Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2020 November 15

= November 15 =

US election
Could the army and the police side with Trump if they feel that there was election fraud? What could happen next? 118.71.137.158 (talk) 10:30, 15 November 2020 (UTC)
 * Yes, and the sun could rise in the west tomorrow. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 16:39, 15 November 2020 (UTC)
 * What happens next is fairly obvious. See coup d'etat. Also, we do not answer requests for speculation here.--WaltCip- (talk)  16:50, 15 November 2020 (UTC)
 * Right. A question that starts with "could" is almost always answerable as "yes", but it would depend on future events, just like a question starting with "will" does. Hence such a question is not appropriate here. ←Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots→ 20:12, 15 November 2020 (UTC)
 * Armies don't feel. Generals or colonels might. --Lambiam 20:18, 15 November 2020 (UTC)
 * The New York Jets could win the 2021 Superbowl too. In fact, that's probably more likely. Clarityfiend (talk) 06:20, 16 November 2020 (UTC)
 * Can you quantify the likelihoods of the respective events? If not, do you have a basis for this comparison, or is it merely wishful thinking or your gut feeling? --Lambiam 11:41, 16 November 2020 (UTC)

Police equipment
What backpack with a hose did this policeman in the middle carry? To me, it looks like a compressed air container, possibly for rubber bullets. Thanks. 212.180.235.46 (talk) 13:01, 15 November 2020 (UTC)


 * My guess is it is to be used for spraying water doped with CR gas (or a similar irritant) used for crowd dispersal (and as a punishment for peaceful protesters, even though that is not officially allowed). --Lambiam 20:15, 15 November 2020 (UTC)


 * You're familiar with what is officially allowed in Poland? --174.95.161.129 (talk) 23:38, 15 November 2020 (UTC)


 * I am not, but note that a TV reporter for the network of the news report the image is from is cited there as stating: "The police have long weapons and gas." I do know that the Turkish police doped their water cannons with CR gas during the Gezi Park protests, even though there was no legal basis authorizing this. --Lambiam 11:34, 16 November 2020 (UTC)