EXCLUSIVE TO THE SPOTLIGHT

BY MIKE BLAIR

This is the secret base discovered in Mississippi's DeSoto National Forest. Note camouflaged equipment.

Mississippi civilians have discovered a secret military base, manned
by civilian and U.S. and foreign military personnel, deep within the
DeSoto National Forest in the southeastern part of the state.



After discovery of the secret site, the Mississippian patriots, dressed
in camouflaged clothing and equipped with cameras and videotaping
equipment, were able to penetrate the outer perimeters of the base
and have provided The SPOTLIGHT with numerous photographs and about
45 minutes of video tape.



The base, located within a restricted area of the national forest,
posted with signs designating it as an "endangered species" habitat,
covers a considerable area. Abundant about the base were Russian T-72
main battle tanks, BTR-60 Russian armored personnel carriers, a Scud
surface-to-surface missile battery consisting of several individual
units and missiles, at least one Russian SA-6 Gainful surface-to-air
(SAM) missile launcher with its three missiles elevated and in launch
position and a Russian SA-8 Gecko SAM carrier with its four missiles
in place.

Above, a Scud missile and launch trailer photographed by members of the "Confederate Marines."

ARMED CIVILIANS


The camp at the time seemed to be guarded primarily by "civilian types,"
who carried sidearms in holsters.



A retired U.S. Special Operations officer told The SPOTLIGHT that
the operation sounded to him like some type of "top secret spook [CIA]
operation."



All of the Russian equipment, as described above, was photographed
with both conventional and video cameras by the Mississippians, who
have dubbed themselves the "Confederate Marines." A Pentagon spokesman
told The SPOTLIGHT that he had no information regarding any type of
military operation in Mississippi's DeSoto National Forest.



The obviously top secret operation was discovered by the Mississippians
August 15 when they encountered a long military convoy on a remote
highway in the DeSoto National Forest area. The vehicles were not
only on the road but dispersed in the woods on both sides. The civilians
tried to engage in conversation with troops in the convoy who were
garbed in "foreign, probably Russian" military camouflaged uniforms,
but found they could not speak English.

CONVOY GONE


The Mississippians returned to their homes, got their cameras and
video-taping equipment and returned to the area on August 16. The
convoy and all signs of military activity had disappeared.



They identified the area as being a short distance south of the hamlet
of Bellville on the northern edge of the DeSoto National Forest and
south of Highway 98 and east of New Augusta, Mississippi.



Traveling down the road a short distance, the men discovered a trail
going off into the forest through the posted "endangered species"
restricted area.



Ultimately, they discovered the base and, dressed in camouflaged gear,
they were able to get close enough to take photographs of the area,
including views of large generators, large communications antennas,
mobile homes, a fenced in razor-wired site, large dirt-moving equipment,
two large concrete slab foundations that had recently been poured
and several other staked areas for more concrete slabs. Both military
and civilian vehicles were in the area and government cars arrived
carrying high-ranking Marine, Army and Air Force officers.

A trailer bearing electronics gear beleived to be connected to the operation in the Mississippi national forest area is pictured at Camp Shelby.

The men returned to the area on August 21 and again on August 25,
taking more photographs and videos of the area. They also discovered
another encampment about five miles away, equipped with more communications
antennas and solar panels.



Returning again on August 29 they discovered a Scud missile raised
in launch position on its trailer. They took some photographs but
were seen and after being chased escaped from the area.



The following day they returned and sighted what they described as
a "battery of Scuds," which they photographed.



Back at the area on August 31 they shot still photos and video tape
of one of the Scuds. On their final visit to the area on September
1, they discovered that the Scud missiles and other equipment were
being prepared for removal from the area.



Hiding beneath a truck carrying U.S. military personnel, apparently
there to guard the base, they overheard the men talking about the
equipment. The conversation indicated it was to be moved the next
day and that their operation had caused AT&T to complain that the
operation was "blowing out micro-wave transmissions."

A sign appearing near the Scud missiles inexplicably bears the slogan "Abort Clinton."

In the forest, in the vicinity of the base and missiles, the men were
amused when they found and photographed a sign with American flags
and the wording "Abort Clinton."



The Mississippians visited nearby Camp Shelby, where they discovered
and photographed extensive activity, which they believed was perhaps
connected with the operation in the national forest.



They photographed highly sophisticated communications gear, including
military trucks with dishtype antennas raised high above them. The
federal government remains mum on the subject.

Sophisticated communications antennas are raised above their truck carrier at the Army's nearby Camp Shelby.

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