So, how close are we to the next Kent State?

[Lerkfish]

after last night, I'm thinking its only a matter of days.
I think in a protest against our attacking Iran next month, its conceivable these jackbooted thugs will actually start assassinating protestors.

I'm not wanting this to happen, but I'm looking at the logical progression, here.

[katinmn]

1. Yep. We know it's coming, and so do they.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060124/20060124005819.html?.v=1

Press Release Source: KBR
Contact:
Halliburton Public Relations, Houston
Melissa Norcross, 713-759-2608
[e-mail]

KBR Awarded U.S. Department of Homeland Security Contingency Support Project for Emergency Support Services
Tuesday January 24, 12:03 pm ET

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 24, 2006--KBR announced today that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) component has awarded KBR an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contingency contract to support ICE facilities in the event of an emergency. KBR is the engineering and construction subsidiary of Halliburton (NYSE:HAL - News).

With a maximum total value of $385 million over a five-year term, consisting of a one-year based period and four one-year options, the competitively awarded contract will be executed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District. KBR held the previous ICE contract from 2000 through 2005.

"We are especially gratified to be awarded this contract because it builds on our extremely strong track record in the arena of emergency operations support," said Bruce Stanski, executive vice president, KBR Government and Infrastructure. "We look forward to continuing the good work we have been doing to support our customer whenever and wherever we are needed."

The contract, which is effective immediately, provides for establishing temporary detention and processing capabilities to augment existing ICE Detention and Removal Operations (DRO) Program facilities in the event of an emergency influx of immigrants into the U.S., or to support the rapid development of new programs. The contingency support contract provides for planning and, if required, initiation of specific engineering, construction and logistics support tasks to establish, operate and maintain one or more expansion facilities.

The contract may also provide migrant detention support to other U.S. Government organizations in the event of an immigration emergency, as well as the development of a plan to react to a national emergency, such as a natural disaster. In the event of a natural disaster, the contractor could be tasked with providing housing for ICE personnel performing law enforcement functions in support of relief efforts.

ICE is one of three agencies that make up the Border and Transportation Security (BTS) Directorate of the DHS. The mission of the BTS Directorate is to secure the nation's air, land and sea borders. ICE, the largest investigative arm of the DHS, is responsible for identifying and shutting down vulnerabilities in the nation's border, economic, transportation and infrastructure security.

KBR is a global engineering, construction, technology and services company. Whether designing an LNG facility, serving as a defense industry contractor, or providing small capital construction, KBR delivers world-class service and performance. KBR employs more than 60,000 people in 43 countries around the world.

Halliburton, founded in 1919, is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the petroleum and energy industries. The company serves its customers with a broad range of products and services through its Energy Services Group and KBR. Visit the company's World Wide Web site at www.halliburton.com.

[sasha031]

2. funny I have been thinking the exact same thing

[MichaelHarris]

3. you kidding?

I live between two large universities and the last thing they protested was the removal of beer on campus. At least it made Wildest Police Video's. They won't do a thing until they are shaved bald, stripped of all their stuff, broken down by blood crazed D.I.'s and marched off to war. Or if you take their beer, whichever comes first.

[Lerkfish]

4. not kidding. I wasn't really meaning it had to be college students but

protestors.

thanks for posting, though.
I think the situation you describe will hold sway, but only for a little while. Once we attack Iran, they will HAVE to institute a draft.

[MichaelHarris]

7. I have all the hope in the world

for the young people on campus but these are different kids, this generation is somehow different. Without getting into a flame-fest with college DUer's about the only name I can come with for them is "The Me and my Stuff Generation". As long as the war doesn't effect them then it's no big deal, very few of them have any political motivation unless there is an IPod in it for them.

I've talked to hundreds of them all over town and asked the same question, "You guys having any rallys?" The answer is always, "What for?"

Until a voice from their generation, one they respect steps up then they will wander aimlessly through this most important time without becoming the second generation to stop a war. If they find that voice then watch out, they have the potential to roar.

[Innocent Smith]

5. years away

Colleges are not in an uproar - you'd need a draft to get the majority of them worked up. Neither political party is going to institute a draft.

[orion9941]

11. Bingo!

[0007]

6. Anyday now, its gonna repeat itself.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

8. It will take a different form, arrests, wrongful detentions, torture.

You know S.O.P. for *'s admin.

Why do something so blatant as shoot people when you can do the other stuff in their favorite mode, if they're careful, ie SECRETLY!

[enid602]

9. college

I think the problem is that there is a right-wing swing on most campuses now. Students see themselves as vulnerable to less than promising job market; don't want to rock the boat. They want to ally themselves with what they see as a disappearing middle class. Makes them want to appear more pro-establishment. I would love to see a flowering of progressive thought stemming from the universities, but I won't hold my breath.

[realisticphish]

12. well

there are still a LOT of progressives at universities. But you know what? I have rent to pay, and tuition; if I get arrested, I might not get a loan, which means I can't go to school anymore. I'm not pro-establishment, i'm pro-having a house, food, and education. Selfish? Perhaps. But I'm not going to have anyone tell me that I should be out picketing 24/7 unless they're doing it themselves (BTW, thats not directed at you, enid)

[hopeisaplace]

16. I think you nailed it. Well said.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

10. Pretty far, I'd say.

All of the National Guard are in Iraq. :)

[realisticphish]

13. No

I don't think the government even cares about protesters anymore. In the 70's, there was a relatively free press. Now, any protests are chalked up to "america haters", and basically ignored. Why risk making yourself look bad, when people ignore the protests anyway?

[w8liftinglady]

14. you're right-to a degree...

i have found that the editorial pages of the newspapers are still open to letters from all viewpoints.I live in a very neocon area,and have had over 50 letters prited throughout Texas.The television media...now THAT'S another story.Can ted Turner buy CNN back?

[rinsd]

15. Why shoot protesters when you can ignore them?

What would be the point?

[Taxloss]

17. For me, it's about 20 miles down the A20/M20.

Only we call them shires, not states.

[noonwitch]

18. I would like to think that the country learned a lesson from Kent State

National Guardsmen, trained for soldier duty, have no place dealing with a civilian situation on a college campus. Local cops and campus security are better trained these days. Tear gas, as nasty as it is, is not fatal.

I think it would depend on which college in which state, how it was handled. I wouldn't be planning a huge protest in Ocala.

In the late 80s, MSU students went on a drunken rampage one night (Cedarfest) that resulted in the state police intervening. The next day, Billy Bonds (Channel 7's drunken ex-anchor) got then-Gov. Blanchard on live to talk about it. Drunken Billy suggested to Blanchard that the guard be called next time MSU students get out of control. Blanchard said something like "Bill, we all know what happened the last time the national guard was called to a college campus. The state police, the E. Lansing police and the university authorities handled it just fine".

[Beacho]

19. Kent State Nottin'

I think this is more what we are in for

http://www.lucyparsonsproject.org/iww/georgakas_everett_massacre.html>Everett Massacre