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The Marines’ 250th year celebration took place at Camp Pendelton this weekend. Governor Newsom was not pleased.<\/p>\n
According to the California Highway Patrol<\/i> (CHP), the “unscheduled closure” was implemented out of public safety concerns after it became clear that the Marines\u2019 planned demonstration would send live munitions arching over one of the state\u2019s most heavily traveled corridors. The closure was not part of the original plan; in fact, the U.S. Marines had assured state officials and the public earlier in the week that no highways or transportation routes would be affected.<\/p>\n
Governor Gavin Newsom was quick to voice his outrage. In a fiery statement released Saturday and reported by The New York Times<\/i>, he declared, “This is a profoundly absurd show of force that could put Californians directly in harm\u2019s way.” Newsom went further, lambasting the federal government\u2019s decision to proceed with live-fire exercises over a public freeway as “reckless, disrespectful, and beneath the office the president holds.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Looks like Newsom failed to determine that the Marines routinely fire over the highways – those howitzers have no problem lofting rounds 15 miles across extended ranges and public highways. According to William Martin, Vice-President Vance’s communications director:<\/p>\n
“Gavin Newsom wants people to think this exercise is dangerous,” Martin said, as quoted by The New York Times<\/i>. “The Marine Corps says it\u2019s an established and safe practice. Newsom wants people to think this is an absurd show of force. The Marine Corps says it\u2019s part of routine training at Camp Pendleton. If Gavin Newsom wants to oppose the training exercises that ensure our Armed Forces are the deadliest and most lethal fighting force in the world, then he can go right ahead.”<\/p>\n
The event drew a crowd of more than 15,000 Marines, sailors, veterans, and their families, along with top Trump administration officials including Vice President JD Vance\u2014a former enlisted Marine himself\u2014and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Grand Pinnacle Tribune<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Interesting that the Marines say they do this routinely, as most installations I have seen will not fire across public roads with traffic present and road closures are common. As it was, no injuries were reported – but one round apparently did come apart prematurely.<\/p>\n
The New York Times reported that fragments that fell from the 155mm shell landed on vehicles parked on a ramp on Interstate 5 \u2013 a major artery through southern California \u2013 which governor Gavin Newsom had ordered closed after learning that military officials had no plans to close the freeway.\u00a0The Guardian<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Obviously not an actual shell detonation, but a bit awkward nonetheless. One would have to say that Newsom actually had a point. Geez, I HATE<\/em> having to say that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"