black@pundit.DEC (DON BLACK DTN 261-2739 MS: NIO/N13 LOC: POLE C6) (08/03/85)
Geez, I'm in my glory this month! "Red Dawn" is on HBO! What a
flick. I just hope and pray that it is not a preview of coming attractions.
The story itself is pretty basic---several students escape from an
airborne Soviet assault on their school and town, take to the hills, and
raise hell. The plot has a few holes in it, but basically everything is
plausible, and every act of Communist brutality portrayed has actually
happened during Communist take-overs.
Last night as we sat there, my Teddy Bear and I, watching that movie,
what came to mind was the information I've been privy to over the last few
years. I have been involved in Emergency Planning and Civil Defense since
1979. (As of Monday, I will probably be the C.D. Director for my home
city here in New Hampshire.) Recently, I have been involved in the planning
for a host community in the Seabrook area. As a result, I've had access to
information that, while it is not classified, the average person would not
normally see.
What disturbs me is that we plan for hurricanes, floods, fires, winter
storms, earthquakes, even nuclear war---but absolutely NOWHERE have I seen
any plan, SOP, or statute that covers civilian preparedness for conventional
warfare on our own territory.
Yeah, there's a few vague references to the Civil Defense Agency not
engaging in activities that normally would be the activities of the military.
And a clause that specifically exempts small arms ammunition from seizure.
Fine. All well and good. That still doesn't tell me what to do with
10,000 noncombatants in the middle of a firefight. Or how to handle the
refugees from Massachusetts. (Maybe if we blew the bridge between Newington
and Dover....)
The Swiss and Swedes do things right in their planning. Roadways are
built with long straightaways and removable center barriers. Bridge abutments
have built-in chambers for destruction charges. The Swiss issue automatic
weapons out to the population.
Here, the roadway center barriers are randomly removed by motorists.
Bridges self-destruct. And people get arrested for possession of a Bow-
and-Arrow (Reference: Comm. of Mass. Bartley-Fox Act).
Why are we so complacent? Why do we assume that the United States is
exempt from invasion? Is there a UN treaty that says "Thou shalt not invade
the United States?" Why do we assume that World War III will be nuclear?
Chances are better that WW III will be conventional. After all, the United
States feeds the Soviet Union. And the Soviets are not about to defecate
in their breadbasket.
When the time comes, I guess I'll just call on the A-Team.
--Don Black
"Sleep well tonight---your Alert Crews will."
--sign on the bulletin board, in the alert quarters of the 393rd Bomb
Squadron, 509th Bomb Wing, Pease AFB NH.
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The usual disclaimers apply.
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