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Day 4 Where Is The Military?

Just talked to Machelle again and she is frustrated with the marked lack of National Guard (NG) troop presence in New Orleans. A bit angry, she wishes to be heard:

What good is the Patriot Act? Our civil liberties are limited, but without doing anything to deal with real-life emergencies. We are no more prepared to deal with emergencies now than we were 4 years ago.

The hurricane ended on Monday. It’s Thursday evening. The troops aren’t here yet. Our policemen are exhausted and are forced to find their own food and drink. They can’t keep doing this. They need help!

Pulling up the latest news, I informed Machelle that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff assured citizens that “4,200 National Guard military police would be deployed in New Orleans over the next three days, nearly quadrupling the overall law enforcement presence there” and that Governor Blanco has requested a maximum of 40,000 NG troops to assist New Orleans in the restoration of order and rescue efforts.

Machelle and her friends were buoyed by the news, but can’t wait until the troops get there. Again, the Lower Garden District is safe, but if the depravity continues, it shows every sign of spilling into the quieter neighborhoods. In terms of an exit, one cannot be made if key city thoroughfares and the main way out of New Orleans are unsafe.

Of course, I didn’t confuse the poor girl with additional numerical inconsistencies on the part of a single news station: As I was talking with her, CNN TV announced that the NG chief in charge of Katrina says 3500 troops will be in NO by tomorrow, while the above quote places 4200 in NO in three days.

That’s 700 more in two days when a statistic from earlier today mentioned 1400 per day until the number reaches 35,000.

Pardon me while I ask what, in the name of tax-paying hell, is going on?

Someone needs to give us real numbers. Even better, that same someone needs to get troops into New Orleans NOW.

As I beseeched before, please pester your congresspeople about this confusion. There has never been a squeakier wheel.

7 comments… add one
  • Saheli September 1, 2005, 8:56 PM

    Maitri, I am so disappointed and angry and ashamed, I just don’t know what to say. Hang in there. ..your friends and your city are in my prayers.

  • Mike & Gwineth September 2, 2005, 12:14 AM

    Thank you for continued info.

    If you look up the aireal veiw of your neighborhood at terraserver.microsoft.com and visually map it, you should be able to relate that to the most recent satellite shots which can be found at: http://wafb.com/Global/story.asp?S=3795954

  • Kush Tandon September 2, 2005, 12:35 AM

    Have faith.

    My words are just poor balm.

  • Saurav September 2, 2005, 8:42 AM

    Thanks so much for what you’re doing.

  • rversde23 September 2, 2005, 9:28 AM

    UGH. I AM SO ANGRY WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WAY THEY ARE HANDLING THIS SITUATION!!! The more I read your blog, the angrier I get. What the heck is happening? Where is all of our tax money going? I know, the war, but really we should have SOME money to do this. And really, WHY IS THE RED TAPE TRIPPING EVERYBODY? UGH.

    I’m sorry Maitri, I know that my venting doesn’t do any good, but I just want you to know that there are people that care about your situation, personally, and the thousands of those who can’t afford to leave. Honestly, I wonder if we can compare this to Mumbai’s flooding a few weeks back. Blah. I feel so helpless.

  • Saurav September 2, 2005, 10:58 AM

    Well I called my Senators. They’re f@#king useless. On to the Rep.

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