Ma'am, You Called for a Gun for Hire?
When Gov. Kathleen Blanco told the President "we need everything you've got" I don't think she meant mercenaries. But they're there now, the same mercenaries from Blackwater private security firm who've been in Iraq, pulling down salaries far in excess of the active duty military stationed there. What is their role in New Orleans? To do essentially the same thing volunteer fire and police squads from around the country are there to do. You've seen their photos, relaxing in frustration, waiting for an assignment from the ineffectual FEMA.
Blackwater's soldiers of fortune are earning $350 a day, by the way, less than they'd make in Iraq.
And as Kathryn Cramer points out, what happens when amid a rumor-plagued New Orleans, one of these macho gun-toters points a gun in a resident's face and orders them to move? Will we see the same thing we saw in Falluja? There, no one asks any questions about innocent civilians who are killed for "driving while Arab."
In other news, gun control advocates have finally succeeded. Guns are being taken away from private citizens. Who knew the Bush administration was going to "take your guns away"?
A feature writer in New Orleans said that members of the California National Guard came to the house where the news people were staying and inspected their guns. They warned them that if they heard guns going off, they'd be back. A little while later, members of the California Highway Patrol arrived and took all the guns. And a little while later, they returned them without explanation. I think it's all too chaotic to understand.
And don't forget--in St. Bernard, they're already shooting dogs they're supposed to be rescuing, so anything can happen.
Posted by: Diane | September 11, 2005 at 09:00 PM
I'm pretty sure the Framers intended the Second Amendment only to apply to white people. The cops must be strict constructionists.
Posted by: Chris Clarke | September 12, 2005 at 04:16 PM
But Chris, didn't all the amendments apply only to white people? Due process, etc., even the one about presidential succession--I haven't seen anyone other than a white person succeed yet.
Posted by: KathyF | September 12, 2005 at 04:52 PM
Wasn't Clinton Black?
Posted by: Chris Clarke | September 12, 2005 at 04:57 PM
Ah, but he didn't succeed, he was elected.
Posted by: KathyF | September 12, 2005 at 05:27 PM