Most of the world outside of the greater Denver area have most likely never heard of Operation Mountain Guarding. In fact, I'd bet that most people, including those here in D-town don't even care. Normally I wouldn't bother to write about some silly little drill that the media can use as fuel for the America-the-Paraniod fire, but this one caught my attention.
Initially I saw it as an annoying safety exercise taking place right below my apartment. They posted a sign up next to the bridge by my house that stated the bridge would be closed due to a "Homeland Security exercise." Aside from a groan for the inconvenience it wasn't anything to write home about. Denver is sometimes referred to as "The Capital of the West." There is a Federal Reserve Bank, a US Mint, Supreme Court of Appeals, and various other federal government agencies clowning around in this town. However, it is also a landlocked state with a large military presence (the Air Force Academy is about 2 hours down the road). In my mind, it doesn't come across as a terrorist target in the US that would make the top 5. It would be naive for me to say that there won't be another attack on US soil, but I don't live my life in a paranoid bubble, so I'm not too concerned about it either. Needless to say, Denver seems like an odd place to host the 'largest terrorism drill ever.'
Bus hijacker I'm guessing
In case you haven't figured it out by now, Operation Mountain Guardian was a large-scale terrorism drill that was one and a half years in the making. Essentially the drill was (and still is) kept as a secret. It received NO national news coverage (that I could find) and a plot line that had a lot of large holes. There were 107 agencies involved. The attack covered three different locations, with seven auxilairy locations for mock victims (testing hospital surge capacity), relocation facilities (including Mile High Stadium - where FEMA decided to get sketchy and keep the children victims in the stadium), and DIA. The theatrics included volunteer victims and terrorists who were also (for the most part) left in the dark until the last minute, explosions (ie smoke bombs), mock gun fire, casualties, and some bloody looking mock injuries.
Fox fleeing the scene. Suspect number 1 if you ask me
On one hand, I get it, better to be prepared and make sure that all 107 agencies can work together. However, it was a drill, so there was a lot of slow movement and exhaustion. I also thought it was interesting that they got so into it that they cordoned off the media as well. On the other hand, there are a few things that strike me as odd...
These guys didn't end up so well
1. The fact that something on such a large scale was not published nationally.
HAZMAT guys for the exposed victims
2. FEMA announced it was testing to see if their plan for reuniting children with their families was effective. I get it, but terrorizing kids and separating them from their parents is walking a fine line. Secondly...FEMA already proved its utterly useless capability long ago and should probably focus on finding ways NOT to further embarrass itself (maybe this is why OMG didn't receive publicity).
SWAT helping victims
3. The Union Station portion of the story took place right below me. There segment was complete with port-o-potties and a lunch break. In case of emergency, lunch will always be served.
Bomb squad robot doing its thing
In the end it came across as an awkwardly covered exercise that probably had some questionable motives, but because it in the end it also provided a chance to practice coordination that, in the end, would ultimately save more lives. Not to mention a bunch of theatre kids got the day off of school.
Upturned cars and a guy trying to cool off in the shade
Riot gear
Sorry, I'm too lazy to credit some of my exact quotes, a combination of local news snippets and youtube searches.
Joy Ride
-M
Most of the world outside of the greater Denver area have most likely never heard of Operation Mountain Guarding. In fact, I'd bet that most people, including those here in D-town don't even care. Normally I wouldn't bother to write about some silly little drill that the media can use as fuel for the America-the-Paraniod fire, but this one caught my attention.
Initially I saw it as an annoying safety exercise taking place right below my apartment. They posted a sign up next to the bridge by my house that stated the bridge would be closed due to a "Homeland Security exercise." Aside from a groan for the inconvenience it wasn't anything to write home about. Denver is sometimes referred to as "The Capital of the West." There is a Federal Reserve Bank, a US Mint, Supreme Court of Appeals, and various other federal government agencies clowning around in this town. However, it is also a landlocked state with a large military presence (the Air Force Academy is about 2 hours down the road). In my mind, it doesn't come across as a terrorist target in the US that would make the top 5. It would be naive for me to say that there won't be another attack on US soil, but I don't live my life in a paranoid bubble, so I'm not too concerned about it either. Needless to say, Denver seems like an odd place to host the 'largest terrorism drill ever.'
Bus hijacker I'm guessing
In case you haven't figured it out by now, Operation Mountain Guardian was a large-scale terrorism drill that was one and a half years in the making. Essentially the drill was (and still is) kept as a secret. It received NO national news coverage (that I could find) and a plot line that had a lot of large holes. There were 107 agencies involved. The attack covered three different locations, with seven auxilairy locations for mock victims (testing hospital surge capacity), relocation facilities (including Mile High Stadium - where FEMA decided to get sketchy and keep the children victims in the stadium), and DIA. The theatrics included volunteer victims and terrorists who were also (for the most part) left in the dark until the last minute, explosions (ie smoke bombs), mock gun fire, casualties, and some bloody looking mock injuries.
Fox fleeing the scene. Suspect number 1 if you ask me
On one hand, I get it, better to be prepared and make sure that all 107 agencies can work together. However, it was a drill, so there was a lot of slow movement and exhaustion. I also thought it was interesting that they got so into it that they cordoned off the media as well. On the other hand, there are a few things that strike me as odd...
These guys didn't end up so well
1. The fact that something on such a large scale was not published nationally.
HAZMAT guys for the exposed victims
2. FEMA announced it was testing to see if their plan for reuniting children with their families was effective. I get it, but terrorizing kids and separating them from their parents is walking a fine line. Secondly...FEMA already proved its utterly useless capability long ago and should probably focus on finding ways NOT to further embarrass itself (maybe this is why OMG didn't receive publicity).
SWAT helping victims
3. The Union Station portion of the story took place right below me. There segment was complete with port-o-potties and a lunch break. In case of emergency, lunch will always be served.
Bomb squad robot doing its thing
In the end it came across as an awkwardly covered exercise that probably had some questionable motives, but because it in the end it also provided a chance to practice coordination that, in the end, would ultimately save more lives. Not to mention a bunch of theatre kids got the day off of school.
Upturned cars and a guy trying to cool off in the shade
Riot gear
Sorry, I'm too lazy to credit some of my exact quotes, a combination of local news snippets and youtube searches.
Joy Ride
-M
Most of the world outside of the greater Denver area have most likely never heard of Operation Mountain Guarding. In fact, I'd bet that most people, including those here in D-town don't even care. Normally I wouldn't bother to write about some silly little drill that the media can use as fuel for the America-the-Paraniod fire, but this one caught my attention.
Initially I saw it as an annoying safety exercise taking place right below my apartment. They posted a sign up next to the bridge by my house that stated the bridge would be closed due to a "Homeland Security exercise." Aside from a groan for the inconvenience it wasn't anything to write home about. Denver is sometimes referred to as "The Capital of the West." There is a Federal Reserve Bank, a US Mint, Supreme Court of Appeals, and various other federal government agencies clowning around in this town. However, it is also a landlocked state with a large military presence (the Air Force Academy is about 2 hours down the road). In my mind, it doesn't come across as a terrorist target in the US that would make the top 5. It would be naive for me to say that there won't be another attack on US soil, but I don't live my life in a paranoid bubble, so I'm not too concerned about it either. Needless to say, Denver seems like an odd place to host the 'largest terrorism drill ever.'
Bus hijacker I'm guessing
In case you haven't figured it out by now, Operation Mountain Guardian was a large-scale terrorism drill that was one and a half years in the making. Essentially the drill was (and still is) kept as a secret. It received NO national news coverage (that I could find) and a plot line that had a lot of large holes. There were 107 agencies involved. The attack covered three different locations, with seven auxilairy locations for mock victims (testing hospital surge capacity), relocation facilities (including Mile High Stadium - where FEMA decided to get sketchy and keep the children victims in the stadium), and DIA. The theatrics included volunteer victims and terrorists who were also (for the most part) left in the dark until the last minute, explosions (ie smoke bombs), mock gun fire, casualties, and some bloody looking mock injuries.
Fox fleeing the scene. Suspect number 1 if you ask me
On one hand, I get it, better to be prepared and make sure that all 107 agencies can work together. However, it was a drill, so there was a lot of slow movement and exhaustion. I also thought it was interesting that they got so into it that they cordoned off the media as well. On the other hand, there are a few things that strike me as odd...
These guys didn't end up so well
1. The fact that something on such a large scale was not published nationally.
HAZMAT guys for the exposed victims
2. FEMA announced it was testing to see if their plan for reuniting children with their families was effective. I get it, but terrorizing kids and separating them from their parents is walking a fine line. Secondly...FEMA already proved its utterly useless capability long ago and should probably focus on finding ways NOT to further embarrass itself (maybe this is why OMG didn't receive publicity).
SWAT helping victims
3. The Union Station portion of the story took place right below me. There segment was complete with port-o-potties and a lunch break. In case of emergency, lunch will always be served.
Bomb squad robot doing its thing
In the end it came across as an awkwardly covered exercise that probably had some questionable motives, but because it in the end it also provided a chance to practice coordination that, in the end, would ultimately save more lives. Not to mention a bunch of theatre kids got the day off of school.
Upturned cars and a guy trying to cool off in the shade
Riot gear
Sorry, I'm too lazy to credit some of my exact quotes, a combination of local news snippets and youtube searches.
Joy Ride
-M
Most of the world outside of the greater Denver area have most likely never heard of Operation Mountain Guarding. In fact, I'd bet that most people, including those here in D-town don't even care. Normally I wouldn't bother to write about some silly little drill that the media can use as fuel for the America-the-Paraniod fire, but this one caught my attention.
Initially I saw it as an annoying safety exercise taking place right below my apartment. They posted a sign up next to the bridge by my house that stated the bridge would be closed due to a "Homeland Security exercise." Aside from a groan for the inconvenience it wasn't anything to write home about. Denver is sometimes referred to as "The Capital of the West." There is a Federal Reserve Bank, a US Mint, Supreme Court of Appeals, and various other federal government agencies clowning around in this town. However, it is also a landlocked state with a large military presence (the Air Force Academy is about 2 hours down the road). In my mind, it doesn't come across as a terrorist target in the US that would make the top 5. It would be naive for me to say that there won't be another attack on US soil, but I don't live my life in a paranoid bubble, so I'm not too concerned about it either. Needless to say, Denver seems like an odd place to host the 'largest terrorism drill ever.'
Bus hijacker I'm guessing
In case you haven't figured it out by now, Operation Mountain Guardian was a large-scale terrorism drill that was one and a half years in the making. Essentially the drill was (and still is) kept as a secret. It received NO national news coverage (that I could find) and a plot line that had a lot of large holes. There were 107 agencies involved. The attack covered three different locations, with seven auxilairy locations for mock victims (testing hospital surge capacity), relocation facilities (including Mile High Stadium - where FEMA decided to get sketchy and keep the children victims in the stadium), and DIA. The theatrics included volunteer victims and terrorists who were also (for the most part) left in the dark until the last minute, explosions (ie smoke bombs), mock gun fire, casualties, and some bloody looking mock injuries.
Fox fleeing the scene. Suspect number 1 if you ask me
On one hand, I get it, better to be prepared and make sure that all 107 agencies can work together. However, it was a drill, so there was a lot of slow movement and exhaustion. I also thought it was interesting that they got so into it that they cordoned off the media as well. On the other hand, there are a few things that strike me as odd...
These guys didn't end up so well
1. The fact that something on such a large scale was not published nationally.
HAZMAT guys for the exposed victims
2. FEMA announced it was testing to see if their plan for reuniting children with their families was effective. I get it, but terrorizing kids and separating them from their parents is walking a fine line. Secondly...FEMA already proved its utterly useless capability long ago and should probably focus on finding ways NOT to further embarrass itself (maybe this is why OMG didn't receive publicity).
SWAT helping victims
3. The Union Station portion of the story took place right below me. There segment was complete with port-o-potties and a lunch break. In case of emergency, lunch will always be served.
Bomb squad robot doing its thing
In the end it came across as an awkwardly covered exercise that probably had some questionable motives, but because it in the end it also provided a chance to practice coordination that, in the end, would ultimately save more lives. Not to mention a bunch of theatre kids got the day off of school.
Upturned cars and a guy trying to cool off in the shade
Riot gear
Sorry, I'm too lazy to credit some of my exact quotes, a combination of local news snippets and youtube searches.
Joy Ride
-M
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