NationStates Jolt Archive


Fort Benning, why the nickname?

Quagmus
20-11-2005, 18:23
Why do they call it "school of assassins"? (wikipedia won't tell me)
Liverbreath
20-11-2005, 18:29
Why do they call it "school of assassins"? (wikipedia won't tell me)

They don't. They call it the Sand Hilton.
Eutrusca
20-11-2005, 18:30
Why do they call it "school of assassins"? (wikipedia won't tell me)
WTF, over? Where did you get this from, pray tell? Never heard it before now. :confused:
Quagmus
20-11-2005, 18:31
They don't. They call it the Sand Hilton.

Oh. Because of all the trees, right?
Quagmus
20-11-2005, 18:36
WTF, over? Where did you get this from, pray tell? Never heard it before now. :confused:

An article in The Economist. It wasn´t explained any further, as the article was about someone who had been there and later gone into business...
Liverbreath
20-11-2005, 18:40
Oh. Because of all the trees, right?

Actually because in 1982 they built all new barracks areas on the only area of the place that was not covered in trees, by the name of Sand Hill. Compared to the old area, they were considered worthy of the term, hotel.
I went through Basic, AIT, Airborne, and an expedited RIP there and never once heard the term "School of Assissins". In fact I doubt that the politically correct powers that be would stand for it's use due to the huge numbers of foreign troops diplomats that visit there daily.
Quagmus
20-11-2005, 18:42
Hmm, should've googled it, Google is Good 4u.

It is where latin dictators (and others) are trained.... the list of alumni is impressive.
Quagmus
20-11-2005, 18:45
Actually because in 1982 they built all new barracks areas on the only area of the place that was not covered in trees, by the name of Sand Hill. Compared to the old area, they were considered worthy of the term, hotel.
I went through Basic, AIT, Airborne, and an expedited RIP there and never once heard the term "School of Assissins". In fact I doubt that the politically correct powers that be would stand for it's use due to the huge numbers of foreign troops diplomats that visit there daily.

Probably some left-wing hippie slandering smear campaign. Nevermind.
Liverbreath
20-11-2005, 18:45
An article in The Economist. It wasn´t explained any further, as the article was about someone who had been there and later gone into business...

Why in the world would you read a propaganda magazine?
Quagmus
20-11-2005, 18:48
Why in the world would you read a propaganda magazine?

The Economist? I think they´d be amused:D

Propaganda magazines are good 4u. Besides, it is hard to find a magazine that isn't.
Eutrusca
20-11-2005, 18:49
Actually because in 1982 they built all new barracks areas on the only area of the place that was not covered in trees, by the name of Sand Hill. Compared to the old area, they were considered worthy of the term, hotel.
I went through Basic, AIT, Airborne, and an expedited RIP there and never once heard the term "School of Assissins". In fact I doubt that the politically correct powers that be would stand for it's use due to the huge numbers of foreign troops diplomats that visit there daily.
Ah HA! Now I understand. The School of the Americas is there, which the far left has claimed is nothing more than a "school for assassins."
Celtlund
20-11-2005, 18:52
Why do they call it "school of assassins"? (wikipedia won't tell me)

Wikipedia shouldn't tell you anything. It is not an acceptable reference for any credible or academic discussion. Why? Because anyone can post or edit anything. If you want a credible and acceptable source that is free, try encyclopedia.com
Free Soviets
20-11-2005, 18:53
because of all the death squads they train
Eutrusca
20-11-2005, 18:54
because of all the death squads they train
Bullshit.
Corneliu
20-11-2005, 18:55
because of all the death squads they train

Either this is sarcastic or he really means it.
Free Soviets
20-11-2005, 18:56
Wikipedia shouldn't tell you anything. It is not an acceptable reference for any credible or academic discussion. Why? Because anyone can post or edit anything. If you want a credible and acceptable source that is free, try encyclopedia.com

encyclopedias aren't particularly acceptable as sources in academic discussions either. unless it's a specialty encyclopedia that went through a peer-review process, it's only marginally better than using things you saw on the history channel's "mysteries of the bible".

none of which stops wikipedia from being an extremely valuable resource.
Liverbreath
20-11-2005, 18:57
The Economist? I think they´d be amused:D

Propaganda magazines are good 4u. Besides, it is hard to find a magazine that isn't.

True that. Well, the list is so impressive because at one point it was the only Airborne school in the "Free World". Most of what I saw there were of course US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Brits, Australians, Germans and Canadians.
Eutrusca
20-11-2005, 18:57
encyclopedias aren't particularly acceptable as sources in academic discussions either. unless it's a specialty encyclopedia that went through a peer-review process, it's only marginally better than using things you saw on the history channel's "mysteries of the bible".

none of which stops wikipedia from being an extremely valuable resource.
Yeah. If you're not real particular about source and veracity. :rolleyes:
Eutrusca
20-11-2005, 19:00
True that. Well, the list is so impressive because at one point it was the only Airborne school in the "Free World". Most of what I saw there were of course US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Brits, Australians, Germans and Canadians.

When I was last at Benning, there were lots of Thais and Malaysians and Burmese as well.
Wernher Von Braun
20-11-2005, 19:02
True that. Well, the list is so impressive because at one point it was the only Airborne school in the "Free World". Most of what I saw there were of course US Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Brits, Australians, Germans and Canadians.

Dude, the UK has continously operated its own Airborne training facilities since WWII.

Fort Benning is not the "only airborne school in the 'free world'."
Liverbreath
20-11-2005, 19:04
Ah HA! Now I understand. The School of the Americas is there, which the far left has claimed is nothing more than a "school for assassins."

Damn I forgot all about that. Oh my...OCS is there too. Wonder if that is on the list next?
Quagmus
20-11-2005, 19:06
http://scholar.google.com/
Free Soviets
20-11-2005, 19:06
Bullshit.

a short list of some of the most notorious grads (http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=205&cat=63)

some info on the manuals used in training the death squads (http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=98) - especially check out the washington post article that broke the story (http://www.soaw.org/new/newswire_detail.php?id=851). and for those interested in such details, the author, dana priest, also just uncovered the story about the gulag facilities operating under new american management.
Liverbreath
20-11-2005, 19:08
Dude, the UK has continously operated its own Airborne training facilities since WWII.

Fort Benning is not the "only airborne school in the 'free world'."

I said at one time. Of course the brits have their own, but the come to ours to get the jump wings and what we called TDY pay. Read into what I say whatever you will.
Eutrusca
20-11-2005, 19:10
Damn I forgot all about that. Oh my...OCS is there too. Wonder if that is on the list next?
Only the demeted left knows, and they ain't talkin'! :D
Free Soviets
20-11-2005, 19:12
Yeah. If you're not real particular about source and veracity. :rolleyes:

and what would you recommend instead? books? any fool can publish a book - i've read many that are full of outright lies. all sources must be questioned, all statements must be checked. wikipedia is still a great place to get started.
Eutrusca
20-11-2005, 19:13
a short list of some of the most notorious grads (http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=205&cat=63)

some info on the manuals used in training the death squads (http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=98) - especially check out the washington post article that broke the story (http://www.soaw.org/new/newswire_detail.php?id=851). and for those interested in such details, the author, dana priest, also just uncovered the story about the gulag facilities operating under new american management.
Well, good for her ... career. In my entire military career, which included stints at Benning and as an Instructor at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Special Warfare School at Bragg, not once did I ever encounter anyone or anything which would support the allegation that the American military trained "assassins." :p
Wernher Von Braun
20-11-2005, 19:14
I said at one time. Of course the brits have their own, but the come to ours to get the jump wings and what we called TDY pay. Read into what I say whatever you will.

My point was that there has always (well since 1940 ) been an Airborne School at Brize-Norton/Aldershot. Benning has never been the only school. It's probably the biggest though.
Quagmus
20-11-2005, 19:16
Well, good for her ... career. In my entire military career, which included stints at Benning and as an Instructor at the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Special Warfare School at Bragg, not once did I ever encounter anyone or anything which would support the allegation that the American military trained "assassins." :p

Did you train all those south american death squad leaders?:eek:
Deep Kimchi
20-11-2005, 19:17
Why do they call it "school of assassins"? (wikipedia won't tell me)
The School of the Americas used to be there - a military training school for officers from South American and Latin American countries.

Some of these officers later went on to their own countries, where they committed military abuses. Some people claim that the US taught them to be nasty.

However, that school has also been known more widely as the School of the Julios.

It's closed now.

But...

The main claim to fame for Ft. Benning is as the Home of the Infantry.

Infantry basic training takes place there - there used to be two sections - Harmony Church and Sand Hill (hence the Sand Hilton). Harmony Church was closed as a basic training facility a while back.

The Rangers find their home there.

And the US Army Airborne School finds its home there.

And, there's also the US Army Infantry Museum.

I refer to the Infantry Basic training part of Ft. Benning as "The Georgia School for Wayward Boys".
Quagmus
21-11-2005, 15:05
The School of the Americas used to be there - a military training school for officers from South American and Latin American countries.

Some of these officers later went on to their own countries, where they committed military abuses. Some people claim that the US taught them to be nasty.

However, that school has also been known more widely as the School of the Julios.

It's closed now.

But...

The main claim to fame for Ft. Benning is as the Home of the Infantry.

Infantry basic training takes place there - there used to be two sections - Harmony Church and Sand Hill (hence the Sand Hilton). Harmony Church was closed as a basic training facility a while back.

The Rangers find their home there.

And the US Army Airborne School finds its home there.

And, there's also the US Army Infantry Museum.

I refer to the Infantry Basic training part of Ft. Benning as "The Georgia School for Wayward Boys".

When did it close, why, did it open up someplace more discreet?

Thesis, check out the letters in the appendixes... (http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05022001-153035/unrestricted/FoxThesis.pdf)
Quagmus
21-11-2005, 22:46
bump...oops!

Not closed, renamed:

Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation


Article, making horridly evil accusations::::::::::


"Torture is now freely used by such national authorities as a "legitimate" means of obtaining evidence relating to terrorism -- whether those tortured are genuinely implicated or are only suspects. Extrajudicial provisions have been made in places like Camp X-Ray to avoid any possibility of unwelcome investigation. [more; more; more]. Techniques of interrogation are allegedly developed at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC). According to the Washington Post, under the euphemism "stress and duress", such techniques are reportedly in use in secret detention centres around the world by agents of the USA government -- or by "contracting" such interrogation to foreign intelligence agencies known to routinely use torture [more]. With the current secrecy, how will the USA ever be able to prove that it has not systematically implemented a pattern of "dissappearances"? How will it distinguish itself from the notorious regimes that have used such practices before? Has such "interrogation" already become a credit course in American military academies?" (http://laetusinpraesens.org/docs/irack.php)