What do y'all think of his comments today? I'm mortified by the possibility of 10,000 dead. I'm also curious about this distinction between federal troops and National Guard troops. Given the situation in NOLA for the last FEW DAYS, how have Federal troops NOT BEEN REQUESTED? http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050902/pl_afp/usweatherdeaths
10,000 dead is a whole lot, but I really think it's going to be higher than that. You've got all the people that died during the hurricane, people that died from the flooding, people that died from the lack of power/water etc, people that died from the lack of health care & medicine, & the death rate at hospitals all around Louisiana is going to shoot up because of their inability to care for all of these patients. This really is a much bigger travesty than anyone really expected.
What the hell is taking Blanco so frickin' long. At first I stood up for her, but this is getting ridiculous...
It's a century-old federal law. It will literally take an act of Congress to use federal troops in the US for law enforcement. Unless federalized in a wartime situation, the National Guard are state troops that are permitted to operate in the US. Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 CHAP. 263 - An act making appropriations for the support of the Army for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and seventy-nine, and for other purposes. SEC. 15. From and after the passage of this act it shall not be lawful to employ any part of the Army of the United States, as a posse comitatus, or otherwise, for the purpose of executing the laws, except in such cases and under such circumstances as such employment of said force may be expressly authorized by the Constitution or by act of Congress; and no money appropriated by this act shall be used to pay any of the expenses incurred in the employment of any troops in violation of this section And any person willfully violating the provisions of this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars or imprisonment not exceeding two years or by both such fine and imprisonment. 10 U.S.C. (United States Code) 375 Sec. 375. Restriction on direct participation by military personnel: The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that any activity (including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment or detail of any personnel) under this chapter does not include or permit direct participation by a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps in a search, seizure, arrest, or other similar activity unless participation in such activity by such member is otherwise authorized by law. 18 U.S.C. 1385 Sec. 1385. Use of Army and Air Force as posse comitatus Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. Editor's Note: The only exemption has to do with nuclear materials (18 U.S.C. 831 (e)
Yeah, I don't understand what is taking so long to get the proper people into New Orleans to secure the city. I mean it's a damn shame we have to use armed forces to retake a city that was destroyed by a storm, but this needs to be done and done fast.
I, as well, don't understand the delay. Although 40,000 troops seems a bit of an overkill. IMO these thugs don't want to fight with the military. They are simply just being thugs. I believe an additional 15 to 20k would drive these thugs out of business. It's just ashamed that it took our govt so long to realize the need for a military presence meanwhile rescue efforts are halted and more people died. They should capture as many of these low-lifes as possible and try them at a federal level ensuring lengthy prison time
whats taking so long? ask the military in iraq... its much easier to kill someone with overwhelming force when they stand in front of you and fight.. its very hard to find people who shoot and hide and look like everyone else...
