After Katrina, what have we learned?

[shance]

I think after watching the Bush/Cheney Administration and their response to Katrina and the onset of Cat 5 Rita, this warrants significant discussion. What was the reason for private security forces and is it Constitutional or in fact illegal?

A Second Revolution?

The deployment of mercenaries in New Orleans is an act of war against the American people

by Mike Whitney

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20050916&articleId=960


The deployment of mercenaries onto the streets of New Orleans is an act of war against the American people. It has been accompanied by the equally provocative order to strip the remaining survivors of their "legally registered firearms", thus depriving them of the 2nd amendment rights.

Who appointed Bush as God?

The safety and security of the city's people is now in the hands of armed militias who have no allegiance to the Constitution and whose relationship to the government is uncertain. These hired goons are not required to conform to "The Military Code of Justice" or to any legal and moral restrictions governing the conduct of military personnel.

There is no scenario, neither natural disaster nor terrorist attack, which justifies the use of paid killers on the streets of America's cities.

None!

The presumption that these units are assisting in the relief effort is patently false. The order is clearly intended to militarize a critical American port and establish a precedent to place the nation under military rule. This will undoubtedly become clearer tonight when Bush makes his address to the country and asks for additional powers in the event of another natural catastrophe or terror attack.

The appearance of the Blackwater mercenaries in New Orleans has produced the effect for which it was designed; to strike fear into the hearts of the local people and to convey a feeling of pervasive repression in the wake of a major disaster. They have succeeded admirably on both accounts.

Blackwater's record is consistent with the amoral behavior that we expect from mercenary organizations. They have been directly connected to the abusive treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, the random killings and brutalizing of Iraqi civilians, and the extortion of information from resistance-suspects. They operate according to no law or ethical guidelines excluding the insatiable desire to increase profits for themselves and their investors.

Blackwater represents the globalization of repression; a free-market progeny that is transforming the people's army into privately-owned militias for multi-national corporations. The deployment of these armed-units is a clear and present danger to both personal liberty and democratic institutions.

The decision to send Blackwater mercenaries to New Orleans was not made haphazardly. Over a month ago, Donald Rumsfeld in a Washington Post article promised to use the military more extensively within the US if there was another terrorist attack on American soil. It's clear now that the use of mercenaries was integral to that plan and that Rumsfeld wants Americans to acclimate to the idea of seeing troops deployed within their cities.

The danger of this strategy cannot be overestimated. If, for example, organized resistance sprung up in New Orleans in response to Bush's disarmament orders or to the current brutal evacuation plan, we could see skirmishes that could explode into city-wide fighting.

Or, if peaceful protests broke out in New Orleans, and dissenters were shot by mercenaries, as they were in Falluja, Najaf and Baghdad, the situation could quickly escalate into massive riots and rebellion.

The deploying of mercenaries is an openly provocative and hostile act intended to incite widespread violence. We should not allow Rumsfeld or Bush to thrust the nation towards greater strife and misery by applying their failed theories of social order within the country.

The nation has never been more polarized. Rumsfeld's reckless move could provide the spark for violent conflagration.

Is that what he wants; a second American Revolution?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. My views are rather moderate

politically, but this just freaks me out.

Congress needs to get on this and pass legislation that does NOT allow guns for hire.

[leftofthedial]

2. George Bush doesn't care about black people

[Selatius]

3. It establishes precedent

This is the most important point of the article. It gets the foot in the door, and if done properly, will allow further development of this pattern of intrusion further down the road. It's actually quite an efficient way to do it because it comes gradually so it won't frighten the population or provoke a sharp reaction.

Also, the humanitarian issues provide a convenient cover, and anyone who questions the motives behind putting private mercenaries on US streets can be painted as being not compassionate to the suffering of people.

[shance]

4. Valid points Seletius.

"Humanitarian issues provide a convenient cover".

It would seem that way, wouldnt it?

Even though the response to Katrina was in hind sight such documented inhumanity, no doubt an opportunity was then at the disposal to enter the port of New Orleans.

[spuddonna]

5. That you need to have at least 2 weeks worth of water and food...

:sarcasm:
...and don't expect handouts like 'rescues' and 'recovery' from your govt. - that's what 'faith based' organizations are for!

That if you are black and you loot, you get shot, but if you are white and you loot, you must be 'helping people' or 'finding' food...

That if you weren't able to evacuate because you were poor, you should be fined for reckless endangerment of law officials. (Man-Dog Santorum)

---
"Rumsfeld wants Americans to acclimate to the idea of seeing troops deployed within their cities."

That's right! Now, shall we all practice our Salute to the flag of the United States of America?

[shance]

6. "Rumsfeld wants Americans acclimated to seeing troops deployed"

Ive seen this quoted somewhere as well.

Do you by chance have a link?

[spuddonna]

7. Yes, I do! It's a fascinating thread!

Right here! http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4841646&mesg_id=4841646
lol

Sorry, I should have made an allusion to the fact that I was quoting from your post! :)

[shance]

8. :) Too funny***

I totally did not see that, but I knew I had seen it somewhere. :)

Just shows how much I am reading these days.

[spuddonna]

9. LOL! I know exactly how you feel...

I've been reading so much, and I'm losing track of where I've read things... I need a better organizing system... :)