Safe House

[D5CAV]

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/ar ... -the-world

This reminds me of two things I remember from my days in the US Army:

1. "Fixed defenses are monuments to man's stupidity." Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.
2. "Make it too hard for the enemy to get in, and you can't get out." Murphy's Laws of Combat

[AZMARK]

This means they're not going to tell this writer or anyone else but the next owner that the property is equipped with semi-automatic weaponry that can be remotely controlled from the panic room(s). It may not be, but then again, maybe it is.

Bah, for that money I want claymore's and full auto.

from an outside threat that might include an intruder, a natural disaster or even a nuclear, biological or chemical attack.

That's great, if the owner is home at the time. If not, they're suckin' just like everyone else.

[Aglifter]

I don't see anything that's particularly bad -- its expensive, but its in an expensive area, and its a large, seemingly well-appointed house.

[Combat Controller]

I think it's not too terrible, he can live his last days in luxury in case of TEOTWAWKI in LA. He will be competing for resources with 8 million other folks. I bet a mob with enough time could make it in though.

Meh, it's what he sells and it makes a great showroom and cool house. I bet most of us would not say "no" to it. As for long term, put it in the mountains of NM or Idaho and you have a better fortress.

[Aglifter]

My guess is its more geared toward stopping professional kidnapping attempts (People don't nec. have to be that wealthy, in a border state, to tempt a crew from Crapico to make a try.)

Might not hurt to have if its a limited attack just on LA -- always use the helipad to get to the mountain stronghold. (A very wealthy friend of mine once tried to talk me into making arrangements for an emergency helicopter ride out of Houston - I think a fair number of people may have such plans -- I would be more interested if I had a family, etc, and lived in a major city.)

[D5CAV]

I'm sure a "rich man's fortress" like this has value to some, but it doesn't work for me.

A friend in a wealthy PRK enclave proudly showed off his "panic room" to me. Honestly, it gave me the willies. I had a mental image of being trapped in an immobilized tank with disabled weapon system and BGs waiting outside the hatches.

If I was building a "rich man's fortress" it would have a lot of land around it with silent motion alarms & cameras. The land would be chosen for multiple exit routes (many on foot -- I wouldn't want to have helo as the only means of egress). It would also be heavy with people (with guns), and dogs.

Multiple trained people gives the option of turning defense into a maneuver attack, which is particularly effective when utilizing known ground (see the old movie "Zulu" with Michael Caine).

A bit extreme, but another quote from Gen. Patton on the power of mobility & maneuver:

"I don't want to get any messages saying, 'I am holding my position.' We are not holding a Goddamned thing. Let the Germans do that. We are advancing constantly and we are not interested in holding onto anything, except the enemy's balls. We are going to twist his balls and kick the living shit out of him all of the time. Our basic plan of operation is to advance and to keep on advancing regardless of whether we have to go over, under, or through the enemy."

[First Shirt]

I like Rancho Imperfecto better. We have at least two active shooters at any given time, and neighbors who can lay down enfilade fire from two directions.

You can have it, but you have to pay the butcher's bill first.

[Combat Controller]

I think relying on the loyalty of your pilot in SHTF is not always going to be the best strategy. Other times perhaps, but if it goes Tango Uniform he is getting his family out first, using your helicopter more than likely.

[Aglifter]

I had that discussion w. my friend.

[Netpackrat]

I think relying on the loyalty of your pilot in SHTF is not always going to be the best strategy. Other times perhaps, but if it goes Tango Uniform he is getting his family out first, using your helicopter more than likely.

I think you can only rely on your pilot if it is you. Something like a Zenith STOL 701 with the folding wing option could fit into one bay of a garage, and wouldn't require much of a takeoff run. They are pretty limited on carrying capacity, but you weren't going to be bringing much with you on a helicopter ride, either.