Why is the US Military not showing force in NO?

[brian_riendeau]

Am I missing something here? Obviously they are not going to be rolling tanks down the street, however why let such chaos remain in <20 feet of water?

This is really starting to get personal as a mutual friend of mine works at the hospital that was trying to evac all of the babies :disgust:

 

[AdamSnow]

There's a reason that I'm not in charge down there...

Anyone with a gun or causing trouble would be shot.

 

[Ryan]

Talked to my mother yesterday (she's in the air force) - looks like some large parts of the military are on call to possibly be deployed to the southeast to help with recovery efforts....

Personally, I think some real military personel need to be airlifted into the superdome, at least a thousand, fully armed to get the situation under control.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Just looking online and on TV whatever plan they had to help the people is not working and they need to improve on it faster...

 

[brian_riendeau]

Anyone with a gun or causing trouble would be shot.

This would work to the advantage of everyone. Worthless hooligans would be eliminated and people in need would be helped. I am shocked such a policy has not already been implemented.

 

[GeneValgene]

from CNN:

"New Orleans hospital halts patient evacuations after coming under sniper fire, a doctor who witnessed the incident says. More soon."

wtf

 

[halik]

theyre all in iraq?
<- runs away

 

[Queasy]

Link

The military is increasing the National Guard force on the storm-ravaged Gulf coast to 30,000 and 3,000 regular Army soldiers may be sent to help end lawlessness in New Orleans, officials said on Thursday.

The moves would bring to nearly 50,000 the number of part-time Guard and active-duty military personnel committed to the biggest domestic relief effort in U.S. history after Monday's onslaught by killer Hurricane Katrina.

The Navy said it was sending the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman to join an armada of vessels off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The Air Force said it was adding a high-flying U-2 spy plane to the relief effort to take pictures to help relief efforts at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Army has put on alert roughly 3,000 active-duty ground troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to be prepared to deploy to New Orleans to help bring security to the flooded city amid looting and lawlessness, said an Army official, who asked not to be named.

The brigade-sized force, likely to be from the 82nd Airborne Division, would engage in crowd control and site-protection activities, the official said.

 

[yllus]

Who the hell snipes at a hospital in a natural disaster situation? Weirdness.

~20000 National Guard soldiers are being deployed into the area, but I don't think you guys really want to see the city turn into one giant bloodbath. Better to grit your teeth and put up with some thievery and put minimal amounts of forces where they're needed to protect endangered lives, no more.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: halik
theyre all in iraq?
<- runs away

There are over 20,000 National Guard guys/gals there already...take your crap to P&N.

 

[Darkstar757]

The military is strected too thin!

 

[djheater]

Politicians are understandably reluctant to use the military against their constituents.
It would create the perception of martial law, which would not be good.

" I'm forming a cadre of Martian Knights, charged with enforcing Martian law!"

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: yllus
~20000 National Guard soldiers are being deployed into the area, but I don't think you guys really want to see the city turn into one giant bloodbath.

I don't think it would become a bloodbath...make an example out of a few people and things will quiet down.

 

[batmanuel]

Originally posted by: yllus
Who the hell snipes at a hospital in a natural disaster situation? Weirdness.

Someone too ignorant to not have gotten the hell out of town on Sunday.

 

[TheNinja]

B/c you have so many bleeding heart liberals that would try to sue the government that they simply cannot use force. Not too mention the fact that if 1 US soldier shot a civilian, the media would have a feeding frenzy about how Bush and the government is declaring war on it's own people. It's sad but true.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: yllus
~20000 National Guard soldiers are being deployed into the area, but I don't think you guys really want to see the city turn into one giant bloodbath.

I don't think it would become a bloodbath...make an example out of a few people and things will quiet down.

With racial sentiment already bubbling close to the surface, they might have to pick their examples rather carefully. Besides, the threat of being shot on sight isn't going to stop these people until the soldier is fifteen feet away and pointing his rifle at their head.

In a perfect world, of course, I'd say shoot 'em all.

 

[brian_riendeau]

Planning to send in troops, and having more troops "in the area" does not help. I would prefer if they went in and shot up some unlawful people to clear the path and get the point across. Once a few people die, others will back down. This has been going on for multiple days now, it is completely unacceptable that private citizens are having their way in preventing recovery efforts in a disaster area.

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: djheater
Politicians are understandably reluctant to use the military against their constituents.
It would create the perception of martial law, which would not be good.

i agree with the first sentence

martial law is already in effect

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050830/sc_afp/usweatherneworleans_050830162048

"martial law was imposed in two areas, Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish"

 

[new2AMD]

Why does everyone forget that our military cant spring into action while being deployed in Afghanistan (remember that war?) and Iraq.

 

[CocoGdog]

Originally posted by: batmanuel

Originally posted by: yllus
Who the hell snipes at a hospital in a natural disaster situation? Weirdness.

Someone too ignorant to not have gotten the hell out of town on Sunday.

What would you do - if you're poor and have no transportation and accomodation. ie, take the bus everywhere, money for hotels, friends/family to go to? NO was very big crime area before disaster hit, not very wealthy area to boot. People who were rich/middle class law abiding probably headed north.

 

[Analog]

Posse Comitatus Act

It generally prohibits Federal military personnel and units of the United States National Guard under Federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress. The original act only referred to the Army, but the Air Force was added in 1956 and the Navy and Marine Corps have been included by a regulation of the Department of Defense. This law is mentioned whenever it appears that the Department of Defense is interfering in domestic disturbances.

There are a number of exceptions to the act. These include:

* National Guard units while under the authority of the governor of a state;
* Troops when used pursuant to the Federal authority to quell domestic violence as was the case during the 1992 Los Angeles riots;
* The President of the United States can waive this law in an emergency;


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: new2AMD
Why does everyone forget that our military cant spring into action while being deployed in Afghanistan (remember that war?) and Iraq.

Looks like someone forgot to read the thread before posting...seems to be a trend lately..

 

[sixone]

Originally posted by: yllus

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: yllus
~20000 National Guard soldiers are being deployed into the area, but I don't think you guys really want to see the city turn into one giant bloodbath.

I don't think it would become a bloodbath...make an example out of a few people and things will quiet down.

With racial sentiment already bubbling close to the surface, they might have to pick their examples rather carefully. Besides, the threat of being shot on sight isn't going to stop these people until the soldier is fifteen feet away and pointing his rifle at their head.

In a perfect world, of course, I'd say shoot 'em all.

All we need is video of three or four black people getting shot in the south. You know Al-Jazeera would run that tape on an endless loop for the next week and a half.

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: CocoGdog

Originally posted by: batmanuel

Originally posted by: yllus
Who the hell snipes at a hospital in a natural disaster situation? Weirdness.

Someone too ignorant to not have gotten the hell out of town on Sunday.

What would you do - if you're poor and have no transportation and accomodation. ie, take the bus everywhere, money for hotels, friends/family to go to? NO was very big crime area before disaster hit, not very wealthy area to boot. People who were rich/middle class law abiding probably headed north.

First off, I wouldn't shoot at a hospital...

 

[new2AMD]

Originally posted by: CadetLee

Originally posted by: new2AMD
Why does everyone forget that our military cant spring into action while being deployed in Afghanistan (remember that war?) and Iraq.

Looks like someone forgot to read the thread before posting...seems to be a trend lately..

I read it. Just cuz you dont like someone pointing it out doesnt mean you own the thread.