UC Berkeley acquires a tank...

by Curt

Thu, Jun 28, 2012 5:37PM

for what? To protect John Yoo?

"As the federal government battles presumed threats to national security in this post-9/11 world, once-important distinctions between local and national police agencies have been blurred. But as local officers get drawn into federal counterterrorism operations and immigration crackdowns, and as their departments beef up with tanks and other military hardware, citizens and civil libertarians are pushing back on the creeping police state...

For more information: http://www.sfbaycantwait.net

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§rhetorical flourishes

by miles

Fri, Jun 29, 2012 9:48AM

While it may generate a sense of smug superiority due to feeling oppressed (fuck off you sub-christian martyrs), the vehicle in the photo is not a tank. Two of the defining characteristics of a tank are: treads (not wheels) and some form of firepower attached (not a luggage rack). The vehicle in the photo can be labeled an armored personnel carrier (APC), but it is certainly not a tank.

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§a tank

by Daniel Borgström

Fri, Jun 29, 2012 11:30AM

A tank is often defined by its tracks, which allow it greater mobility in off road situations. For use in urban warfare on paved streets, off road capabilities would not be a major consideration. Armored vehicles can also be defined according to the thickness of their armor, weaponry, weight, etc. In fact, a lengthy dissertation could be written on the definitions of military vehicles, and to be really, really accurate, a pedantic 5 or 10 word designation might be necessary. But call it what you want, the reality is that an education institution has acquired a tank.

The significant thing is that the powers that be are choosing military solutions for social problems.

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