Hidden Truth/Hidden Truth.iso/data/genufo/genufo/alien/main_archive/j_upto_r/rat_03a.txt

Text File | 1997-01-02 | 9KB | 172 lines

THE GROOM LAKE DESERT RAT.   Supplemental News Flash.
Issue #3-A.  Feb. 18, 1994.

NOTES ON UPCOMING LAS VEGAS HEARING
SUPPLEMENT TO DESERT RAT #3

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----- INSPECTION VISITS -----

In conjunction with the Las Vegas Hearing on the Groom Lake land
grab, the White Sides Defense Committee will be sponsoring two
semi-organized INSPECTION VISITS to the Freedom Ridge viewpoint.
The tentative dates and times are:

     Saturday, Feb. 26, at 10 am, and
     Thursday, March 3, at 12 noon

These will be informal hikes and get-togethers similar to the
October camp-out and January field trip.  The intent is to give
the public the opportunity to inspect the land that has been
targeted for withdrawal.  The Saturday event is for the poor saps
who have to work during the week, while the Thursday outing is
designed for out-of-town people coming to the Las Vegas hearing
who can stay an extra day.

Rumors that these events will be BEACH PARTIES are unfounded and
misleading.  Military land use is SERIOUS BUSINESS.  To help
preserve a respectful and responsible tone, the volleyball
tournament HAS BEEN CANCELLED.  The only lawn chairs permitted
must be of the "lawn/porch/patio" type.  Low slung beach chairs,
beach blankets, skimpy bathing suits, beer kegs, Frisbees and
inflatable pool toys are PROHIBITED.

Both visits will begin at the Freedom Ridge trailhead, about
2-1/2 hours north of Las Vegas.  DIRECTIONS:  Be sure to fill
your gas tank in Las Vegas.  From Las Vegas, take I-15 north
about 20 miles to US-93 (Exit 64).  Go north on US-93 about 85
miles to SR-375.  Take SR-375 (not SR-318) west 15 miles until
you reach the straight dirt road to Groom Lake at milepost
LN 34.6.  (Marked only by a stop sign.)  This is a good dirt road
that any car can handle.  Take the dirt road west 13.6 miles
until you see our cars (parked beside a "Keep Right" sign).
WARNING: DO NOT CROSS THE MILITARY BORDER marked by Restricted
Area signs and orange posts.  (Crossing the border will result in
your immediate arrest and a $600 fine.)

Hike is approx. 50 minutes each way and could be moderately
strenuous for out-of-shape sea-level sloths.  However, sloths
with 4WD vehicles can drive all the way to to the top on the
newly discovered "Freedom Ridge Expressway" (further directions
required).  Visiting the viewpoints is completely legal, as this
is public land until such time as the withdrawal is formally
approved.  Camping is permitted and encouraged.  Be forewarned,
however, the nighttime temperature will probably drop below
freezing.  Daytime highs may reach the 50s, but strong winds are
also possible, so dress warmly and in several layers.  In case of
moderately bad weather, the events will proceed as planned.  In
case of HORRIBLE weather, call for more info.

Sturdy hiking shoes are important.  Binoculars and telescopes are
okay.  The authorities don't like cameras, however, so don't be
seen with one.  Press representation is expected at both events,
so practice your sound bites.

----- MORE ON VEGAS HEARING -----

Again, the Las Vegas hearing on the land grab will be held Weds,
March 2, 1994, at 5 pm at the Cashman Field Center (a stadium
complex north of Downtown), 850 North Las Vegas Blvd., Rooms 203-
204.  With the Popular Science cover story hitting the streets
right now, the hearing is likely to be a zoo.

The usual format is that a BLM official moderates the event.  A
military officer is likely to speak first, probably very briefly.
At most hearings, this is an opportunity for an Air Force "dog
and pony show," but in this case the dogs and ponies can't be
shown because they don't officially exist,  At the Caliente
hearing, this talk was an almost meaningless repetition of the
evasive "public safety" and "safe and secure operation of
activities" themes.  The rest of the meeting will probably
consist of a series of opponents saying their two bits.  Due to
the large turnout possible, each speaker will be limited to a big
three minutes.  The AF officer will sit silently through most of
the proceedings and probably will not answer any meaningful
questions.  The BLM official will probably be more forthcoming,
but he won't have any information about the base.  The hearing
will end either when everyone seems to have blown off steam or
when the meeting room must be vacated for the cleaning staff.

That is the EXPECTED course of events.  Given the volatility of
the story at present, the AF could drop a bombshell, like "Yes,
we have a base at Groom Lake."  Don't hold your breath, however,
as the military rarely reacts so quickly to current affairs.

There is rarely any instant gratification at an event like this.
There will be some good arguments mixed in with some bad ones,
and the AF reps will probably not respond visibly to any of it.
The hearing is a matter of record, however.  A stenographer will
be present, and the resulting document will go into the big case
file which, in theory, forms the basis for the BLM decision and
for any future legal action.  Las Vegas is a diverse enough place
that there may even be some people speaking IN FAVOR of the
withdrawal, expressing their fullest confidence in the military.
The bulk of the comment will probably be critical, however, and
that will count in favor of the opponents.

The most important aspect of the hearing is that it provides an
EVENT.  It gives the opponents a place to gather and the news
media something to report on.  If emotions are running high, this
is a place where it can be demonstrated.  Merely the number of
people who show up is important.  If the room is packed to twice
its capacity, then that will make an impression.  BLM, the agency
making the decision, cannot ignore the political winds.  Sure,
the military has clout, but so does the rest of the population if
it gets riled up.  If the BLM senses that it is in the public hot
seat, it will be especially careful to protect itself and do the
right thing.

The principal weapon of the opponents has been graciously
provided by the military itself.  The vague "public safety"
explanation is a godsend.  It paints the military's action as
capricious and an "abuse of discretion."  The ultimate test of
the withdrawal is whether the reasons for it make sense to the
average person.  If the Air Force is trying to support its action
only with absurdities, then the key to winning is merely to turn
the spotlight on the absurdities and make them painfully obvious
to everyone.

Since each speaker is limited to three minutes, it is important
for each person to limit themselves to one or two carefully
thought out points.  Each opponent should try to cover a
different topic.  If you plan to speak, it would be a good idea
to coordinate with Psychospy beforehand.  If you want to speak
but don't have a topic, we have an exquisite line of quality
merchandise to choose from.  Get in touch with us as soon as you
can.  The night of the hearing, we will be staying in downtown
Las Vegas just a few minutes from the hearing site, so perhaps we
can hold an opponent's powwow there in the afternoon to get
ready.

----- ACCOMMODATIONS -----

The night of the hearing, Psychospy will be staying at the
Fitzgeralds casino in downtown Las Vegas (because it's fairly
close to the hearing site).  This is a high-rise hotel (tallest
in Vegas) on "Glitter Gulch" Fremont Street.  Room rate is $36,
phone [phone].  There should be other hotels nearby at
comparable rates.

For a more interesting alternative at the other end of town, try
the Tropicana Hotel, $49, 800-634-4000:  If you get a room on the
southeast side of "Island Tower," you can look down on the secret
"JANET" airline terminal where workers depart for Groom Lake.
You can peer down with binocs and see if anyone you know is among
the staff.  There's also supposed to be a view of the Janet
terminal from rooms on the east side of the Luxor pyramid, $69-
$79, 800-288-1000.

If you are coming to the Saturday Inspection Visit, we advise
that you AVOID LAS VEGAS, at least for accommodations.  On
weekends, rooms are both nonexistent and expensive.  Instead, try
the Little A-Le-Inn in Rachel, one of the motels in Alamo or one
of the casinos on I-15 near the California border.  (Reservations
are essential at any of these.)

For more info on the hearing, inspection visits or
accommodations, email [e-mail] or phone [phone].

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