor by floor through the darkened hotel, their paths marked by flashlights and the pop-pop-pop of gunshots. “The show of force was so overwhelming,” she said.
The maneuvers were part of a “realistic urban training” exercise for about 100 military personnel, and organized by the U.S. Special Operations Command, said Maj. Michael Burns, a U.S. Army spokesman. The exercise also included three military helicopters, and the use of simulated explosions and gunfire to mimic real-life military scenarios.
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Miami police assisted in overseeing the exercises — but they were instructed to keep quiet about the exercises until late Monday, for security reasons.
Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/08/2789687/military-training-in-the-middle.html
Dear Military: Stay the fuck out of my city. You have got to be kidding me: dropping from helicopters in the middle of the night while playing gun and bomb sounds without even the courtesy of notifying the residents of what you’re doing (For “security reasons?” Whose security?). This is the same style of assholery that we are seeing from all aspects of the government right now, and while I try to keep this blog non-partisan (as TSA abuse is not an issue that divides us), the blame for this goes straight up to the White House. This behavior is disrespectful to the American people, and we deserve an apology.
Professional Troublemaker ® 
This is insane. I’m going to have to make a write-in vote for the Presidential election because neither apparent candidate deserves my vote.
I 2nd that 1st comment!! I no longer recognize Washington D.C. as a legitimate government. They are organized crime and our constitution gives us the right to throw off such people and start over!! Screw them all!!
Tip of the iceberg. The Fedgov has already suspended ‘posse comitatus and the State Governors know of these events in advance. Who’s the Governor of Florida? HE-SOLD-YOU-OUT. There’s going to be a nationwide effort to employ a chilling-effect among the American people. Washington, D.C. is the new M O S C O W.
Reblogged this on and commented:
This makes me wonder, who is the government training? Are they preparing the general public for something?
The local police are being militarized. DHS VIPR teams are stopping and questioning people in bus and train terminals and searching bags. And yet Americans continue to allow this to happen.
I know the easy thing to do is “blame the politicians.” I blame the people who elected them into office and empowered them to begin with.
The State Governors sold us out. We’re now all considered criminal terrorist suspects.
They’re damned lucky some concerned (and well-armed) citizen didn’t get the wrong ideas about people i fatigues rappelling out of helicopters and invading a hotel. One of those trainees could have gotten themselves shot with a REAL bullet …!