US buys town for terror training

[Sprafa]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3693366.stm

The United States Department of Homeland Security is buying an entire town in the south-west US for use in its anti-terror training.

Playas, in the state of New Mexico, will be bought for $5m from the Phelps Dodge mining company, which built it from scratch in the 1970s.

The town, once home to 1,000 people, currently has a population of 50.

Emergency workers will use the site to simulate suicide bombings, anthrax attacks and water-supply poisonings.

Ghost town

A local engineering school, the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, is in charge of the project.

Vice-president Van Romero told BBC News Online that he hoped the purchase would be completed this week.

"Students will use the town to enact scenarios to learn to stop or prevent terrorist attacks before they happen," he said.

"It's an urban environment in which we can control everything - the electricity, the water and the people," he added.

Although Playas has been in decline since a copper smelter shut, the isolated town just north of the Mexican border is not a typical ghost town.

In addition to 259 ranch-style homes, it features a six-lane bowling alley, a rodeo ring, a helicopter pad, an airstrip, a bar, a shooting range and a swimming pool.

The town's remaining residents could be offered work on the project, the New York Times reports.

New Mexico Tech, as the engineering school is known, has trained more than 90,000 emergency workers since the bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building in 1995.

It is also currently receiving $20m in grants from the Department of Homeland Security for its antiterrorism programmes.

 

[Foxtrot]

That is good news, anything to get more people trained in the defense of our nation.

 

[Shadowlands5325]

Yeah I like the idea. aND ONly 50 people live there not that big of a town so it shouldn't matter b/c there getting money too.

 

[Sprafa]

The Soviet Union did a similar program during WWII.

 

[Foxtrot]

The Soviet Union did a similar program during WWII.

So it is probably pretty effective then, right?

 

[Shadowlands5325]

The Soviet Union did a similar program during WWII.

No no foxtrot he is trying to say our goverment is dumb.



cough Brainwashed cough.

 

[Sprafa]

Actually, I'm just reporting to you guys.

In my opinion it is a good idea.

 

[Shadowlands5325]

Actually, I'm just reporting to you guys.

In my opinion it is a good idea.

Okay I RESPECT that.

 

[Bad^Hat]

I don't get it.

 

[Sprafa]

I don't get it.

It's just information, in it's pure and unadulterated form. Unusual, I know.

 

[Shadowlands5325]

By looking at your avator.

Its saids enuff about you.

 

[thefiznut]

Playas, New Mexico... YO MAH BROTHAH

 

[Bad^Hat]

By looking at your avator.

Its saids enuff about you.

I used to like Cloud

And yeah, I preffered nerdnews But I'm not contesting you posting it, I just don't get why you did... what's to discuss?

 

[Shadowlands5325]

That avator makes you like a immature child.

I don't even like the cloud avator but just to lazy to take it off.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Just getting into the Halloween spirit. I have another one lined up... oh bother that's a child too...

 

[Hazar]

Hahahaha, Yes, I've heard about this. Playas is about 150 miles (or more, I can't remember exactly) away from us.

And don't worry about beautiful land getting destroyed, it's all flat, open, and barren down there

 

[ailevation]

:O Wow, a town of 50 people! There's like 50 people around the neighborhood. HA!

 

[RakuraiTenjin]

Cool. Probably a lot cheaper than having to construct their own town out in the middle of no where from scratch- so it's a lot easier on the budget, plus I'll bet those people are thrilled, plenty of casholas :].

 

[<RJMC>]

cool idea