Don White wrote:
"Lu Powell" wrote in message
...
In war, as in police operations, a "Fair" fight means the good guys failed
to plan well.

- A retired cop and retired military man....


"HK" wrote in message
...
JimH wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gin68TIr2Rg

Wipe out!

Wow. The big, brave waterpolice capture a rubber boat.

I know police have a job to do and overwhelming force to end the situation
quickly might be safer in the long run.
My problem is when they turn tail and run like scared chickens when
confronted with a force that might stand nose to nose with them, even if
only for a short time.

There is no reason to engage in a fair fight.

We had a situation like that here where the police went into a certain
minority's community to try to diffuse a situation. A lot of media went in
to record the event. The police 'Swat team' hi-tailed it out a back escape
when the entire aggitated community turned out to confront them. The media

They lived to fight another day. Oh, and why did you have to say "a
certain minority's community?" Is that a code phrase Don?

were left on their own to run a gauntlet of punks throwing boulders at them.
One of our cameramen narrowly escaped injury when one rock dented the front
piller on a company car and a radio crew had to abandon a rental car, which
was found stripped the next day.

The media gets what they deserve. If they are going into a situation
where they may be injured or killed then they have to accept the risks.
Property can be replaced, lives cannot.

Another case was in the central part of the country a number of years ago
when native Americans blockcaded an entire town. The natives sneaked around
wearing combat clothing and face masks and even shot and killed one police
officer. The cops retreated back to safe lines and called for the army to
bail them out.

Sounds like a smart group of cops.

On the other hand when confronted by unarmed peaceful demonstrators in
British Columbia a few years ago, one fat assed RCMP Sgt. quickly whipped
out a commercial fire extinguisher sized can of pepper spray and doused
anyone in sight...women children, a CBC cameraman etc.

Are CBC cameramen immune from police instruction? Would it have been
better for the police to use rubber bullets? Would you like to see them
shoot real bullets?

So to summarize... the cops are brave as hell when the advantage is
overwhelming in their favour.. but no so when the odds are even or the
reverse.

Only idiots continue when the odds are against them.