August 27, 2008

Like a scene from an action film, it looked as if some major event was taking place in the air and on the streets of Portland, Oregon this last Monday evening. The notorious black helicopters have been making more regular appearances in major American cities, including Portland. Only this time, we are hearing more about the possibility of live fire being used as military personnel practice jumping from the helicopters onto rooftops in downtown. The Army and Navy are conducting Urban Military Training in Portland and Salem from August 17-30, 2008 according to KGW NewsChannel 8. The training will include “low visibility movement, military operations in urban terrain, manual and low weight explosive breaching, fast-rope insertion, live fire” and other exercises according to a memo from Portland Mayor Tom Potter to the Navy’s Special Warfare Development Group.

A spokesperson in Mayor Potter’s office says the military asked permission to conduct the training last November. The Portland Police Bureau’s specially trained SERT unit is involved in the training. The four MH-6 helicopters are part of a joint training exercise for U.S. Army and Navy special operations forces that had been planned for months, according to the U.S. Defense Department.

Monday’s exercise involved helicopters hopping from one downtown skyscraper to another. The sudden appearance of black helicopters carrying apparently armed men and buzzing around Portland generated dozens of calls to emergency dispatchers and the mayor's office from residents and visitors. "It's nothing to worry about," city and federal officials insisted Tuesday."And, by the way, you might see more of the same tonight."

Lt. Nathan Potter admitted that there is no “specific threat” to the Portland area. Rather, the Defense Department chose the city because it is unfamiliar territory. "We routinely train in places that we're not familiar with," he said. "The first time our guys are in a large, unfamiliar city, it should not be in combat."

The Department of Defense provided no advance warning of the exercise. Potter spokesman John Doussard says the city's central dispatch line got about 50 concerned calls last night as the military helicopters buzzed over the Park Blocks. Lt. Potter said an alert should have gone out a few hours before the exercise. But officials did not want too much notice because it could have attracted a crowd, causing a safety issue. "We were trying to prevent this from becoming an air show," he said.

The reality is that this exercise frightened a large number of people in the Portland area who had no idea why it was happening or who was operating the helicopters.

John M. Vincent / The Oregonian

Army and Navy special forces troops conducting urban-fighting exercises hang their legs out of a black helicopter Monday above the 23-story 1000 Broadway Building in downtown Portland. Officials said more exercises are possible tonight.

The Oregonian has reported on the shock experienced by citizens in the downtown area. Jennie Logsdon-Martin was at the Hilton Portland and Executive Tower on Monday evening when black helicopters swooped by her 12th-floor room, slamming a window shut with the force of the wind. She looked out and saw a helicopter so close "you could see the guys' teeth," the Tillamook resident said. "It was just scary."

Logsdon-Martin wasn't the only one alarmed. One guest began crying, and others anxiously watched as the helicopters landed and took off at nearby office buildings, she said. At one point Monday, diners inside Higgins Restaurant wondered what was making so much racket, said Megan Mallory, a server. She saw crowds gather on the sidewalk. In Southeast Portland, Tom Bethel heard the helicopters pass a few times and speculated on the cause. "We were sure," he said, "that the United States had invaded Iran."

On 3rd and West Burnside at Dante’s Inferno, talk show host Clyde Lewis was discussing the possibility of a police state being declared in Denver if protestors rioted at the Democratic National Convention. According to Clyde,

“As I was preparing to go on stage at Dante's, I was called out of the bar by security guards. I wondered what was wrong.

'Come outside, Mr. Lewis. There is something that you should see.'

I stepped out into the street, where, all along the curb, people scanned the sky with alarmed expressions. I thought that perhaps they were seeing some anomaly or UFO in the sky. 'What's up?' I asked. 'I don't see anything.' One security guard said, 'Shhhh, listen!' I heard a faint sound, rather like a lawn mower. As the sound got closer it drowned out the sounds of the downtown Portland streets. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There were two low-flying black helicopters buzzing rooftops and dropping armed soldiers on top of buildings. The only time I had seen anything like this before was in an Alex Jones documentary.

After witnessing the low flyovers, the men with guns riding the choppers, and the looks of fear on the faces of the people, I decided that what I was witnessing was most definitely harassment. The Department of Defense was responsible for alarming Portland residents with an unannounced exercise. They flew their threatening black helicopters at treetop level. They were dropping soldiers from the choppers on to rooftops and drowning the citizens in terrifying noise, giving them the idea that something terrible was happening to their city.

The helicopters were MH-6M "Little Bird" light assault choppers, designed for insertion and extraction transport. They are modified for special covert operations, especially those in urban areas where they can land in tight spots. They would be perfect for riot situations, because they can be modified to carry weapons and personnel. Most of the activities that are associated with these small helicopters are "Special Operations" exercises. These "exercises" were practice runs for all-out martial law. They were being done just in case something of "crisis level" threatens the security of the city of Portland."

Willamette Week recently published the text of an April letter from Mayor Tom Potter to the U.S. Navy authorizing last night's helicopter training exercises downtown. Here's the full text of Potter's letter:

April 7, 2008

Captain Scott P. Moore Commanander [sic],

Naval Special Warfare Development Group

1636 Regulus Avenue Virginia Beach, Virginia 23461

Dear Captain Moore,

I am pleased to extend you an invitation to conduct Urban Military Training in our City from August 17 to 30, 2008. In a letter from your command, dated November 14, 2007 requesting permission to conduct training, you stated that members of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group and Army Special Operations Aviation Regiment would utilize buildings in the jurisdiction of the City of Portland for this training exercise.

I understand that this training will include low visibility movement, military operations in urban terrain, manual and low weight explosive breaching, fast rope insertion, live fire, low power training ammunition, simmunitions, flash bang, surveillance and counter surveillance.

I have been informed that all training has been coordinated through and approved by all involved government entities, as well as the representatives/owners of each property, and that all liability for your personnel and their actions during training rests with the Navy. I have also been informed that extensive planning and coordination has already been conducted and that Sergeant Mike Lieb of the Tactical Operations Division will act as liaison for this exercise. I welcome the opportunity to support the United States Navy as you develop the techniques and tactics necessary to protect our country.

We look forward to your group having a safe and productive training exercise in our City.

Sincerely, Tom Potter Mayor

In October of 2007, Mayor Tom Potter welcomed Homeland Security, the FBI, the DOD, FEMA and several other alphabet agencies to Portland for TOPOFF 4. This has been coined the largest anti terror drill in US history. The exercises included Phoenix, Ariz.; and for the first time, the U.S. territory of Guam as well as in Washington, D.C. The drill involved a simulated terrorist attack on the Steel Bridge, one of many bridges connecting Portland’s east side with the downtown area. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski make a statment during the Topoff press conference were he mentioned that in the drill he was incapacitated meaning the state would have to invoke their succession of government plan.

Drills involving helicopters are expected to resume on Wednesday evening in Portland. The Urban Military Training is expected to continue in Salem on Tuesday and Thursday. It is not clear what type of training will take place in Salem. About 180 people associated with the training have been in Portland since Aug. 18, and the exercise is to wrap up Thursday. It has been recently announced that this evening the drills will continue in Jansen Beach and North / Northeast Portland. About 180 people associated with the training have been in Portland since Aug. 18, and the exercise is to wrap up Thursday.

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