The ANSWER Coalition condemns plans by the U.S. Air Force to turn residential cities in Idaho into urban war training grounds.

Earlier this year the U.S. Air Force announced their intent to establish training spaces within Idaho that simulate the large, medium and small urban centers encountered during combat around the world. The purpose could not be more clear: the wars the U.S. military wages are against populations that closely resemble our own, and the military wants to increase its lethality in urban areas.

In solidarity with the Women’s March on the Pentagon this Oct 20th in DC, the ANSWER Coalition is organizing a speakout against the Pentagon.

Join the speakout against the Pentagon's war exercises!
Saturday, October 20
12:00 p.m.
Boise City Hall
150 N Capitol Blvd
RSVP on Facebook

Under this plan, F-15 fighter jets would circle the skies in coordination with plain-clothes soldiers and “mock bomb” people on the ground and in buildings. The Air Force plans to run almost 7,000 flight operations per year from its operations at the nearby Mountain Home Air Force Base, which hosts three fighter squadrons of F-15Es and F-15SGs. These fighter jets cost up to $80 million each, representing more than $4.5 billion in a city where the average worker makes just 0.000005% of that total: $21,991 per year.

Idaho has one of the highest rates of extreme poverty in the country. In the last 8 years homelessness among children has increased by 64%. More than 20% of the population lack access to health care.

As military spending skyrockets, so does poverty throughout the country. The U.S. spends trillions of dollars on war overseas at the same time it slashes funding for housing, education and environmental protections.

We need money for jobs and education, not for war and occupation! No urban war training!