"They have M-16s and they are locked and loaded"

[RummyTheDummy]

So says La. Gov. Kathleen Blanco. Apparently they're bringing in Arkansas National Guardsman fresh from Iraq. So I guess they're about to start the shooting eh?

[Not_Giving_Up]

1. MPs....

Did you hear it..."End the reign of terror"....that's what they said.

[NYC Liberal]

2. Can't wait to hear the scanner activity once this starts going

Should be fun </sarcasm!>

[HR_Pufnstuf]

26. NOLA scanner link

http://www.saskatoonscanner.com/

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. No this should have happened right after

look the reason you have troops on the ground in EVERY disaster is to avoid what already has happened. Right now they need a brigade in NOLO alone, to control the city, with MPs.

I hate to see armed troops, but guess what, they need the troops.

If you have no security, you have no rescue, and I am talking as an emergency worker who had been there done that, so what are your credentials or are you pissed because they need armed troops?

[RummyTheDummy]

7. Ease off pal

What are your credentials?

The point isn't whether or not bringing in forces to secure the area is a good idea. The point is bringing in trigger happy troops fresh from Iraq is yet another bad idea in a week full of bad ideas.

We'll see how this little rodeo looks with video of US troops shooting US citizens on the streets of New Orleans.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. My credentials I have worked plenty of disasters

and army troops, MPs are standard.

Look trigger happy troops are a problem but the troops sent are MPS, you are missing that part.

Oh and for the record I do expect some fire fights, or did you miss citizns shooting at Charity Hospital and at Acadia Ambulance Personnel? You are the one missing it, there will be some people killed... but we have shootings already. To the point that resuce has had to halt a couple times...

[RummyTheDummy]

10. It's nice to see you're so comfortable with it

So business like in your tone. I for one won't ever feel comfortable with US troops shooting US citizens because it won't just be those who you speak of that get shot, and you know it. How long before they fire into an unarmed crowd mobbing a truck carrying supplies? It's not just serial looters and trouble makers I'm talking about. I'm talking about shooting people who are trying to survive. It will happen. Bank on it.

And incidentally, unless you've worked a disaster on this scale (unlikely) I'd argue that your "credentials" don't completely apply here.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. so you have no problem with people shjooting at Acadia

ambulance personnel or Charity Hospital.

Oh and yes I am very business like when it comes to disastesr, been in enough of them working them to know that feelings get in the way of triage and playing god. I get to cry after the fact, well after the fact, in fact tonight I might have a nice flahsback or two.

That said, I am not comfortable with troops shooting anyone, but I also realize that there is enough violence in the area that this is PREVENTING rescue... so how many people do yuo want to die if the anarchy is to continue? Answer please that question? They need to REGAIN CONTROL... you don't feel compfortable, well aparently you are ok with Ambulance personnel being shot at. I am not. Nothing personal but I have been the one under fire... trust me, I knew the risks and chose to take them when I went in, Acadeia Personnel did NOT, I repeat DID NOT sign up for that.

[RummyTheDummy]

15. Again, you fail to get the point

It won't just be those people who get shot. It will be anybody the military believes is a threat. They will draw no distinction from thugs with rifles shooting at ambulance drivers and those who surge to a supply truck trying to get food and water.

It amazes me you can't see just how quickly that could get out of hand and make a bad situation worse. It won't be neat and tidy, shoot the bad guys, protect the innocents.Black and white. Cut and dry. It never is.

[puddycat]

19. you don't mind the looters getting out of hand, though. Interesting.

You are very afraid that our trained military will get out of hand, yet clearly the looters are completely out of hand, and firing their guns at the police trying to stop them. This you think is behavior that is tolerable and the anarchy should continue. What planet are you from?

[RummyTheDummy]

34. Yeah, shooting people, whoever gets i the way, will make it all better

N'kay.

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. No it won't be tidy

that is why they needed those troops from zero hour

That said, until thy reestablish control they can't do nothing

You have no problem with looters aparently...

And yes you are failing to see what the problem is here.

[RummyTheDummy]

24. Where did I say I have no problem with looters?

Where in the fuck did I say that anywhere in the post? Get your fucking eyes checked. And while you're at it, sounds like you could use some counseling.

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. Really?

Look you are having a problem because not everybody agrees with you... by the way re read what you have written.

Oh and pal do me a favor, realize disasters are never tidy... and the longer it takes to take the necessary steps the more untidy they are...

[RummyTheDummy]

32. Again, where did I say that?

I've re-read it. I don't see anywhere that I said they shouldn't deal with those who are shooting at rescue workers. Get back to me when you find where I said that. I have a feeling I'll be waiting awhile, oh wise one.

[fooj]

16. This afternoon a doctor from one of the hospitals in NO

was on audio on a cable news channel. He said that there was no shooting at the hospital and that it was a rumor. He was angry. He said helicopters were supposed to come all day and pick up the critical patients and no one showed up. Waited all day for a helicopter. No one shooting at the hospital. How much sense does this make?

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. And the head of the hosptial said there was

a sniper and that stoped us, also the head of Acadia ambulance said such...

It happened... now the person who did it is either sick or desperate, I will give you your choice, but it happened.

There has been quite a bit of violence already, again expected in disaster situations and why you usually see ARMED troops move in at the first oportunity, not 100+ hours later... but that is a matter for discusion for another day, or thread

[fooj]

29. Isn't there more than one hospital in NO?

Peace.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. Yes, and I said Charity Hosptial who said we were shot at

and Acadia Ambulance is the largest EMS provider in the area

[fooj]

31. This shows that there are at least two.

<http://neworleans.craigslist.org/laf/94953806.html >

DYING @ UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
Reply to: [e-mail]
Date: 2005-09-02, 2:18AM CDT


1200+ patients and staff are stranded at University Hospital on Perdido and Gravier less than half a mile away from Charity Hospital. Patients are dying without proper medical supplies and mothers are giving birth in the hallways. All efforts to get relief to them by contacting government officials has failed. They watch as boats bypass them to rescue people at Charity Hospital. Although the first floor is flooded, patients may be evacuated through a second floor window. PLEASE, they need help! MANY MORE PATIENTS WILL DIE IF HELP IS NOT SENT IMMEDIATELY!


Peace.

[puddycat]

17. you'd rather people continue to die because rescuers can't get through?

I keep posting this in the hopes it will sink into some of your brains. This is anarchy. Its not normal. Its anarchy. Looters aren't just thirsty people looking for Dasani bottles:

11:29 P.M. - (AP): Col. Henry Whitehorn, chief of the Louisiana State Police, said he heard of numerous instances of New Orleans police officers - many of whom from flooded areas - turning in their badges.

"They indicated that they had lost everything and didn't feel that it was worth them going back to take fire from looters and losing their lives," Whitehorn said.

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html

Police are resigning their jobs because they are sick of being fired upon freely by the looters which some of you defend so vehemently as simply tired guys wanting a snack. They are criminals. Some of you people must be extremely thick-headed. The sound you hear is me gnashing my teeth in frustration.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. Oh my lord

thuis is not good at many other levels

[LisaL]

4. They are bringing them from Iraq cause they are not

sure National Guard that haven't been to Iraq will shoot americans?

[aquart]

5. Don't forget the Blackwater guys, too.

Sounds like tomorrow is going to be a dangerous day.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Now blackwater scares me

but for other resons

[wli]

8. It smells bad to me. It smells like death squads.

I really hope I'm wrong.

[Beam Me Up]

20. This is the same problem I'm having. THIS SITUATION WAS AVOIDABLE BUT

IT WAS NOT AVOIDED.

WHY?

Other than hearing about a few random firings of guns -- which could be signaling -- what is meant by "get the situation under control." What I see are people who for the most part have kept THEMSELVES under control without ANY help from ANYONE.

So now get these people "under control" at the point of a gun.

Ain't America GRAND, folks?

[KT2000]

12. The problem with such talk

is that the people in the streets can't hear it. It is only for the "benefit" of the viewers.

[Warren DeMontague]

13. They should have been here to begin with

Not in Iraq. This situation should have never been allowed to get so out of control. That's what the National Guard is FOR!

[Justitia]

14. Don't like the sound of that. In her defense, I think she is exhausted

and she is getting a serious ass-kicking in the media over "violent looters" and "lawlessness".

The armed tank in the streets really unnerved me.
Shades of Kent State.

[wli]

22. I have a bad feeling Bushler will dwarf Tianenmen Square. n/t

[RummyTheDummy]

25. Well we have one poster (see above)

Who seems to think that's all fine and dandy. Amazing. Right here on DU.

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Yes amazing, been there done that

in disasters no less, and troops, ARMED TROOPS are part of the equation.

[RummyTheDummy]

33. You've been through something like this?

And I'm the King of Spain.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. Not like this disaster but worked disasters so have yuo

I mean yuo know all about disaster planing and all that... your highness