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....

[drpix]

"Even in America, civil order is more fragile than we think."

I saw hours of Asian Tsunami video from various 3rd world countries where what is called poverty in America would be seen as paradise. I saw no looting, no rape, no murders, no rioting, no shooting at emergengy personnel or any of the depraved responses to the disaster that too many in New Orlean are showing the world.

From Thailand to Indonesia to Sri Lanka, every video showed the impoveraged third worlders survivors of their disaster immediatedly rising to the assistance of their neigbors and total strangers.

Yes, many in N.O. have tried to help but why am I seeing so many more able bodied survivors either further victimizing each other or doing nothing to help? Surely others have noticed this same difference!

What has gone wrong with so many Americans?

[hoboken109]

I have a feeling that at a different time in this country much of this wouldnt be happining.Men were noble at one time . They would have banded together to help the helpless and survive . Seems in NO they band together to break into stores for TVs. A disgusting comment on what out decaying US culture has become. Selfish animals .

[hoboken109]

I agree with you .The US urban centers have become centers of street mentality , crime and all for me behaviour. I teach in an urban dostrict . Even the "nice" kids all have the mentality thats it's OK to steal if you dont get caugh and see nothing at all wrong with that . SAD

[drpix]

I saw your post seconds after mine. We have noticed the same sad development in much of America. We can only hope that the elite leadership of this country - political, media, educational, etc.) notice and address it before it's too late.

[theBuckwheat]

We don't see incidents of predation outside of New Orleans that approach the levels seen inside. Maybe the truth is too politically incorrect to say plainly. Could it be when you take an inner city that has for several generations come to depend on government, and you remove government, tell people it is everyone for themselves, and then put them in the ultimate Survivor Island: the superdome, why should anyone be surprised that we see "third world" conditions??

Libs see classes based on prosperity. In truth, it is the mental outlook on life that constrains or advances prosperity.

Conditions inside the Superdome are "third world" because people with a "third world" mentality have been forced there by circumstances. And this mentality is so destructive that rescue personnel have at times had to flee because of threats to their own safety by the very "class" (to use a liberal term) of people they are trying to help.

[Inwoodian]

The people must be serviced. Of course they're raping children. They're hungry. Of course they're shooting at buses and rescue helicopters. Only the white man has these things. What the people need is a submarine. Yeah, that's it. A submarine so they can stay dry when they loot.

[KenmcG414]

New Orleans, USA.....looks more like Somalia...the 2nd episode of Black Hawk down....wonder why????

[SunnySide]

Yes, many in N.O. have tried to help but why am I seeing so many more able bodied survivors either further victimizing each other or doing nothing to help? Surely others have noticed this same difference!

What has gone wrong with so many Americans?


.......

Drug addiction on a massive scale. America never saw it in it's collosal raw stage now ocurring in the disaster areas because the drug addicted only came out in the darkness of night. Now they've been all flushed out of the dark like cock roaches or a floating ball of fire ants desperately seeking any way to secure their next drug fix. There are no noble young men because there is nothing noble about drug addiction.

[hoboken109]

I dont see any political leadership in this country .I see only professional actors , blow hard lip service men , and self absorbed rich kids. Where are the statesmen ? I'm talking Dems and Republicans.here .

[nonliberal]

Great post.

[drpix]

Look back on the videos from the recent Asian Tsunami. Even the "third world" did not respond to their disaster with such depravity. (See my post #81.) The physical conditions in N.O. may have descended to the level of the "third world", but too many there have shown their character and morality and to be at a level FAR below those in the "third world".

[Paraclete]

The sobering truth: whether Iraq or the USA, some semblance of civilization or total anarchy can lie in the hands of a few hoodlums.

Of course, the liberals will say this wouldn't happen if we banned guns. But we all know, those few hoodlums will always have their guns.

[nonliberal]

Yes but Prison Camps Where? What city and state?

Abu Grahib.

[hoboken109]

You got that right my friend but Gof forbid anyone in the MSM ever said the truth like you .They would be fired on the spot. Just look at who is doing the looting and raping ..Look close ..there is your answer why this is happining. I live in n urban area .I could have told you this would happen before hand. I know the street mentality of a big city these days . The gangsta way of thinking and acting. Same thing would happen in a hundred other US cities. The days of the gentlemen and noble hero is long gone.

[hedgetrimmer]

You forgot.

Citizens dropped the ball.

They don't teach children their civic duty anymore or how our government cannot work if the people are not self reliant and self governing.

They don't practice civil defense anymore, they let the state and feds take away their civil defense network and shut all the community shelters and sell off their civil defense supplies.

They elect corrupt and incompent politicians who loot the public treasury and do not maintain the infrastructure of the United States

They do not take responsibility for their own self government and whenever they get a chance to vote themselves money out of the public treasure in the form of socialist programs they do.

The do not follow the American creed of looking out for your neighbor, so he will look after you in your time of need. This includes protecting your neighbors property rights, protecting him from taxation and helping him to become a self reliant contributing citizen, instead pretending a socialist welfare system will fix everything.

[drpix]

"Yes but Prison Camps Where?"

Good question. Anyone remember the chaos in the 70s when Carter put those from the Mariel Cuban exodus into military camps in Penn. & Arkansas. If I remember right those "refugees" included many criminals also that weren't separated from the general population. The results were riots and escapes.

I hope this time, someone is weeding out the criminal element. And I hope they find a more harsher detention for them. Anyone know if any of the decommissioned military bases are in the Alaskan wilderness?

[Mike Darancette]

Yes but Prison Camps Where? What city and state?

Any school, stadium, arena or large enclosed area surrounded by armed aggressive troops will do.

[OESY]

How true. Did anyone catch the University of Colorado professor on PBS last night discounting the first-hand accounts of violence as exaggerated? Although she has not visited the disaster site, she made a dumb claim based on her research that shows that civil disorder in America is exceedingly rare and diminishing. You can lead the old mare to water, but....

Meanwhile, it would be interesting to have one of those famous polls survey how many New Orleans survivors heard the news that there was a mandatory evacuation. Probably not many. As the media points fingers, do they not responsibility as the prime link in the (civil defense) dissemination chain?

Also, as corporations put up millions for relief, why haven't we heard of media outlets contributing money? Why are they special, above it all? For instance, O'Reilly thinks oil companies should cutback their profits by 20%. How about Bill "The Mouth That Roared" O'Reilly contributing 20% of his gross, just as a worthy example?

[hoboken109]

Well said buddy ..right on the mark .

[drpix]

Great points! It's time the finger-pointers are themselves held accountable.