Shots Fired at Evacuation Choppers

[Key Lime Lee]

Interesting article I read today details that, in several cases, the folks shooting at the choppers were doing so while yelling that the choppers need to come get their familys.

Even hospitals are down to their last day's rations.

This is a national disgrace.

[RAGTOP]

Interesting article I read today details that, in several cases, the folks shooting at the choppers were doing so while yelling that the choppers need to come get their familys.

Even hospitals are down to their last day's rations.

This is a national disgrace.

not so sure that's the best course of action... havn't they heard of waiving a white flag like everybody else

[sy]

This is a national disgrace.

And regardless of everything else, I honestly feel this is the bottom line.

Yes, balls were dropped, reaction was too slow, etc etc.

I'm seeing way too much 'he said she said' and finger pointing on the news this morning.

For heavens sakes, just shut up and get to work. At this point, it will benefit no one by proving someone is at fault. People are minutes and hours away from death and in conditions no living creature should be in. At this point all swords should be dropped. Blame someone after the conditions have been made at least bearable.

[ParrotheadGator]

Interesting article I read today details that, in several cases, the folks shooting at the choppers were doing so while yelling that the choppers need to come get their familys.

brilliant move. Somebody comes to rescue you, so you shoot at them to get your attention. Just what did they think was going to happen? The pilot was just going to land by the people shooting at them? Retards

[bocanuts]

Hey Gang. It's a hellish situation just south of here. My wife finally was able to talk with her parents last night. They live outside of Hattiesburg in Petal. No one is doing a goddamn thing in their community. This appears to be one of the most inept *ucked up diaster reliefs ever.

You can't find gas hardly anywhere in Jackson. At least I have 3/4 of a tank. But that's the least of my worries.

_______________________________

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was equally blunt. Federal and state officials need to stop having "goddamn press conferences" and get the relief effort rolling, he said in a late-afternoon radio interview, an angry flare-up out of character for the popular, generally easy-going former cable TV executive.

[RinglingRingling]

Murder, in self-defense, ok.

There's no such thing as murder in self defense. If it's self defense, it's not murder.

ok skippy...

[Key Lime Lee]

Interesting article I read today details that, in several cases, the folks shooting at the choppers were doing so while yelling that the choppers need to come get their familys.

brilliant move. Somebody comes to rescue you, so you shoot at them to get your attention. Just what did they think was going to happen? The pilot was just going to land by the people shooting at them? Retards

My sense is its desperation. Easy to judge from the comfort of our homes.

[Key Lime Lee]

For heavens sakes, just shut up and get to work. At this point, it will benefit no one by proving someone is at fault. People are minutes and hours away from death and in conditions no living creature should be in. At this point all swords should be dropped. Blame someone after the conditions have been made at least bearable.

Again, I think it's just desperation.

Seems like the local officials can't seem to get the help they need, and they're hoping that by taking it to the airwaves they might be able to get a response.

It's shameful. I thought all this $$ we're spending on homeland security was supposed to make us better prepared for stuff like this. If this were a dirty bomb, and not a hurricane we knew was coming, how many would be dead and would our response be this inept?

[RinglingRingling]

This is a national disgrace.

And regardless of everything else, I honestly feel this is the bottom line.

Yes, balls were dropped, reaction was too slow, etc etc.

I'm seeing way too much 'he said she said' and finger pointing on the news this morning.

For heavens sakes, just shut up and get to work. At this point, it will benefit no one by proving someone is at fault. People are minutes and hours away from death and in conditions no living creature should be in. At this point all swords should be dropped. Blame someone after the conditions have been made at least bearable.

I think part of it was mentioned earlier: there is no way for one person in the affected area to step out from the pack and provide leadership; whether it is due to the sheer size of the disaster (three states, upteen counties, and hundreds of cities/towns/townships/villages), the fact that FEMA seems to have leadership who have been more intent on watching the Nationals' run for a wildcard slot on ESPN rather than watching the news or the Weather Channel; or what.

As a result, trying to get a handle on the situation is like trying to herd cats. I am thinking that

a) use National Guard troops in conjunction with local police to stabilize the law-and-order situation, with shoot-to-kill orders in place in the following situations:
1) returning fire if fired upon
2) stopping the commission of a violent felony (murder, rape, arson)
b) establish a beachhead for federal emergency specialists to stabilize the transport/evac operations
c) (much as I hate to say it, because the Corps is not always a magic bullet) Turn the Army Corps of Engineers loose on the levee issues and stabilize it on that front.
d) start looking at what the long-term picture is going to be: do you rebuild the city in the same place or not?

[OceanCityGirl]

exactly. What they need is a leader. The leader doesn't have to be doing everything. They just have to be strong, charismatic, have some influence. Ya know, they have to lead. If you had one person who's face was associated with the efforts who gave updates, etc. the help efforts would do better.

[Margarita Matt]

There are two things going on there. One you have people looting pawn shops and gun stores in order to arm themselves. Then these armed mobs are going around to nursing homes and hospitals on a rampage. On the other hand you have people literally starving and dehydrating, people are dying, some haven't had water in 3 days, now imagine going without something to drink for 3 days. I can't blame those who are going out and trying to keep there families alive, because FEMA has dropped the ball on this one. Stealing is wrong but I would rather be wrong than to let my child, wife, mother, starve to death.

I haven't seen a single person down there that wasn't rediculously obese. Starving to death, yeah right.

[Margarita Matt]

That I don't understand. I assume some people have never gone from money to nothing. I have. It's very easy to happen. In our country most people are only a month or two from homelessness.

That's bad decision making. Not my fault. I SACRIFICED to put myself in a position much better than that. If they want to spend every dollar they either make legally, or steal from my paycheck in the form of welfare, screw them. I'm out here to provide the best for MY FAMILY, not yours.

[rednekkPH]

MM - you've got 34 posts - 28 of which you do nothing but spew your hate-filled bile.

You're a f*cking joke.

[Margarita Matt]

MM - you've got 34 posts - 28 of which you do nothing but spew your hate-filled bile.

You're a f*cking joke.

SHut your pie hole.

[sy]

That I don't understand. I assume some people have never gone from money to nothing. I have. It's very easy to happen. In our country most people are only a month or two from homelessness.

That's bad decision making. Not my fault. I SACRIFICED to put myself in a position much better than that. If they want to spend every dollar they either make legally, or steal from my paycheck in the form of welfare, screw them. I'm out here to provide the best for MY FAMILY, not yours.

Not all the people down there are poor. There are those who could not leave because they were hospitalized, sick, or physically unable to leave.

Even discounting that, people fall on hard times, and not everyone goes on welfare when they do. There are also those who own stores or have jobs where they make an honest living, they just don't make much.

There was a run where I was dirt poor where I garnered the same reaction from people as you're giving. It goes both ways, because I've also seen some of those people suddenly out of a job and out of a house they thought was so secure. Not everyone is just out to mooch the system.


If you suddenly fell on hard times and were in the situation now, would you want people sitting around belittling your situation?

[SMLCHNG]

MM - you've got 34 posts - 28 of which you do nothing but spew your hate-filled bile.

You're a f*cking joke.

SHut your pie hole.

It'd be nice if you'd express your thoughts in a more respectful manner. Thank you.

[SMLCHNG]

I haven't seen a single person down there that wasn't rediculously obese. Starving to death, yeah right.

Public health officials are still scrambling to find stranded people and treat the injured. In the immediate aftermath, aid workers are struggling to provide basic human needs: shelter, drinking water, food, clothing, and sanitation.

Also in short supply are the daily medicines needed by people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

[buffettbride]

exactly. What they need is a leader. The leader doesn't have to be doing everything. They just have to be strong, charismatic, have some influence. Ya know, they have to lead. If you had one person who's face was associated with the efforts who gave updates, etc. the help efforts would do better.

isn't that why we have elected officials such as mayors, governors, presidents?? i mean...those are the leaders we're supposed to trust in times like these. that's why we pay them the big bucks. so in the face of trajedy we have someone we can trust.

case in point...america fell in love with Rudy Guiliani because what he did during/after 9/11. there wasn't an hour that went by on television that you didn't see him praising the rescue efforts and helping the rescue efforts and putting his heart and soul into it.

i just don't see and hear that happening with the people who are supposed to be the leaders.

[sy]

There are two things going on there. One you have people looting pawn shops and gun stores in order to arm themselves. Then these armed mobs are going around to nursing homes and hospitals on a rampage. On the other hand you have people literally starving and dehydrating, people are dying, some haven't had water in 3 days, now imagine going without something to drink for 3 days. I can't blame those who are going out and trying to keep there families alive, because FEMA has dropped the ball on this one. Stealing is wrong but I would rather be wrong than to let my child, wife, mother, starve to death.

I haven't seen a single person down there that wasn't rediculously obese. Starving to death, yeah right.

You can be 350 pounds, and if you don't have water in a certain amount of time, you die. Simple as that. Dehydration and lack of nourishment will kill thin as well as overweight. Weight has nothing to do with starving to death.

[Margarita Matt]

Not all the people down there are poor. There are those who could not leave because they were hospitalized, sick, or physically unable to leave.

Even discounting that, people fall on hard times, and not everyone goes on welfare when they do. There are also those who own stores or have jobs where they make an honest living, they just don't make much.

There was a run where I was dirt poor where I garnered the same reaction from people as you're giving. It goes both ways, because I've also seen some of those people suddenly out of a job and out of a house they thought was so secure. Not everyone is just out to mooch the system.


If you suddenly fell on hard times and were in the situation now, would you want people sitting around belittling your situation?

Live below your means. Not at or above it. Most of america is one missed paycheck away from bankruptcy. That is sad. Again though, NOT MY FAULT THEY CANNOT CONTROL THEIR SPENDING. The poorest person in teh USA makes 100times what the "middle class" does in other countries.