The whole state of Louisiana had 7400 troops in place Ms. had 6200 as of this morning. There are convoys of relief equipment arriving right now from all over the country but they are expecting 1400 more troops by tonight. Lots of stuff but the whole city is suppose to be evacuted by tonight! There were 300 National Guard police from Ar. in New Orleans last night with shoot to kill orders. It looks like Beruit.

BTW 300 members of the Arkansas National Guard just returning from Iraq, landed in New Orleans last night. Locked and loaded with orders to shoot to kill. They couldn't make a dent in the violence, except to help protect some of the people attempting to board the buses to Houston.

Pat - the thing is that you have to stop the looting. It's the worst portion of anarchy that you can get. Why? Because it's a case of the strong victimizing the weak. In looting, the healthy and uninjured can go and loot - first it's food and water. Then the mob moves on and gets clothes, electronics, and firearms. During this time, the injured, elderly and the like can't get the food. What I think would've been best would be to use imminent domain and make sure the food is distributed fairly - and make damn well sure that people aren't stealing electronics and firearms.

Also, it seems that these people who need help were shooting at the Chinooks and potentially other aid workers (not sure on all of the details, but I've heard the reports on shooting at military helicopters - specifically Chinooks.)

As for the shoot to kill, I'd like to see sources on that.

However, a key point that folks seem to be forgetting here - the NG troops aren't controlled by the POTUS - they're controlled by the governor. The POTUS can direct aid, but first of all, he needs to know where to send the aid and the governor in question needs to ask for it. I believe that's the way it works. And that's something that's conveniently being forgotten by the media and the left.