Hope this wasnt' posted already. Looks like a true dry run for the old New Years bash. This stuff is really hard to fathom. An actual military exercise, civil emergency FEMA balloon. I sure am glad I took those FEMA volunteer courses, cause it looks like those guys will be running the show next year.

For educational and eye opening purposes only:

Troops sent to Seattle as part of terrorism contingency plan Officers escort protesters on a nonviolent march through the streets of Seattle December 2, 1999 Web posted at: 7:21 p.m. EST (0021 GMT)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this story:

Protesters get police motorcycle escort

Protesters: Police violated pact

Chief: Officers did 'heroic job'

Mayor: Time to start healing city

RELATED STORIES, SITES

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SEATTLE (CNN) -- In addition to hundreds of very visible Army National Guard troops called-up because of the civil disturbances in Seattle, more than 160 active duty military personnel, including a small number of Special Forces troops, were sent to Seattle by the Defense Department for the meeting of the World Trade Organization.

VIDEO Demonstrators come from various walks of life, as CNN's Don Knapp reports. (December 2) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Correspondent Charles Feldman compares protests of the past with the anti-WTO demonstrations in Seattle (December 1) QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

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-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28 K 80 K RESOURCES What's the big deal about the WTO?

CNNfn Special Report: WTO meeting Image Gallery WTO protesters and police clash in Seattle QUICK VOTE Vote on the U.S. actions regarding the WTO

How do you think the violence in Seattle will affect the cause of the WTO protesters? ALSO WTO protests awaken '60s-style activism

Editorials: Chaos at WTO talks reflects public mistrust Seattle police: Gentle tactics didn't work Environment, human rights, labor issues among diverse complaints in Seattle

Seattle 'war zone' filled with riot police, pockets of protest MESSAGE BOARD WTO The military mission, according to the Pentagon, is to "provide support" to the FBI, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Secret Service and other government agencies responsible for security there. The military specialists are in place largely to provide expertise and assist in coordinating a federal response in the event of a terrorist attack during such a high-profile event.

According to Defense Department documents obtained by CNN, 131 U.S. Army, 27 U.S. Air Force, and eight U.S. Navy personnel were sent to Seattle to perform roles from ordnance disposal to standing by for possible chemical or biological attack by terrorist groups.

Four special forces troops from the Joint Special Operations Task Force were deployed to Seattle to be on hand to advise FBI "crisis support" agents in the event of a catastrophic terrorist event involving chemical or biological weapons or hostage taking. Two of the four special operations experts have since left the city, according to an informed Pentagon official who spoke on the condition that he not be named.

Fifty-five military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, along with 25 explosive-detecting dogs and their handlers, were sent. The soldiers are "operating in civilian attire -- keeping a low presence," the Defense Department documents say.

Troops there are from various military fiefdoms including the U.S. Special Operations Command, the U.S. Forces Command, the U.S. Army Biological-Chemical Command, the U.S. Air Force Security Forces Command and the U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Eight divers, making up two Navy dive teams, were sent to provide support to the Secret Service for President Clinton's visit, which ended Thursday. The action is not unusual for presidential security.

The Department of Health and Human Services and FEMA have set up a "staging area" for their operations at the U.S. Naval Reserve Center-Lake Union in Seattle. Eight military personnel are assigned to that site. The HHS-FEMA site is pre-positioned to respond to major health catastrophes such as a biological agent attack, according to a well-informed source.

The "Domestic Military Support," or "DOMS" as it is known at the Pentagon, is provided through the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the request of other federal agencies.

Protesters get police motorcycle escort Meanwhile, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell said Thursday there is no "battle in Seattle," and police motorcycle officers escorted approximately 400 demonstrators on a march toward the "no protest" zone near the WTO conference.

The marchers held hands, sang and carried signs.

It was a turnabout of tactics by police, who had clashed with demonstrators for the past two nights in the downtown area.

But Schell said the primary goal of authorities was still to "regain and maintain peace in our city."

"Until we can restore peace, we are still in a state of civil emergency," Schell said. "This is not business as usual."

The 24-hour-a-day curfew in the 46-block area surrounding WTO meeting venues remains in effect until midnight Friday, after the conference ends.

However, Schell said protesters with permits will be allowed to demonstrate.

"If you are protesting lawfully, the police will allow you to do so," he said.

The curfews imposed this week apparently are the first in Seattle since the Army ordered Japanese citizens off the streets in World War II.

The mayor said nearly all of the 30,000 protesters demonstrated peacefully. But he said when the few troublemakers acted up, authorities had to react to protect lives.

"We are a city that holds the right to free speech in a very high regard," Schell said. He urged all demonstrators to cooperate with police.

Protesters: Police violated pact Thursday's march was organized by Direct Action, one of a number of protest groups. Long-time activist Tom Hayden was among the marchers.

Seattle Mayor Paul Schell said, 'Police are having to do what they're having to do to ensure a safe environment' At a news conference held at Seattle Central Community College, where the marchers began their demonstration, members of several groups, including the Ruckus Society, the Rainforest Action Network, the Committee to Free Tibet, and Direct Action vowed to continue demonstrations.

John Goodman of the United Steelworkers of America -- one of the groups that has participated in peaceful demonstrations - - said police fired tear gas without provocation. "I've witnessed things in the last four days that I didn't believe could happen in America," he said.

Han Shan of the Ruckus Society said Seattle police had violated an agreement, reached through weeks of negotiation with his group, to "peacefully arrest" peaceful demonstrators.

"The commitment by the Seattle Police Department to undertake peaceful arrests of peaceful protesters ... has been violated," said Shan.

Chief: Officers did 'heroic job' Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper praised his officers for doing a "heroic job -- against all odds." He said they were working in chaotic conditions while trying to maintain public safety. The chief said safety was the reason officers would give orders for protesters to disperse.

Stamper acknowledged that to enforce those orders, police used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets. About 500 people have been arrested since protests turned violent on Tuesday, police said.

Both the chief and the mayor insist it would have been a mistake to have called in the National Guard before trouble erupted. They said it would have turned the city into an "armed camp," required many more military personnel and set the wrong tone.

Mayor: Time to start healing city Schell acknowledged that many residents were upset by the clashes in the city.

"It's time for us to start the healing process," he said.

"There are a lot of angry people in our city today. There are angry people who have been in protest and felt they've not had a chance to be heard, or were denied a place to protest. There are angry people who've sniffed gas or have been pepper sprayed -- a lot of them innocent. And for them I apologize," the mayor said.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Downtown Seattle Association said this week's disturbances will cost some 2,500 city merchants and property owners "in the millions range."

Association marketing director Lucinda Payne added: "That's just the physical damage -- the broken display windows, spot looting, and the horrific graffiti."

Payne said later that lost sales were estimated at $7 million.

Clinton on Wednesday condemned violent protesters but said demonstrators who came peacefully should be allowed to make their point.

The president later called on the WTO to open its deliberations to include the concerns of the demonstrators who have besieged the WTO meeting.

Before leaving the city Thursday, Clinton signed a treaty that bans the worst forms of child labor. The march began shortly after his plane left for Philadelphia.

The WTO is an international organization of 135 countries. Its trade agreements govern most international trade.

The Seattle meeting is intended to set an agenda for the "Seattle Round" of trade talks toward a new international trade agreement.

National Security Producer Chris Plante, Correspondent Rusty Dornin, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

-- Gordon (g_gecko_69@hotmail.com), December 02, 1999

Answers

Glad to say the NBC coverage on the news tonight was not a whitewash. They said it made Clinton look bad and the videos showed police brutality. All I ccan say is: It makes me angry to see people who have a legitimate right to protest treated this way. Who the organized violent people are--I have no real idea. Are they agents of the government or police? I don't know. I didn't get that impression from the short interviews with them, however. I saw them as angry youth, but yes, organized...

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 02, 1999.

I have no sympathy for the protestors, but what the hell is the ARMY doing in this situation? I thought the Posse Comitatus act EXPRESSLY forbids the army from engaging in domestic police work. Thats why we have the GUARD, you know, the old state Militia? To keep the feds out. Man have we slid a long way from freedom.

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), December 03, 1999.

It has been said before:

This whole biz in Seattle certainly indicates what treatment Americans will get when they finally start to believe and act in the constitution. Amazingly...the cops took an oath to uphold this constitution. Every cop that went around busting up college kid's skulls should be arrested at once.

-- Rickster (rickvester@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.

It looks like FEMA is just setting precedent that citizen protests now constitute 'emergencies'.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), December 03, 1999.

"It looks like FEMA is just setting precedent that citizen protests now constitute 'emergencies'.

-TECH32- "

You betcha. And from this will flow much evil. Remember Kent State?

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), December 03, 1999.

Rickster: is there any way of identifying the riot police? It's an honest question, I didn't spot any badge numbers on the outside of their armour Personal Protective Equipment.

Is it possible (shock) that they are - de facto - safe from prosecution? Now that would be very, very, scary.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.

Kozak-The Regular Army (ie Federal Troops) is forbidden from acting in a police manner in the Posse Comitatus acts, The National Guard is, by act, A tool under the control of, and to be called out by The individual States Governor. The State Government pay, maintains, and utilizes the Guard where and when a "recognized legitamate state of Emergency exists, be it state or Federal." This means that Guard can be used to augment Regular Army forces in time of war, and help state governmetn maintain order or provide disaster relief. Posse Commitatus primarily exists to prevent the Regular Army from being used by the Federal Government to suppress or be used against American citizens on our own turf.

-- Billy Boy (Rakkasan101st@aol.com), December 03, 1999.

Billy Boy my point EXACTLY! The REGULAR ARMY has sent all kinds of special ops teams to Seattle. The reports are they are operating in civilian clothes to maintain a " low profile". Not to mention Air Force and Navy. I don't have a problem with the governor or Washington state calling out the Guard for riot control. It's this now almost endless involvement of the Regular Army in domestic law enforcement that I find terribly frightening. I really love my country, but more and more I fear it's government.

-- kozak (kozak@formerusaf.guv), December 03, 1999.

the coast guard (and auxillary) is also on alert through the century end...they closed all the Seattle ports during the protests...why is that?

-- eubie (eubie@downthecoast.com), December 03, 1999.