There are armed insurgents roaming the streets of a US city

[Renew Deal]

Can you comprehend that? I don't know if these hooligans are willing to shoot at the authorities or not, but basically one US city is not under control. Instead of making Iraq more like the US, Bush has made the US more like Iraq.

[tblue37]

1. One thing that really gets to me

is the total senselessness of firing at rescue helicopters. What is the point? It is just an act of mindless destructiveness. What advantage can the shooter imagine getting from it, even if he manages to hit the pilot or down the helicopter?

[theboss]

2. Have the chopper shoot back

That's the obvious solution.

[Renew Deal]

4. Great

Lets roll the Blackhawks through an American city. I am sure that would go over well. ;)

[Renew Deal]

3. I agree.

It's bizarre. I understand why it was done during the LA riots. It was a war zone (no matter how wrong shooting at cops and firemen is). This just doesn't make sense.

[Lars39]

11. Dehydrated people don't think clearly.

Add sheer desperation and some weapons and chaos results.

[Renew Deal]

13. You have to be kidding.

You blame looting sneakers and electronics on dehydration?

[tblue37]

20. I can't see that there is a connection between

dehydration and shooting at a rescue helicopter.

My guess it is sumb dumb-ass young male getting off on being able to wield a weapon in a situation where no one can stop him or punsih him.

I am betting it's an extreme form of vandalism.

[The Stranger]

15. Probably has something to do with rage.

Ghettoes boil over and destroy cities every once in a while. This time Mother Nature destroyed the city, unleashing some of the rage.

[info being]

5. Yes, why do they hate us?

Don't we share the same freedoms?

[raccoon]

6. Oh, but don't you know we are conquering them? nt

[Renew Deal]

9. That's funny.

Did you notice the completely incoherent strategy of the feds in NO. It's just like their strategy in Iraq. They are losers.

[Why Syzygy]

14. Expect a media blackout

He said the National Guard told him that it was sending 100 military police officers to restore order.


"That's not enough," said Zeuschlag, whose Acadian Ambulance is based in Lafayette. "We need a thousand."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/09/01/national/a053358D82.DTL

[Pirate Smile]

7. Helicopters couldn't land at one of the hospitals to evacuate people

because there was a hundred armed men on the landing pad.

This tragedy is beyond comprehension and just keeps getting worse.

[MercutioATC]

19. Tulane University Hospital had to make a makeshift helipad from

telephone poles (their regular pad is at the Superdome). My sister's ex-neighbor is a pediactric cardiologist there. Additionally:

"At Tulane University Hospital and Clinic, armed "thugs" gathered in the parking lot and entered the facility, probably in search of drugs, reported John Matessino, head of the Louisiana Hospital Association.

"We've got a bad security situation here," he said. "There's certainly a contingent of people who are addicted and they haven't had a fix in a few days and they look at the hospital as a big pharmacy.""

http://www.courant.com/news/nationworld/hc-hosp0901.artsep01,0,83016.story?coll=hc-headlines-nationworld

Not a good situation.

[puddycat]

8. in times of crisis, its easy for criminals to take over

hell, its been a battle for some of us to convince well-meaning but misguided DU'ers to realize that these thugs who have been looting and robbing are NOT "poor thirsty mommies and grandmas". Its incredible how naive some people can be.

Criminals and sociopaths live at every strata of society and they emerge quickly into the open when the normal constraints of society are removed. Rich sociopaths more easily hide their criminality but poor criminals just loot, pillage, etc. Its up to government and the rest of society to put an end to it.

I blame the government for their failure to anticipate this and guard against it. It is shameful. In fact, I blame the government more than the criminals, because the criminals are out there doing what they do best--destroying. The government is supposed to be a positive force in civilization, not an impediment.

[lonestarnot]

10. Evacuation of the dome has ceased due to gunfire.

[Freddie Stubbs]

12. Insurgents generally have some sort of political goal

These are just armed thugs no better than the Crips and Bloods.

[MercutioATC]

16. The L.A. riots were worse, IMO...

(in terms of "armed insurgents")

I think it's not causing more concern nationwide because we've seen it in the recent past.

[Renew Deal]

18. Definitely worse.

LA turned into a warm zone. No one was safe.

[no_to_war_economy]

17. rob the walmart and get some guns

then rob the Rite Aid pharmacy and get high

guns and drugs are a mean combination