Memo to Military Personnel: Stay Vigilant About Anti-War Activity

I am gearing up to provide coverage of the Gathering of Eagles Counter-Protest this weekend...and this is passed along to me.

Hat Tip to Kit Lange for the following message traffic (emphasis mine):

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Subject: FW: SUBJECT: HQ USNORTHCOM FORCE PROTECTION ADVISORY 00002 (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

FYI

For your information. As the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war approaches, protest groups are increasing activity, some to include a direct threat to Recruiters, other Soldiers, others with DoD decals and their families. Areas of concern include Seattle and Tacoma, Washington; Pittsburgh; Washington, DC.; Chicago; Chapel Hill, NC; New York; Orlando and many locations in
California.

Mitigation recommendations include standard AT/FP precautions to include:

- Avoid known risks
- Remain vigilant
- Use the Buddy system
- Inspect vehicles
- Do not engage belligerents

Subject: SUBJECT: HQ USNORTHCOM FORCE PROTECTION ADVISORY 00002

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[redacted]

UNCLASSIFIED//
UNCLASSIFIED//
MSGID/GENADMIN/CDR//
POC/ERIK FEY/CIV/USARNORTH PMO/DSN 471.1452// GENTEXT/REMARKS// 1. (U) THIS MESSAGE PROVIDES SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND RECOMMENDED MITIGATION ON UNITED STATES ARMY INSTALLATIONS AND ARMY LEASED FACILITIES IN THE USNORTHCOM AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY.

2. (U) SITUATION: AS THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE IRAQI WAR APPROACHES, NUMEROUS PROTEST GROUPS HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR RHETORIC ON PROTESTING AT MILITARY FACILITIES SUCH AS RECRUITING STATIONS. WHILE MOST ARE PEACEFUL SEVERAL GROUPS HAVE TAKEN ON A MORE MILITANT TONE AND HAVE ISSUED STATEMENTS THAT FORM A DIRECT THREAT TOWARDS CERTAIN RECRUITING STATIONS. RECRUITERS AND ALL OTHER DOD EMPLOYEES ARE REMINDED TO BE VIGILANT AND AWARE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS.

3. (U//FOUO) KNOWN LOCATIONS AND EVENTS:

3.1 (U) TACOMA, WA: 1230, 15 MARCH 2008, LOCAL PROTEST GROUPS HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTION TO SHUTDOWN THE TACOMA MALL AND THE RECRUITING STATION LOCATED AT THE MALL TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE UPCOMING ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE IRAQ WAR. THEY WANT TO “MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL TO CONTINUE AS THE IRAQ WAR APPROACHES ITS 5TH YEAR.” ANTICIPATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDE DISTRIBUTING ANTI WAR AND ANTI MILITARY LITERATURE, CONFRONT LOCAL RECRUITERS OR PERSONS TRYING TO ENTER THEIR FACILITIES, AND ATTEMPTS TO INTERACT WITH SOLDIERS, FAMILY MEMBERS AND/OR CIVILIANS WHO APPEAR TO BE MILITARY OR HAVE DOD DECALS ON THEIR VEHICLES. RECENT PROTESTS AGAINST THE WAR AT THE PORT OF OLYMPIA HAVE BEEN MARKED BY INCREASED LEVELS OF VIOLENCE. DOD PERSONNEL, FAMILY MEMBERS AND CIVILIANS SHOULD AVOID CONTACT, TO INCLUDE CONVERSATIONS OR DIALOGUE WITH PROTESTERS. PROTESTERS MAY BE FILMING ACTIVITIES FOR REPORTING IN INDEPENDENT MEDIA OR USE IN LEGAL ACTIONS. COMMANDERS AND SUPERVISORS SHOULD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THEIR SOLDIERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, AND CIVILIANS TO AVOID THE TACOMA MALL AREA DURING HIS TIME AND TO REPORT INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE TO LOCAL POLICE. SOURCE: FT LEWIS FORCE PROTECTION DAILY 4 MARCH 2008.

3.2 (U//FOUO) MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, 15 & 19 MARCH 2008, BROAD SPECTRUMS OF NATIONAL GROUPS HAVE ORGANIZED FOR A NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION CALLED “UNITED FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE” AND “CALL TO ACTION” AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ. MARCH 19, 2008 MARKS THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. INVASION OF IRAQ. PROTEST GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES HAVE COMBINED TO BE PART OF THE LARGEST DAY OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE EVER, COVERING FIFTY STATES. ON MARCH 19TH, MASS DEMONSTRATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE NATION, SPECIFICALLY IN CITIES SUCH AS CHICAGO, MINNEAPOLIS, NEW YORK, WASHINGTON D.C., ORLANDO, CHAPEL HILL, SC, TAMPA, BATON ROUGE, SAN DIEGO, SEATTLE, SAN FRANCISCO, OAKLAND, AND SACRAMENTO, TO MENTION A FEW. STUDENT DEMONSTRATION WEBSITES HAVE ANNOUNCED THEIR ATTEMPT TO SHUT DOWN THE HOLLYWOOD RECRUITING STATION ON 15 AND 19 MARCH AS THEY PLAN TO DEMONSTRATE HEAVILY ON HOLLYWOOD BLVD. SOURCE: 6TH RECRUITING BDE

3.3 (U//FOUO) PITTSBURG RECRUITING STATION, PA: 19 MARCH 2008, PITTSBURG ORGANIZING GROUP (POG) WILL BE HOLDING A TORCH-LIT MARCH TO A MODERN DAY CASTLE OF ABOMINATIONS-OUR LOCAL MILITARY RECRUITING STATION. THE GROUP INTENDS TO,”…EVICT IT AND EVERYTHING INSIDE OF IT, OCCUPY THE LOCATION, AND TRANSFORM IT INTO SOMETHING USEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY. WE’LL ALSO BE BRINGING A MOVABLE CAGE IN WHICH TO CONFINE MILITARY RECRUITERS UNTIL THEY NO LONGER POSE A DANGER TO OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS…..” SOURCE: TRADOC

3.4 (U//FOUO) 19 MARCH 2008, NATIONALLY: A KNOWN PROTEST GROUP IS ALSO CALLING FOR A “CALL TO ACTION” ON THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S. INVASION OF IRAQ, AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 6TH YEAR OF WAR TO HAVE DEMONSTRATORS BE A PART THE LARGEST DAY FOR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE PROTESTS, COVERING ALL 50 STATES. SOURCE: TRADOC