WHERE IS BUSH?!

[Free Range Lobster]

Do we suspend rescue flights for our troops when they're being shot at in Iraq?

Evac points are secured in hostile areas before they land.
They don't just fly in and get aircraft shot down.

And yes, I've donated and offered to go down to help with SAR work if/when necessary.

[grrrr]

Do you know what Martial Law means?

No?

Do you know that martial law is not allowed under Louisiana State Law, and that they already thought of that? No? Go look it up and then come back.

[Free Range Lobster]

They have guns, why cant they use them?

Because they haven't been authorized to do so.

See Mogadishu.

[teleee]

I am in complete agreement that the government should be doing WAY WAY more than they are but at the same time consider this;

"I am absolutely disgusted. After the tsunami our people, even the ones who lost everything, wanted to help the others who were suffering," said Sajeewa Chinthaka, 36, as he watched a cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

"Not a single tourist caught in the tsunami was mugged. Now with all this happening in the U.S. we can easily see where the civilized part of the world's population is."

Our country as a whole has a sickness that cant just be pawned off on Bush or anybody else. Why is the answer to get a gun and start looting and rioting as soon as things go to hell? Third world countries are exposed to this kind of suffering every day and their citizens have the common sense to cooperate and help each other out. Sometimes I am very ashamed to be a citizen of this country.

[bklyn]

I took a minute to "look it up", because sometimes we think we know... but should check before opening our mouths. I'm interested to know if LA law does not allow it. Also - we still are facing one fact - right now our country is very vunerable. Where is all this homeland security money going? Pork Projects? Corporate cronies?

Oh yeah - I like my burrito with extra guac on the side.

http://civilliberty.about.com/b/a/198081.htm

August 30, 2005
Martial Law in New Orleans
It has been widely reported that state officials have declared martial law in New Orleans, as the emergency there worsens. However, I recently confirmed with the Governor's office of the State of Louisiana that Governor Kathleen Blanco has not declared martial law.

It would appear that local officials have misused the term, though I have not been able to find the source of the statement. This quickly filtered through the media. (It is more likely that local officials declared a curfew, which gives police probable cause to stop anyone for any reason.)

Just what is martial law, and what are the implications to civil liberties?

Martial law means a military authority has taken control of the normal administration of justice. Martial law may be used in times of emergency, when the traditional infrastructure (police, fire, etc.) are incapable of meeting the demands of the crisis.

Martial law is also used by totalitarian regimes on a more permanent basis for the enforcement of their rule. It is this form of martial law, where military tribunals replace civilian courts, that the civil libertarian is most concerned with.

The extent that martial law is imposed varies from nation to nation. In the United States, the 1866 Supreme Court ruling in Ex Parte Milligan limited martial law. This ruling bars the use of military tribunals on civilians, and that habeas corpus may only be temporarily suspended if civilian courts are forced closed. And even then, citizens may only be held without charges, and not tried.

Anytime we come under martial law, it is a concern - for one thing, military personnel are trained more for battle and not for law enforcement, and as such the potential for abuse or poor judgment is very real. (Thoughts of Kent State come to mind)....

[Free Range Lobster]

Liberal bullshit.

You shoot, you get shot.

[bad_roo]

Do you know what Martial Law means?

No?

Go look it up then come back.

He looks a bit fat.

[Free Range Lobster]

easy target.

[dbp]

Our country as a whole has a sickness that cant just be pawned off on Bush or anybody else. Why is the answer to get a gun and start looting and rioting as soon as things go to hell? Third world countries are exposed to this kind of suffering every day and their citizens have the common sense to cooperate and help each other out. Sometimes I am very ashamed to be a citizen of this country.

Not everyone in this country is a thug. I try very hard to believe that cooperation and compassion of individuals will help overcome the thugs and the incompetence in our leadership.

[mtbakerskier]

Because they haven't been authorized to do so.

See Mogadishu.

Why the fuck not? You would think that would be an easy decision even for our incompetent comander in cheif.

All this talk of being ready for a terrorist attack is a fucking joke. How the hell are we going to respond if we where attacked, if we cant even git our shit together for a huricane and flood? It's not like china's invading.

Fuck u BUSH I hope you pay for this.

[Blurred]

My point is who gives a goddamn fuck where Bush is?

Because there's a fucking natural disaster worse than anything we've ever experienced in US History, and our "chief" is MIA at a baseball game. We hired him to do a job, and he doesn't give a fuck.

You're all so tied up in the politics of this that you're ignoring the fact that innocent people are being shot.

innocent people are being shot because they feel hopeless, helpless, destitute and are frankly very pissed off that the government isn't helping them, and have taken your "who gives a fuck attitude".

You all need to shut the fuck up, go back to school, go back to work, or fucking HELP somehow.

I'd go down there and spend my labor day weekend pulling people out of their houses if the stupid fucking government wouldn't turn me away, but they ARE, and that's what pisses me off the most. It's the whole mentality of the government-"If we let civilians help us, it will make our military/government look incompetent and weak, and we can't have that so.....all those poor niggers can die....fuck'em"

[Mcwop]

Why the fuck not? You would think that would be an easy decision even for our incompetent comander in cheif.

All this talk of being ready for a terrorist attack is a fucking joke. How the hell are we going to respond if we where attacked, if we cant even git our shit together for a huricane and flood? It's not like china's invading.

Fuck u BUSH I hope you pay for this.

I can only imagine the outcry if an innocent black person gets shot by a guards person.

Shooting back is not a good idea.

You do make the important point that we are ill prepared for a serious crisis.

[bagtagley]

On the news last night they said that x number of guard and army personnel were being sent to NO this morning w/ "shoot to kill" orders.

[Free Range Lobster]

1000 die to save 29,000 or 30,000 die.

make a choice.

[robokill1981]

Good satellite image. I'm assuming all the darker areas are underwater.

http://hosted.ap.org/specials/intera...ite/index.html

[watersnowdirt]

I completely agree with Blurred for once. This is simply astonishing what's happening.

I can't get over what's going on. I know we can give money. What else can we do? Is there more? Send food/clothing/medicine? How do we help?????

I just need to know what to do. It just doesn't feel right to be sitting here in my nice comfortable warm house, with computer, phone, fresh water and food, and not be doing more.

I'm pissed at those who fucked up the relief efforts, but now I need to know how I can help since they're blowing it.

What do we do?

[Evil E]

I just saw the most maddening thing on CNN... Bush talking about getting the job done, "its a big job" he said "but we're going to do it."

He was saying this in a fucking hangar with 3 or more shiny red helicopters just sitting on the ground with a bunch of rescue personel by his side.

Shut the fuck up, get the birds in the air and let these people do their job! I You are a shitty president. You just proved it by your totally unecessary staged media interview. Any real leader who actually cared about his people would tell the press that youre Too Busy "saving people" to polish the helicopters and talk to the press.

GO fuck yourself president douchebag.

[snowsprite]

I'm thinking the "locked and ready" military are going to shoot people who are walking around with guns, and I support that. Perhaps those folks will be lucky enough to have the sense to dump their guns when they see military walking around armed. If they do not discard their weapons they will get what they have coming to them IMO. It's time to get control no matter what. Then maybe the famlies who are holed up terrified in their homes can come out and get to safety.

That is an aweseome picture of the woman holding the baby. Thanks for a glimpse of some compassion and beauty amidst this horror show.

Sprite

[altagirl]

I completely agree with Blurred for once. This is simply astonishing what's happening.

I can't get over what's going on. I know we can give money. What else can we do? Is there more? Send food/clothing/medicine? How do we help?????

I just need to know what to do. It just doesn't feel right to be sitting here in my nice comfortable warm house, with computer, phone, fresh water and food, and not be doing more.

I'm pissed at those who fucked up the relief efforts, but now I need to know how I can help since they're blowing it.

What do we do?

On the news last night they were saying you can call and register as a volunteer or give money. That's pretty much it. They don't want people donating goods because it's not set up yet, and they don't know how to use the volunteers yet so all you can do is give them your contact info and see if they call you back.

What in the hell is that? How hard is it to start collecting non-perishable items and blankets and clothes and whatever else and they can figure out packaging and storing and shipping as it's coming in???

They had a news item about how you could donate apartments to people being evacuated to our area - which is really cool, but how many of us have a spare vacant apartment that you could donate? There has to be something else you could do.

[Tippster]

12:30pm FRIDAY - Military vehicles are finally moving into downtown New Orleans.

[Free Range Lobster]

"I am absolutely disgusted. After the tsunami our people, even the ones who lost everything, wanted to help the others who were suffering," said Sajeewa Chinthaka, 36, as he watched a cricket match in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

"Not a single tourist caught in the tsunami was mugged. Now with all this happening in the U.S. we can easily see where the civilised part of the world's population is."

[Tippster]

http://www.hurricanehousing.org/

[killclimbz]

This whole cluster fuck just proves what a great expenditure Homeland Security is. They have done so much preparation for a terrorist attack that their disaster response and organization was top notch....WTF????

This is total bullshit.

[cmor]

Theres a good interview on cnn.com with the mayor (titled : Mayor to feds: 'Get off your asses') , He echos many of the thoughts on this board.

[cj001f]

This whole cluster fuck just proves what a great expenditure Homeland Security is. They have done so much preparation for a terrorist attack that their disaster response and organization was top notch....WTF????

In 2005 $46.4billion, 52% of the world total spending on homeland security. We're so paranoid about WMD and terrrorists we've forgotten the other problems that can have the same impact on peoples lives and society, and are easier and cheaper to prepare for