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#1 2008-08-25 12:05 am
- radarman
- Member
- Registered: 2005-02-28
- Posts: 2231
Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/25/us/25 … ref=slogin
On the seventh-floor parking garage of a Holiday Inn that calls itself the “jazziest hotel in New Orleans,” soldiers dressed for combat wait for the evening’s call to fall in. They chat, smoke and gaze out upon an American city still in need of their armed presence.
At a sergeant’s bark, these two dozen men and women, all members of the Louisiana National Guard, stand at attention for their nightly pep talk. The sergeant instructs them to drive carefully, to be alert, to keep an eye out for a hyperactive band of armed robbers and to remember: “We’re not here to make friends.”
Hmm, looks like the bad guys managed to make their way back to NOLA. I was about to ask why the military is still actively patrolling, but apparently the Governor specifically asked for them.
The real question is why we hear about New Orleans all the time, but not all of the towns on the other side of the Mississippi. Were they all wiped from the face of the Earth, or did everyone just rebuild and go back to work?
Better question - would we have been better off just opening the levees on the river side, and letting the whole place silt over - kind of like Venice - instead of "saving" it?
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#3 2008-08-25 8:37 am
- ShnickyShnack
- Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
- From: Amidst a superiority complex
- Registered: 2001-05-25
- Posts: 40220
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
The Gulf Coast towns were mostly white, NOLA was mostly black. The media doesn't care about the towns because of anti-white racism. Duh.
"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan
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#4 2008-08-25 8:42 am
- bratboy
- attorney-at-law
- Royal Wombat
- From: Austin, Texas
- Registered: 2003-01-19
- Posts: 30532
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Steyr AUG wrote:
Biloxi is doing quite well.
Really, 'cause last I heard Biloxi was still in Mississippi. 
"One thing we've learned is there's a difference between being disappointed and having madmen in authority."
--Paul Krugman
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#5 2008-08-25 9:05 am
- jerwin
- Sophist
- Registered: 2003-01-01
- Posts: 5636
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Steyr AUG wrote:
Biloxi is doing quite well. Probably has a lot to do with effective local leadership tho.
Nope. Barges.
Some subjects actually enjoy pain, and withhold information they might otherwise have divulged in order to be punished.
Central Intelligence Agency. (1983). Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual
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#6 2008-08-25 9:29 am
- bedstuy
- Archimandrite, Eastern Elite
- From: King Cole Bar, St. Regis Hotel
- Registered: 2003-09-20
- Posts: 12255
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Why isn't Bobby Jindal doing his damn job?
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#7 2008-08-25 10:54 am
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en& … mp;spell=1
Toss in some DOJ:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/lae/press/index.html
It's the new freedom agenda. New Orleans is a test site for the agenda.
CNN was from Denver Demland and remarking that not only is new 'security' technology being employed (without saying exactly what) but bragging that new methods for 'corralling' protesters were being implemented.
As if the First Amendment were toilet paper that needs a landfill.
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#8 2008-08-25 11:02 am
- ShnickyShnack
- Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
- From: Amidst a superiority complex
- Registered: 2001-05-25
- Posts: 40220
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
I thought Brad Pitt was on the case? I can't believe he hasn't put it all to rights yet.
"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan
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#9 2008-08-25 11:09 am
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Follow AG/AG from Nov. '06 thru spring/summer of '07.
17 major metro areas. Hooking up FBI/HSA/ICE/StatePolice and locals.
The usual suspects will be gangs and drug dealers and guns. Using the New Orleans model.
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#10 2008-08-25 8:22 pm
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Hmm, where have I talked about a paramilitary invasion from within before, and how everyone's become so accustomed to it that things like this go unchallenged and unnoticed?
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#11 2008-08-25 9:00 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders
- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2153
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
"A standing army, being dangerous to liberty," is how most state's right to bear arms clause begins.
Doesn't matter much when people lack the fight within. The Government may have lost in the courts but they discovered that nobody's going to do more than sue when they snatch 'em outright. New Orleans has still refused to return arms even though ordered to do so by the courts.
"In the end, all they worried about was bread and circuses"
"Those that will trade liberty for temporary security deserve neither"
"Freedom does not come with a safety sticker on the side"
Besides, what does the mayor care? He has a free police force to enforce his will. Those stupid bastards keep electing him anyways. I hope they enjoy their "chocolate city".
The problem I have with discussing freedom is that people have been conditioned to expect "of me to tell you what to do" to follow it... inevitably they notice I don't ever get to that part, and they feel like I am trying to trick them.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
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#12 2008-08-25 9:01 pm
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Daniel wrote:
Hmm, where have I talked about a paramilitary invasion from within before, and how everyone's become so accustomed to it that things like this go unchallenged and unnoticed?
Could have something to do with people being far more scared of the military not being there
A Little C4 Knocking at Your Door
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#13 2008-08-25 9:05 pm
- Freakout Jackson
- Deeply satisfied elitist
- From: 10.0.0.5
- Registered: 2001-08-21
- Posts: 6166
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Steyr AUG wrote:
Daniel wrote:
Hmm, where have I talked about a paramilitary invasion from within before, and how everyone's become so accustomed to it that things like this go unchallenged and unnoticed?
Could have something to do with people being far more scared of the military not being there
Democrophobia™
"Perhaps if there were more Americans who had the courage to stand up to idiocy maybe we wouldn't have such an awful country." ~ VegasACF
I couldn't deal with a clone of myself. I would probably kill him inside a week, and tell the police it was justifiable homisuicide, and tell them to sit around and hang out with me for a week to show them why. ~ Dan
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#14 2008-08-25 9:08 pm
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Says a lot about the need for a fair, well trained, and effective police force and the governor's inability to arrange one without calling in the military for a prolonged period.
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#15 2008-08-25 9:12 pm
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
It's one thing to pull in troops during and/or just after the emergency until the regular police force can organize themselves to handle the situation adequately, it's another to maintain them in that position.
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#16 2008-08-25 9:29 pm
- Jdude
- Surfing on waterboarders
- From: Home is where the war is
- Registered: 2003-02-03
- Posts: 2153
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
ScifiterX wrote:
It's one thing to pull in troops during and/or just after the emergency until the regular police force can organize themselves to handle the situation adequately, it's another to maintain them in that position.
Indeed. No doubt the guard was a proper emergency response. It is their job after all. But we are a few years past the fact now, yes? Either Daniel is right and they are just getting us ready for the coup, or I am right and the mayor is enjoying his free police force.
And to tell the truth I believe it is both.
The problem I have with discussing freedom is that people have been conditioned to expect "of me to tell you what to do" to follow it... inevitably they notice I don't ever get to that part, and they feel like I am trying to trick them.
Sometimes before replying to a topic, I think to myself: I am just so original!
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#17 2008-08-26 5:45 am
- Ribtorus
- Member
- Registered: 2002-07-11
- Posts: 13245
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Facts on the ground.
It's not a movie.
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#18 2008-08-26 7:25 am
- ShnickyShnack
- Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
- From: Amidst a superiority complex
- Registered: 2001-05-25
- Posts: 40220
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
The New Orleans police force collapsed in the chaos of Katrina. Perhaps it still hasn't recovered yet.
"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan
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#19 2008-08-26 7:57 am
- jerwin
- Sophist
- Registered: 2003-01-01
- Posts: 5636
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
ShnickyShnack wrote:
The New Orleans police force collapsed in the chaos of Katrina. Perhaps it still hasn't recovered yet.
Bioxi's didn't. Shows the effectiveness of Republican leadership doesn't it?
Some subjects actually enjoy pain, and withhold information they might otherwise have divulged in order to be punished.
Central Intelligence Agency. (1983). Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual
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#20 2008-08-26 8:09 am
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Sounds like a great idea for A MMORPG/FPS. Getting to work right now.
...having nothing in them of the feelings or principles of '76, now look to a single and splendid government of an aristocracy, founded on banking institutions and moneyed incorporations under the guise and cloak of their favored branches of manufactures, commerce and navigation, riding and ruling over the plundered ploughman and beggared yeomanry. -- TJ
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#21 2008-08-26 8:50 am
- ShnickyShnack
- Commander of Insurgent Cell "Dreamboat"
- From: Amidst a superiority complex
- Registered: 2001-05-25
- Posts: 40220
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
jerwin wrote:
ShnickyShnack wrote:
The New Orleans police force collapsed in the chaos of Katrina. Perhaps it still hasn't recovered yet.
Bioxi's didn't. Shows the effectiveness of Republican leadership doesn't it?
A joke I heard in NOLA many times was that "New Orleans is the northernmost banana republic." The place was (and still is) a complete shambles.
"Those of us who have looked to the self-interest of lending institutions to protect shareholders’ equity, myself especially, are in a state of shocked disbelief." -- Alan Greenspan
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#22 2008-08-26 10:03 am
- macnuke
- just a plano guy
- Moderator
- From: North Dallas 40
- Registered: 2004-05-16
- Posts: 6608
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
N.O. just needed a second flush.
too bad Rita missed 
personal opine... that's a city that can wash to sea and most of the world wouldn't notice.
see if I can dig up the link, but I do believe murder is higher in NO than in our "police action" overseas at the moment.
also more police arrested for murder than civilians in NO this year.
go figure. 
" ...But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course." Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America, not the damned Titanic. I'll give you a sound bite: Throw the bums out!
Lee Iacocca
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#23 2008-08-26 10:07 am
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
- Moderator
- From: Carrollton, TX USA
- Registered: 2000-01-31
- Posts: 9866
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
Well, they need to lower their standards more.
"There were places in the world commemorating those times when wizards hadn't been quite as clever [as to refrain from doing magic when you knew how easy it was], and on many of them the grass would never grow again." Terry Prachett
There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.
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#24 2008-08-26 10:24 am
Re: Solders still patrolling New Orleans post Katrina
This has bugged me since I saw it....tangential, but relevant.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=b … &cd=1#
I don't know if any of these vids of the Celtics 'victory march' (or 'rolling rally' as Mayor Menino calls them) has what disturbed me visible, but I watched live while the duckboats were moving. Also, radio coverage or NECN commentary included mention of 'what look like SWAT team'. Each duckboat had a honor guard (of sorts; don't know what else to call it) Six green uniformed men walking alongside each vehicle. No markings. No public identification of exactly who or what they were.
Made my skin crawl.
I was reminded of something in the Globe a few months back:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Civil_Unit.jpg
Not to mention the near martial law employed the night they won. Whole blocks around the Garden were shut down. One radio personality couldn't retrirve his car out of a garage in the zone after an hour or so of celebration.
Practicing.
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