What are everyone's thoughts on this situation? Does the threat posed to the pipeline by these domestic terrorists need to be eliminated immediately or should the police continue to use only rubber bullets and pepper spray against such dangerous thugs?

 

 

Police Fire Rubber Bullets as Pipeline Protesters Try to Protect Sacred Site - NBC News

Good, objective view of situation from Louisiana sheriff who went up to assist.

 

Louisiana sheriff shares testimony from North Dakota experience | THV11.com

 

 

I learned first that the pipeline project, which has been in the works for several years, will traverse four states including North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Illinois carrying crude oil. I was surprised to learn that a natural gas pipeline is already underground on the same right of way. The DAP has received all federal approvals over several years and, litigation which attempted to stop it in the federal courts has been resolved. Despite this project being very "federal" in nature and clearly in interstate commerce, the Obama administration has refused to provide any law enforcement or other support to North Dakota state and local law enforcement that has placed them in the position of having to enforce the rule of law. As usual, law enforcement is put between the rock and hard place due to various political agendas.

 

Based upon sensational news reports, I had the wrong impression that this pipeline was to run directly through the Standing Rock Reservation and would disturb ancient burial grounds of the Sioux Tribes. The argument has evolved now that this pipeline will jeopardize the water supply of the Missouri River (despite the fact that the pipeline will pass under other rivers including the Mississippi throughout its entire route).

 

 

Also, the Cannonball River which runs throughout the Standing Rock Reservation is actually “upstream” from the pipeline crossing. This false narrative has understandably generated a great deal of sympathy and support from many quarters for the Standing Rock Sioux People.

 

 

I quickly learned and saw for myself that this was untrue.

 

 

The pipeline passes about two miles north of the reservation and that years of archeological study uncovered no significant native historical sites. It is difficult to believe that a single modern pipeline would be more environmentally risky than transporting crude oil by rail or truck through the same territory.

 

 

The Dakota Access Pipeline is 95% complete and the construction work near Standing Rock is the last phase which will tie the pipeline together. It is a 3.7 Billion Dollar Project.

So they didn't disturb any burial grounds?

 

This didn't happen?

 

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Condemns Destruction and Desecration of Burial Grounds by Energy Transfer Partners - ICTMN.com

Not all the Standing Rock Sioux are protesting the pipeline - CNN.com

 

There is this side of the story.

 

But the MAJOR issue is there is NO objective information available. NONE. It the words oil or coal are in a story the gist of the story is anti-oil, anti-coal.

 

POTUS approved this but then encouraged the protesters to stand their ground. HRC is remaining totally silent. As is Trump. Reason?? MONEY. Big Money.

The police have turned water cannons on the protestors--in 25 degree weather.

 

Police hit Standing Rock protestors with water cannons in freezing temperatures - VICE News

So we should just allow the protesters to commit arson and other crimes. BTW how do they know these protesters are unarmed?

So we should just allow the protesters to commit arson and other crimes. BTW how do they know these protesters are unarmed?

 

Anyone could be armed. Nothing illegal about that. Evidently not just the protestors aren't the only ones that think the police have went too far. North Dakota's Governor has suspended the Sheriff in charge of the officers monitoring the protestors and is moving to have him removed from office.

 

Sheriff Gary Schwartzenberger Removed From Office At Standing Rock DAPL Protest For Alleged Bullying And Militant Police Actions

Anyone could be armed. Nothing illegal about that. Evidently not just the protestors aren't the only ones that think the police have went too far. North Dakota's Governor has suspended the Sheriff in charge of the officers monitoring the protestors and is moving to have him removed from office.

 

Sheriff Gary Schwartzenberger Removed From Office At Standing Rock DAPL Protest For Alleged Bullying And Militant Police Actions

 

Did you read the article you posted?

 

Sheriff Gary Schwartzenberger is suspended. He worked at the pipeline, but was not in charge.

 

The bullying and militant police accusations appear to have come from within.

 

While Schwartzenberger and his officers have been working enforcement at DAPL protest sites, he is not the sheriff in charge of the area. Morton County sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier is head of the law enforcement response at the pipeline protests.

Sounds like the protests worked:

 

Army Corps of Engineers Denies Dakota Access Pipeline Route - NBC News

Just one more mess Obama is leaving for Trump to clean up:lol2:

This was nothing more than a political punt. Trump is now set up to take the fall as the bad guy on this one. No reason was really provided as to why the halt was forced.

 

Whether you support the project or not, the narrative to your average person is that one day, unbeknownst to anyone, a big oil company came in to put a massive pipeline down the center of an Indian reservation. This line is going about a half mile away from the Indian reservation, but does go under the tribe's water supply at Lake Oahe. Through the review process multiple attempts were made to get feedback from the tribe and multiple public hearings were held. Standing Rock essentially disregarded any notice and didn't participate. This has come about over the course of two years, not a hidden project being installed secretly. The reality is Dakota Access took every step and then some to ensure compliance and work with the tribe before they got the go-ahead. It is a culture clash.

I have no doubt that Obama stopped this pipeline in order to make himself look good at the end of his term. They can look at further options all they want but this pipeline is going to go right where it's been planned to go all along. The only difference is that it will make Trump look like the bad guy when the Army Corp. of Engineers comes back and says, sorry, no other options.