WSJ: The Battle of New Orleans - Even in America, civil order is more fragile than we think.

Wall Street Journal ^ | September 2, 2005 | Editorial

[OESY]

...Of all the bad news from New Orleans, the most disturbing has been the reports of spreading disorder, with looting, marauding gangs and even sniper fire at helicopters and rescue workers. Americans sometimes expect their government to do far too much....

One reason for the New Orleans breakdown is the size of the calamity, whose growing severity caught nearly everyone by surprise. Louisiana National Guard troops that were deployed initially for rescue and relief efforts weren't available for the more basic duties of public security. The Federal Emergency Management Agency is also geared to providing relief, not order, and only yesterday did the federal government begin to focus on the potential anarchy. Among our political leaders, only Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour seemed to appreciate the genuine risk of disorder, with his early warnings that looters would not be given the benefit of the doubt.

By the way, the allegation that enough National Guard troops aren't available because many are deployed in Iraq doesn't hold up under scrutiny. The Louisiana Guard has something like 3,500 men and women deployed in Iraq, but that leaves another 8,000 or so troops available for post-Katrina duty, and neighboring states undamaged by the hurricane have still others who could be called upon. All told, the Pentagon now estimates that 30,000 National Guard troops will be deployed along the Gulf coast, and another 3,000 regular Army soldiers to pursue the armed gangs on the loose. Our advice is: Do whatever it takes.

One frequent reaction...: New Orleans is typical of Third World countries, something that was thought could never happen in America. This happens to overlook a fair chunk of U.S. history... including riots and violence. But it is also a sign of complacency born of prosperity and the resilience of our legal and civic institutions....

[silverleaf]

All citizens caught shooting at relief helpers or raping or battering other disaster survivors need to be immediately rounded up and put in "PRISON CAMPS". They are the equivelant of war time enemy combatants and should now be treated and arrested as such for obstructing search, rescue and relief efforts.

We can't even treat wartime combatants as wartime combatants unless their ACLU lawyer loses their appeal in Federal District Court. Internment camps for the lawless are what is needed but it's not going to happen. Today all the media spin is that the delay in providing relief produced this lawlessness. No willinglness to oepnly admit that the liberal society has nurtured a defectively sociopathic dependent underclass where the best of the able bodied sit on a highway and wait for someone to come get them instead of walking away from the flood, and the worst prey on the weak and feel justified for doing so.

[ElTianti]

Sadly, the only thing you can really count upon is yourself and your loved ones.

Government cannot protect you.
Police cannot protect you.

Your personal firearms can protect you.

[SeaBiscuit]

"NIGHTMARE OF ROBBERY, FILTH, DEATH & RAPE IN SUPERDOME"

That was a headline in the NY Post.

The headline could have read; "NIGHTMARE OF ROBBERY, FILTH, DEATH & RAPE IN NEW ORLEANS", or "NIGHTMARE OF ROBBERY, FILTH, DEATH & RAPE IN DETROIT" etc., but then no one would have paid attention.

This is all magnified because it happened all under one roof and Katrina has our attention. But this behavior is typical of NOLA and many inner cities on a daily basis. The gangstas, thugs, druggies, and general riff raff of many inner city denizens flocked into the SuperBowl and turned it into a ghetto overnight. What's new?

[stm]

My gun cabinet stands ready at an instant's notice...

[takbodan]

Start with Martha's Vineyard.

[shezza]

Civil order is more fragile than most think and when it fails, the unarmed will be subject to the tender mercies of the worst of us.

The wisdom of our Founding Fathers reveals itself again. The 2nd amendment is one of the strongest pillars of our liberty.

B-U-M-P!

[SMARTY]

You're right! When you have a needle in your arm called 'the Government' then you cannot function without your fix. Liberal social policies created the monster and Liberals will be first and loudest in criticizing the Government in it's failure to deliver yet more to them in this emergency and more quickly than circumstances will permit. Living like this with no sense of how to look after yourself and going on in this childlike delusion that 'some one else' will look after me and my needs is a dangerous and precarious place to put yourself. In all the photos I see of people sitting around (able-bodied young people) surrounded by trash and debris, I did not see one person bend over to pick up the trash or move anything out of the way. What??? Just sit there on a heap of rubble and wait for 'someone else' to take you away and clean it up so you can return later??? They need to get off their a^%$s and clean up their city instead of standing around like that.

[ElTianti]

I'm jealous!

[SuziQ]

I heard that 8 looters were shot and killed in Metairie overnight.

[stopem]

Now there's an idea and a darn good one ;)

Anyone notice that none of the dem libs are offering to help or to house these people???

[Gunflint]

Yes, but the sniping, and violent rapes, and crack usage, are exaggerated. If you think about it, everybody resorts to homicide, rape, and narcotics in crises.

[takbodan]

"Maybe imprisoned for battery, but otherwise I disagree. Three hots and a cot for shooting and rape? Nope. They should be summarily shot."

There are too many dead already. Chain gang them and make them clean the Superdome abominations with a toothbrush.

[holyscroller]

"Yes, they should be in prison camps. How about Gitmo?"

They'd all come out Muslim, if they aren't already.

[redgolum]

Talking with my father last night, he brought up a good point.

If gas get scarcer, and supply lines fail, how long till what we are seeing in NO becomes every town USA?

Answer, 24 hours.

[THEUPMAN]

Chain gang them and make them clean the Superdome abominations with a toothbrush


Finnaly someone with some productive ideas.

[SuziQ]

I saw that man on TV this morning. The fact that he was there with his wife and child said a LOT. I feel so bad for him and all the DECENT people who were caught up in this.

Some are blaming the people who didn't get out of town in time. The fact is, some of those people didn't have anywhere else to go, the money to pay for a place if they did evacuate, or the means to get out of town. Just because they were stuck doesn't mean they should be vulnerable to thugs who prey on the weak.

I'm glad the NGs are coming to town. I want to see those thugs smacked down HARD!

[SuziQ]

Chain gang them and make them clean the Superdome abominations with a toothbrush.

The Superdome and then the entire city!

[mlc9852]

Yeah, you're right. And in a crisis you must have a big screen TV, even if you won't have electricity for six months or even a home.

[Smokin' Joe]

But then the usual suspects would raise unholy hell about "cruel and unusual punishment". (ACLU, etc.) Even the idea of chains would set some groups off. Better to shoot them and get it over with.

[rit]

Katrina hit more than just NOLs, but all the problems center on NOL. The utter lack of communication and leadership, in my opinion, is what is fueling the descent of society there. The mayor and the governor failed their people.