Louisiana Governor Threatens Looters

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[Uncle Joe Cannon]

Louisiana Governor Threatens Looters; New Orleans Mayor Criticizes Relief Efforts

09.02.2005 11:00 AM EDT

Chaos and lawlessness have gripped New Orleans in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, with corpses strewn across streets, armed masses looting abandoned stores, fires and fights breaking out, more than half of the city's police force failing to report for

duty, and tens of thousands of National Guardsmen actively patrolling the flood-ravaged city to reclaim command from heavily armed looters.

Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco took aim at the roving lawbreakers who are taking advantage of the city's crippled state, announcing Thursday evening that 300 soldiers, "fresh back from Iraq," were headed for New Orleans, in addition to the "40,000 extra troops" that she's demanded, according to CNN.

"They have M-16s, and they're locked and loaded," Blanco said. "I have one message for these hoodlums: These troops know how to shoot and kill, and they are more than willing to do so if necessary, and I expect they will."

Meanwhile, New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin attacked federal relief efforts in an interview with local radio station WWL-AM, characterizing the response as sluggish and inadequate, leading to unnecessary deaths throughout the region.

"Someone needs to get their ass on a plane and get down here and figure it out," he said, calling on President George W. Bush to be more responsive to the crisis that's taken hold of his city. "Excuse my French, everybody in America, but I am pissed. They are feeding the people a line of bull, and they are spinning and people are dying. They don't have homes. They don't have jobs. The city of New Orleans will never be the same."

Read accounts from Gulf Coast residents.

Find out how you can help with the Katrina relief efforts.

Nagin said he needs more troops to help defend the city from the outbreak of violence, as well as hundreds of buses to get people out (see "New Orleans Evacuates As Mayor Issues 'Desperate SOS' ").

President Bush, who'll be taking an aerial tour of the affected areas on Friday afternoon (September 2) before meeting with residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina, told a crush of reporters gathered outside the White House Friday morning that "millions of gallons of water and millions of tons of food" were being shipped to the region, and acknowledged that the relief effort's results were, thus far, "not acceptable." He's expected to make a statement at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport before returning to Washington Friday night.

CNN reports that at one police precinct in New Orleans, officers had barricaded themselves inside, while snipers stationed on its roof exchanged bullets throughout the night with armed bands of looters. The news organization is also reporting that there was a large explosion in the city's southwest district Friday morning, which triggered a chemical fire in a building along the Mississippi River. A hazardous-materials team had been dispatched to the area. At press time it was not known what caused the explosion.

The city's police department is dwindling, creating an increased need for National Guard troops; several police officers have informed CNN that a large number of officers have stopped reporting for duty, reducing the police presence in some areas of the city by 20 percent or more.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said Thursday that at least some relief was on the way for law-enforcement officials — in the form of 4,200 National Guard troops, trained as military police, who will arrive in New Orleans over the next three days.

Thousands of evacuees have been pouring into Texas to escape New Orleans' violent anarchy and threat of potentially epidemic disease. Many were directed to the Houston Astrodome, a stadium that filled fast, forcing officials to turn away thousands late Thursday night, CNN reports. About 100 combat-ready military police officers arrived there late Thursday.

Nearby Reliant Arena has opened its doors to those left homeless by Hurricane Katrina, the damage from which could top out at $50 billion, according to estimates released by credit-rating agency Standard & Poor's. Hundreds of others are being bused to the Texas cities of Huntsville, San Antonio and Dallas.

While thousands evacuate the dangers of New Orleans, others have started spilling in from neighboring towns. Mayor Nagin issued a statement saying that, while "we are overwhelmed and out of resources, we welcome them with open arms and will figure this out together."

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, House Speaker Dennis Hastert questioned the practicality of rebuilding New Orleans on Thursday — comments he later tried to clarify.

"It doesn't make sense to me," Hastert was quoted as saying. "And it's a question that certainly we should ask." His words followed news that Congress would cut its summer recess short to push through a $10.5 billion emergency aid package.

"We help replace, we help relieve disaster. But I think federal insurance and everything that goes along with it, we ought to take a second look at that," Hastert added. His office issued a statement Thursday night, reports the Chicago Sun-Times, saying, "I am not advocating that the city be abandoned or relocated," only that "it is important that when we rebuild this historic city, that we consider the safety of the citizens first."

Meanwhile, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said that it seemed unlikely the New Orleans Saints would be playing their home games in New Orleans this season, according to ESPN. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said he'd prefer that the team play this season's home schedule in Louisiana, and was considering Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge as a temporary home for the team.

To find out what you can do to help provide relief to victims of Katrina, head to think MTV's hurricane relief page.

[Williams]

Glad to see mention that HALF of the city's police force are AWOL in the middle of a catastrophe. As seen in articles posted yesterday, this was NOT a good police force.

[RasterMaster]

What's her empty threat going to accomplish?

This will be the standard reply I give to all posts when the subject is to blame Bush for all:

The nanny state/welfare mentality - it's always someone else's job. What part of MANDITORY EVACUATION do these fools in the media not get? The people on the coast were warned, told to leave, and chose to stick it out thereby endangered themselves and their families. That would be considered neglect when parents put their children in danger.

The Governor and Mayor's extreme ineptitude is what the bozos in the lame-steam media should be focused on. It was their job to prepare their constituents, NOT the federal government. There was ample time to prepare, and most responsible adults took to the road for safety. Yet all that was offered on the state level was another poor evacuation plan from the dimwit dimocrats. Either using "one way out" stuck in traffic or holing up in the dome, what choices!

Before the storm, they could have used all the school & city busses to evacuate those who couldn't make it on their own to higher ground further inland. But they chose weakness in the face of real danger instead.

After the storm, all resources were put at their disposal, yet they delayed making the request as well as delayed the delivery when aid arrived. Martial Law was declared and yet they still sat on thier hands allowing lawlessness to erupt. Neither can handle their jobs, yet refuse to step aside and allow someone else to handle it.

If President Bush hadn't announced the evacuation order, there would be more loss and suffering, mainly due to the clueless Democrats who failed to do anything - who, by the way, have been in charge of that state long before Bush ran for office.

When you have your hand extended, you shouldn't b!tch about getting aid when you were told to prepare for 3-5 days of food and water. When it comes to your family's safety, waiting on government to solve your problems is no better than waiting on a welfare check instead of getting off your arse and finding work.

But I guess wading around in sewage and griping about it is a much more pleasing alternative if you always pull the "D" lever when it's time to elect leadership. The failure of a democrat-led state is why the media is out in force trying to point fingers at Bush, when they all know the reality of the situation...their own failures cause many more to die than would have if they hadn't been slow to react.

[2banana]

more than half of the city's police force failing to report for duty,

They are not finished looting yet...

[Williams]

"The city's police department is dwindling,...."

An undedicated, poorly trained lousy group, abandoning their posts at the worst time. There's the real story behind all this. This is what you get from democrat machine politics and cronyism.

[RexBeach]

God, Mayor Nagin has no plan, no idea, and no leadership.

How nice for NO. 'Course they elected him.

[frogjerk]

As seen in articles posted yesterday, this was NOT a good police force.

Not to disparage all of the good cops going above and beyond the call of duty in NO right now, but they are considered one of the most corrupt police forces in the nation by many.

[camle]

has martial law been declared yet? I haven
t' heard such a declaration.

barring such, this person is horribly incompetent and trying to deflect criticism by blaming others.

[Wormwood]

This will be the standard reply I give to all posts when the subject is to blame Bush for all:

Fantastic post. The tragedy of New Orleans is that it shows us what America has been reduced to.

[anonymoussierra]

"They have M-16s, and they're locked and loaded," Blanco said. "I have one message for these hoodlums: These troops know how to shoot and kill, and they are more than willing to do so if necessary, and I expect they will."

---

"It's about time enough knock off this evil people."

---

thank you all

[camle]

not to mention lowest paid. it simplt ain't worth it to them.

and you don't attract dedication and devotion to duty by doing things on the cheap - as they're finding out now.

[Colofornian]

Alright, what kind of a headline is this? Do you mean to tell me that these looters are, right now, tuned into some battery-powered TV somewhere listening to the Guv? Or they've Energizer Bunny Batteries that yield perpetual radio power? Or, is she threatening them personally?

No, the threats are not for the looters. It's trying to salvage what's left of LA P.R. in an era when, like the rest of NO, there may not be a whole lot left to salvage.

[Williams]

Did you see that the police trapped overnight in a police station trading shots with looters, reported that more POLICE were sent to help, but they said the POLICE were more of a hinderance than a help?

This city's cops are not too glorified night watchman.

[VRWCmember]

"I have one message for these hoodlums: These troops know how to shoot and kill, and they are more than willing to do so if necessary, and I expect they will."

Her message should have been a little more simple and should have been issued on Monday: "Our policy toward looters is very simple -- Shoot to Kill. We will not try to apprehend or arrest them, we will simply shoot anyone looting."

[TortReformer]

Where the heck is the retaliation form media outlets regarding the ineptitude of the local politicians. Blanco and Nagin should be the ones hung out to dry literally and figuratively...

[2banana]

Did you see the photos of New Orlean's finest, in full police uniform, looting?

[Williams]

I'm sorry, but going AWOL in the middle of your city's crisis is about the lowest thing the police could do. Contrast this with NY's finest. That city government was a rat infested pile of incompetence and corruption, and I do mean rat.

[camle]

you can bet that despite her tough words, that the first time a cop or NG member shoots someone she'd be the first to call for his scalp.

[uncitizen]

maybe they figured since they have no city, they'd have no job anymore anyway so they just high tailed it outta there.

[RightWhale]

Maybe the shock is wearing off, or maybe the Pres has been giving pep talks to the Gov over the phone. No doubt the Gov has a hard side, it is not possible to rise so high in politics without.