Tuesday, March 12, 2013

What in the H.................????



Ralph Benko, Contributor:  FORBES

1.6 Billion Rounds Of Ammo For Homeland Security? It's Time For A National Conversation

Soldiers from the 41st Infantry Regiment, 1st ...

The Denver Post, on February 15th, ran an Associated Press article entitled Homeland Security aims to buy 1.6b rounds of ammo, so far to little notice.  It confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security has issued an open purchase order for 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition.  As reported elsewhere, some of this purchase order is for hollow-point rounds, forbidden by international law for use in war, along with a frightening amount specialized for snipers. Also reported elsewhere, at the height of the Iraq War the Army was expending less than 6 million rounds a month.  Therefore 1.6 billion rounds would be enough to sustain a hot war for 20+ years.  In America.
Add to this perplexing outré purchase of ammo, DHS now is showing off its acquisition of heavily armored personnel carriers, repatriated from the Iraqi and Afghani theaters of operation.  As observed by “paramilblogger” Ken Jorgustin last September:


[T]he Department of Homeland Security is apparently taking delivery (apparently through the  Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico VA, via the manufacturer – Navistar Defense LLC) of an undetermined number of the recently retrofitted 2,717 ‘Mine Resistant Protected’ MaxxPro MRAP vehicles for service on the streets of the United States.”
These MRAP’s ARE BEING SEEN ON U.S. STREETS all across America by verified observers with photos, videos, and descriptions.”

Regardless of the exact number of MRAP’s being delivered to DHS (and evidently some to POLICE via DHS, as has been observed), why would they need such over-the-top vehicles on U.S. streets to withstand IEDs, mine blasts, and 50 caliber hits to bullet-proof glass? In a war zone… yes, definitely. Let’s protect our men and women. On the streets of America… ?”
“They all have gun ports… Gun Ports? In the theater of war, yes. On the streets of America…?
Seriously, why would DHS need such a vehicle on our streets?”
Why indeed?  It is utterly inconceivable that Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is planning a coup d’etat against President Obama, and the Congress, to install herself as Supreme Ruler of the United States of America.  There, however, are real signs that the Department bureaucrats are running amok.  About 20 years ago this columnist worked, for two years, in the U.S. Department of Energy’s general counsel’s office in its procurement and finance division.  And is wise to the ways.   The answer to “why would DHS need such a vehicle?” almost certainly is this:  it’s a cool toy and these (reportedly) million dollar toys are being recycled, without much of a impact on the DHS budget.  So… why not?
Why, indeed, should the federal government not be deploying armored personnel carriers and stockpiling enough ammo for a 20-year war in the homeland?  Because it’s wrong in every way.  President Obama has an opportunity, now, to live up to some of his rhetoric by helping the federal government set a noble example in a matter very close to his heart (and that of his Progressive base), one not inimical to the Bill of Rights: gun control.  The federal government can (for a nice change) begin practicing what it preaches by controlling itself.
Remember the Sequester?  The president is claiming its budget cuts will inconvenience travelers by squeezing essential services provided by the (opulently armed and stylishly uniformed) DHS.  Quality ammunition is not cheap.  (Of course, news reports that DHS is about to spend $50 million on new uniforms suggests a certain cavalier attitude toward government frugality.)
Spending money this way is beyond absurd well into perverse.  According to the AP story a DHS spokesperson justifies this acquisition to “help the government get a low price for a big purchase.” Peggy Dixon, spokeswoman for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center:  “The training center and others like it run by the Homeland Security Department use as many as 15 million rounds every year, mostly on shooting ranges and in training exercises.”
At 15 million rounds (which, in itself, is pretty extraordinary and sounds more like fun target-shooting-at-taxpayer-expense than a sensible training exercise) … that’s a stockpile that would last DHS over a century.  To claim that it’s to “get a low price” for a ridiculously wasteful amount is an argument that could only fool a career civil servant.
Meanwhile, Senator Diane Feinstein, with the support of President Obama, is attempting to ban 100 capacity magazine clips.  Doing a little apples-to-oranges comparison, here, 1.6 billion rounds is … 16 million times more objectionable.
Mr. Obama has a long history of disdain toward gun ownership.  According to Prof. John Lott, in Debacle, a book he co-authored with iconic conservative strategist Grover Norquist,

“When I was first introduced to Obama (when both worked at the University of Chicago Law School, where Lott was famous for his analysis of firearms possession), he said, ‘Oh, you’re the gun guy.’
I responded: ‘Yes, I guess so.’
’I don’t believe that people should own guns,’ Obama replied.
I then replied that it might be fun to have lunch and talk about that statement some time.
He simply grimaced and turned away. …
Unlike other liberal academics who usually enjoyed discussing opposing ideas, Obama showed disdain.”
Mr. Obama?  Where’s the disdain now?  Cancelling, or at minimum, drastically scaling back — by 90% or even 99%, the DHS order for ammo, and its receipt and deployment of armored personnel carriers, would be a “fourfer.”
  • The federal government would set an example of restraint in the matter of weaponry.
  • It would reduce the deficit without squeezing essential services.
  • It would do both in a way that was palatable to liberals and conservatives, slightly depolarizing America.
  • It would somewhat defuse, by the government making itself less armed-to-the-teeth, the anxiety of those who mistrust the benevolence of the federales.
If Obama doesn’t show any leadership on this matter it’s an opportunity for Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, to summon Secretary Napolitano over for a little national conversation. Madame Secretary?  Buying 1.6 billion rounds of ammo and deploying armored personnel carriers runs contrary, in every way, to what “homeland security” really means.  Discuss.

51 comments:

Always On Watch said...

Just what is the DHS anticipating?

I can't figure out an answer that doesn't involve the unthinkable!

Unknown said...

Well instead of engaging the topic, liberalmann results to name calling.

How about dialog on what the DHS needs 1.6B rounds for....In a time of sequestration.

FreeThinke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
FreeThinke said...

TRANSLATION:

Prepare to be SHOT DEAD by YOUR government, if they even so much as SUSPECT you CAPABLE of uttering so much a PEEP of dissent or protest.

Something in the neighborhood of 800 Detention Centers aka Concentration Camps have already been prepared (by FEMA!) to aid in securing absolute power for the New Regime aka The New World Order in the very NEAR future.


"If men are precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter."

~ George Washington (1732-1799)

MEANWHILE:

Grab your coat and get your hat.
Leave your worries on the doorstep.
Just direct your feet
To the sunny side of the street ...


Don't walk in the shade with the blues on parade. Just cooperate with your new masters, pay tribute to them regularly in an ostentatious public display of gratitude ad affection, and you will be well cared for by the new designated Emperor of Planet Earth, Kim Kong Sun, for the rest of your life.

Your worries and fears are over. --- So are your all your hopes and dreams.

Anonymous said...

Could this article have the answers of why so much ammunition? I hope not!

http://lewrockwell.com/sardi/sardi255.html

Z said...

Mark, Liberalmann won't be here but for a few hours, max, until I delete. You're right...he just can't think things out and then insults and expects his comments to stay :-)

I wish there were SOME liberals who could think things out and add something to the conversation.

FT, AOW...how the author of this piece avoided the obvious is kind of masterful. And weird, frankly.

ConsonFire, I can't watch now but will try tonight.

This ammo thing is absolutely ridiculous as the author points out with facts and figures. Unbelievable.
And, I guess we're SUPPOSED to sit and watch it all happen.

It's always rather eerie when mainstream news doesn't pick up pretty astonishing information like this.
The author supplied excellent background and facts.

Ed Bonderenka said...

If nothing else, it's keeping the likes of me from stockpiling ammo.

Pris said...

I have mentioned this before, but perhaps you'd believe it if it comes from Obama's mouth! This speech was given in July 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWVt3wFh6zo

Pris said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ducky's here said...

You all seem concerned now.

Can't imagine why. You were all so thrilled when #Occupy protests were broken up by force. A militarized police force has never bothered you till now?

Every dipstick small town force needs a S.W.A.T. team and military armored vehicles and the suckers pay for it out of the bloated HS budget while you praise them for keeping us safe from the crack Syrian spec-ops who were going to night drop and put botulism in the reservoir.

You bought into this willingly and now you're whining that you can't put it back into the tube?
Take your lumps.

Scotty said...

Ducky's here said: You bought into this willingly and now you're whining that you can't put it back into the tube?
Take your lumps.


I scratch my head as I wonder who Ducky is talking about. There is nobody in my circle that bought into anything!

Unknown said...

Of course, Ducky forgets one key element of his rant.
This is happening under Obama's watch.

Z said...

Ducky..what the heck are you talking about? I don't remember much force against the OWS people but there should have been since they were having sex, stoned and defecating on peoples' private property.
No, that silly analogy's off.
And, also...Scotty's right. WHO bought into WHAT?

If you don't see a problem with THIS MUCH AMMO being bought at a time like this, that's YOUR PROBLEM.


Ed, I thought of that, too. They're trying to stop us from buying; this is going a step further. They'll just buy it all up till there isn't any.

Pris..will listen tonight to that video. I hope others have.

Mark; but, truly, wouldn't you also be concerned about Bush doing this? Except, of course, he couldn't have because the media would have been ALL OVER THIS. As it is, there is no mention except for intelligent conservative writing.

typical

Z said...

1.6 BILLION ROUNDS. 1.6 BILLION.

Is it just MEEE?


:-)

Ducky's here said...

No Mark, this has been going on ever since COINTELPRO. It has happened over many administrations.

z, you should be well aware of the militarization of America. As long as you color inside he lines it won't effect you.

Z said...

Ducky, you're full of it.

In times like these, you think it's a good idea to buy $1.6 billion in ammunition when, as the article says, that's enough for Iraq for a century?

Good try, and it IS cute to see you standing by your man who's buying ammunition which you hate! When WILL you liberals ever realize what a fraud this guy is?Go ahead, you supposedly hate guns and Obama, but don't let anybody criticize a REALLY stupid action :-)

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

@Z:

"you supposedly hate guns and Obama"


Right you are Z..so long as his boys are packing...all is well with the world...but the minute those "baggers or fringe righties" want to have their arms too...like Feinstein and all the Hollywood whores...the sheite hits the fan.

Never seen a word from him that I can remember about all the hoods, gang bangers around Boston ( Revere?) that are choppers like in Chicago.

BTW...wasn't Gabby armed too in AZ? She said she carries...but now she doesn't want you to.

And you know...I've never heard a wounded vet return home and call for the banning of AR's or any anti 2A speech either. Cause the vets took an oath....and unlike our filthy (12% approval)"representatives" who live in their own damn bubble...meant what they swore to.

You can bet if the SHTF and there's chaos...all the Feinsteins, Graysons and Franks will head for the government bunkers and leave us to fend for ourselves.

Meanwhile it's already up to about 60 gun / ammo manufacturers now refusing to sell to LEO's of any state / city that restricts the 2A. And some are pulling out of Colorado and Maryland. Guess they have to use Chinese .223's or sticks and stones.

Anonymous said...
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elmers brother said...

You can never have too many police at a Maroon 5 concert

Kid said...

The POS's are saying it's for training but most of it is the more expensive Hollow Point rounds. Useless expense for making holes in paper targets.

No doubt DHS's janet is moron enough to have bought hollow point for training but I doubt she was the last word.

And talking about Sequestration! Did you see where the A^%%$ spent 50 Million on new TSA uniforms?

Did you also see the next day after this came out, how the TSA failed to find fake bombs in the pants of an official tester of the TSA system ?

As they also fail to do on a very regular basis ?

The TSA is useless. That's the problem. Of course, creating something that harrasses the public, costs immense amounts of money and makes the situation Worse is a libtard's dream come true. Literally.

Look at any libtard sponsored federal or state department.

PS (for the searchers don't ya know) "obama is a dweeb of the highest order, a racist, anti-American, muslim activist Imbecile".

Anonymous said...

Oh and ladies..if you're in Colorado you'll have to puke or pee on your attacker!!

So says a Colorado "lawmaker" that thinks women shouldn't be armed to defend themselves.

That was a dembagger ladies...they really care for you.

Anonymous said...

"Sequestration"?

WH closed...1.5 billion bullets bought..and today the Feds authorize 1.5 million to research why lesbians are fat! Swear.

Yup...that's a worthwhile expense yes?

Give me half that and I'll tell you why.

Kid said...

IMP, the WH employs well over 100 people all making over 6 figures. And no, that's not 100,001.00
More like 145,000 - 245,000.
For what? For doing what? And they've shut down white house tours.

Word is they don't pay taxes either.

And the obama 's will continue their 8 figure vacations. And no, that's not just 10,000,001.00

and the libtards cheered.
They vote the most ugly vile creatures into office to be their masters. I'm really thinking they get off being abused and humiliated. Seriously.

That's where we're at man. hahahaa

Kid said...

Oh Wait, honorable mention should be given to the evil BUSH for taking those ultra expensive vacations down at the Crawford Ranch. You know the place, that is probably one of the most energy efficient and water conserving places in Texas.

See why we look upon you libtards as being stupider than a box of rocks with no box and no rocks?
;-)

Z said...

Imp...Gabby's husband put his purchasing a gun on Facebook to "show how easy it is"....
I'm a little sick of them both, though I know we can't say a thing against anybody who's been hurt, as if that negates one from THE TRUTH.
They should be fighting for someone to have been there WITH a gun to prevent the amount of deaths that day!

"Give me half and I'll tell you why" made me laugh out loud.

There isn't REALLY a study on fat lesbians, right? Tell me that's your joke?

PLEAEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE?

Kid "stupider than a box of rocks with no box of rocks" BRILLIANT!
Man, you are SO RIGHT about the Bush/Crawford thing. It was either there or Kennebunkport, right? Ya, those AWFUL BUSHES...!
Remember how the media slammed him for playing golf and barely gave a mention to the fact that he quit playing golf when the wars started, in honor of those who were over there fighting?
This jerk we have NOW? Twice the Bush golf games in his first four years and WHO SAYS ANYTHING?

The Freaking HYPOCRITES of the left are nauseating.

Z said...

and you're right about WH wages, Kid..they're REALLY REALLY high.

#$u*(#$ojeor(o$&$((^)($#$^#

Anonymous said...

@Z

"There isn't REALLY a study on fat lesbians, right? Tell me that's your joke?"

No joke, I swear. Heard it today on Mark Levin...should have heard him!!

And the study is..."Why are all lesbians Fat"!

Z said...

Imp!
I just saw that at Bloviating Zeppelin! it's UNbelievable...we have people starving in this country and our tax dollars are going to studies on THIS?
And, of course, I'm sure not ALL lesbians are FAT!

what a nightmare this administration is...who the HELL came up with that...? And WHO CARES WHO'S FAT?

Isn't this mean and judgmental, by the way? Gee, the left has taken leave of its PC sense (again!)

Z said...

Honestly, wouldn't you think Americans could SUE to have OUR MONEY used on FAT LESBIAN STUDIES?

It's IMMORAL and it should be ILLEGAL to study that CRAP with OUR MONEY!!

Kid said...

The hypocrites are nauseating Z

Z said...

Pris, I remember that now...a NATIONAL SECURITY FORCE..

"we can't just rely on our military"!
that JERK.

Let's HOPE Americans rise to the occasion if he starts with this FORCE and arming them with 1.6 BILLION rounds!

Z said...

Kid, they truly are. repulsive

Kid said...

Z, Anything the government spends money on, especially if it's something like fat lesbians is nothing more than money laundering. Stealing money. Period.

Kid said...

Z, NO, the military is not allowed to operate in the USA. Unless martial law.

Z said...

Mark Adams...I can't for the LIFE of me figure out how to comment at your blog. I am SO sorry! Thanks for visiting geeeeZ

Z said...

Kid! Did you watch Pris's video?
Doesn't Obama KNOW THAT?

Please check it out.

I'll be back; after a martini :-)

Kid said...

Z, Pris, No, with great respect I didn't watch the video. There is no question in my mind that obama and the dems mean to not only destroy this country as it stands, but to incite violence to the point of culling the vast majority of their opponents.

I need no further education.

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

I worked for FLETC. In federal law enforcement, there are only two major venues you go for your initial training and then in-service training: Quantico VA -- for only the FBI and the DEA -- and FLETC for all other federal law enforcement agencies. There are now two other adjunct FLETC sites, in SC and NM. I knew the Rangemaster(s) and 15 million rounds per year for training still won't make much of a dent for YEARS.

MRAPs are essentially tanks with massive tires. They come in numerous military configurations.

So let's see, since the bulk of this contract includes JHP .40 cal, what kind of conclusion might we draw, eh?

I wrote, earlier, about the issues here:

1. Fox News: the DHS purchase of 1 billion+ rounds of ammunition is no big deal.

2. DHS Purchases 21.6 Million More Rounds of Ammunition — WHY?

3. The Obama Administration knows it’s tanking our economy, and is preparing for the resulting civil insurrection.

4. Department of Homeland Security gears up for “civil unrest” come November.

5. DHS Informant: US government preparing for massive civil strife.

So yeah, good point, those purchases don't mean a damned thing.

BZ

Z said...

BZ>..if this is all pointing to the truth, I'd have thought SOMEBODY who knows what's going on would speak up.
SOMEBODY in gov't would ring the bell. I know people are probably threatened to be quiet all the time, but they have families and kids and don't want disaster!
WHERE are they?

Jan said...

In an article I read a few days ago, it said that it is enough ammunition to shoot every man, woman, and child in the US, five times!

Also, there is a company, Law Enforcement Inc., that provides training targets for DHS, the Justice Department, and law enforcement agencies, which now has a line of training targets called, "No More Hesitation."

They say that these targets are ”designed to give officers the experience of dealing with deadly force shooting scenarios with subjects that are not the norm during training.”

The targets are, “meant to help the transition for officers who are faced with these highly unusual targets for the first time.”

The chilling thing about these targets is that they have a picture of each particular 'threat' and read, for instance, NO MORE HESITATION TARGET-OLDER MAN W/SHOTGUN,

Others say:

NO MORE HESITATION- LITTLE BOY WITH REAL GUN

NO MORE HESITATION- YOUNG MOTHER ON PLAYGROUND

NO MORE HESITATION-OLDER WOMAN WITH GUN

NO MORE HESITATION- YOUNG SCHOOL AGED GIRL

NO MORE HESITATION- OLDER MAN IN HOME W /SHOTGUN

There is a Product Description at the bottom of each target, and the description for the one with the young mother on playground, says, "Non-traditional threat depicting a hostile young mother surrounded by children on a playground. Background is faded further highlight the threat. Full Color realistic target."

What kind of training is this, in our America??

Obviously, it is meant to desensitize the ones being trained to shoot without hesitation, and without conscience.

What is going on???

Z said...

JAN, I'd thank you for that information if it wasn't quite so upsetting!!

Yes, and the thousands of coffins in photos only conservatives saw in photos four years ago isn't a fun reminder, either.

Yes, we COULD all be paranoid, but we're all very bright people who love this country and don't expect a sitting American president to buy this much ammo and have training like you describe. Or to seemingly ruin our economy on purpose by giving more and more away. What NUT gives F16s to the mudslime brotherhood in EGYPT?>??

Who's behind all this? Bilderberg? Obama's simply not smart enough. WHO IS IT? AND WHY?

Jan said...

Z..the really frightening thing is that most of us who comment here would be considered 'threats' according to Homeland Security's own criteria.

The fact that we're even discussing this pretty much qualifies us, unfortunately.

Speaking of photos from four years ago, have you noticed how much material has been scrubbed since then?

A lot of information that I found back then can't even be found, anymore, saying that the web page does not exist.

I think a lot of people who could say more, are just plain scared to do so...including a lot of politicians.

Unknown said...

Z, I changed it over to Disqus. All you need is to sigh up with them. A lot of blogs are switching over to this. Better format.

Always On Watch said...

Z,
SOMEBODY in gov't would ring the bell. I know people are probably threatened to be quiet all the time, but they have families and kids and don't want disaster!
WHERE are they?


My first thought: desperate to keep their jobs and their health insurance.

Z said...

Jan, I have noticed that. Things have disappeared.
I wasn't going to mention this, but I had a heck of a time getting this article to post; first it was almost impossible to COPY and then finally very difficult to work with. I thought that was weird; probably coincidence, but...

Mark, ugh!! I'll try!

AOW...but there are wealthy senators, congressmen, etc., or retired, who don't need financial help. I think it's their lives they're worried about.

Z said...

Jan, also...yes, it's very dangerous to put this on the blogs, but I'm tired of hiding and I don't fool myself that my blog's more important than some of the well known ones who publish waaaay more revealing stuff than this.

cube said...

AOW has it right... I'm thinking the unthinkable too.

Anonymous said...

This is what bothers me about our Kenyan King:

" The Obama administration has decided that it will appeal to the Supreme Court a sweeping ruling by an appeals court in January that President Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate in making three recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board last year."

Along with all his other appointments and czars....there's more in there like Van Jones.

Bob said...

The message is clear. If you want some ammo, you have to find a DHS agent.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

1.6 BILLION ROUNDS. 1.6 BILLION.

Is it just MEEE?


5 bullets in every Americans head, if they stand still like a paper target so the rote trained flunkies can draw a bead like they do in their air conditioned plinking galleries.

Against moving Americans that shoot back, probably not enough.