Marines Outflank Protesters in Monterey ‘Invasion’

Hundreds of Marines practiced rescuing a city threatened by chemical terrorism Saturday outside the view of protesters who said the military exercise might harm Monterey Bay wildlife.

The controversial military exercise, known as Urban Warrior, was launched without the beachfront invasion originally planned. Helicopters transported troops from ships offshore to the airport, where they were whisked to exercise sites by bus.

“Everything is on track and going well,” Marine Lt. Col. Jenny Holbert said.

Still, about 100 demonstrators lined Monterey’s main waterfront street Saturday, dancing and banging bongo drums in front of the beach where an amphibious landing first was planned.

Another dozen gathered outside training sites where the Marine Corps had erected two mock villages.

Protesters said they hoped to disrupt the war games, the largest of more than two dozen Urban Warrior exercises held around the country in recent years.

Plans for the $4.5-million experiment originally called for 250 Marines to land at the beach and drive nearly 50 Humvees, 5-ton trucks and light armored vehicles to training sites.

Environmentalists and peace activists opposed the event, saying it would harm fragile bay marine life.

On Thursday, the California Coastal Commission agreed, rejecting Navy-Marine Corps claims that a seaborne assault would not disturb gray whales, snowy plovers and sea otters.