Posted on 11/25/2014 1:12:18 PM PST by Second Amendment First
As ruins of about a dozen businesses here smoldered today, an "extremely frustrated" Mayor James Knowles III was asking what happened to onetime plans to shield vulnerable businesses with a protective line of Missouri National Guard members.
"The National Guard was not deployed in enough time to save all our businesses," he said in a press conference just after 2 p.m., calling the delay "deeply disturbing."
Earlier, in an interview, the mayor said: “What should have happened last night? They should have had National Guard troops protecting the hard targets in Ferguson and allowed law enforcement to pursue a very mobile crowd of looters and arsonists. That’s the problem. They (the police) could not secure the commercial districts.”
Knowles added, “I don’t believe we’ve seen the commitment from the state we hoped to get. And knowing that there’s so many people out there who committed a crime, who committed destruction, who aren’t going to be held accountable, because law enforcement was overwhelmed — it makes me concerned for the nights to come.”
St. Louis city officials said they requested 400 Guard troops, which were deployed by Police Chief Sam Dotson to protect government buildings and businesses. They delivered what a mayor's aide said was a good result.
Nixon's office has not responded to requests for comment today, but announced that he will hold a press conference with Guard leaders at 3 p.m. at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican, said the governor, a Democrat, owes an explanation for an "inexplicable" decision to hold back on Guard help.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
The stand down order, came from the top.
They wanted what happened to happen. To a Democrat, the events were just people letting off steam...............
That would have been after the arsonists burned it to the ground.
Kicking back in the burbs???
Obama demanded to let it fester.... He wants a full blown war so he can call for martial law, and take all of our guns.
What Ferguson needs is a few politically incorrect businessmen.
never let a good crisis go to waste.
He can try.
I’m not a democrat but I subscribe to the pop off valve explanation. It is a valued tactic of Richard Trumka and such.
However it would appear the fires were stoked so high that the pop off valve didn’t have adequate size to release purposely misguided anger.
The fire should be on Pennsylvania Avenue not along I 70
I’ve wondered about that. I was surprised at how much rioting and looting and burning down buildings happened. In the days leading up to this, we had heard about increasing numbers of cops and National Guard units standing by.
It makes you think that somebody wanted Ferguson to burn.
The national Guard was on the lot with Mayor Nagin’s school busses
The reaction among the left sites does not agree with your take. The impression I’m getting is that they understand this was an embarrassment for them and the whole thing has backfired badly.
I heard that O called the Governor and ‘suggested’ that the NG stand down.
I think they told the State (Nixon & co.) to stand down.
I’m guessing they believed their own propaganda about the “militarized law enforcement” provoking the rioters.
During the LA Riots, Korean businessmen stood on the roofs of their buildings and protected them.
Don’t need the National Guard. The city has fire trucks. Place them in strategic locations. When the crowds show up then start up the pumps. With the low temps and some water the protestors will disperse. No undue force used so what are the complainers going to do? You got me wet and cold???
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