Standing On The Sidelines…again
September 2nd, 2005 by Admin
The frustration of being in the military and helpless is again surfacing. There is chaos in New Orleans and here in Fort Irwin, California watching everything happening.
The General in charge of the National Guard that just arrived in Louisiana told his troops to keep their gun pointed down, "this isn't Iraq." I beg to differ. When gunmen are shooting rifles and AK-47s at rescue helicopters, it's not time to sit idly by and not treat the place like a war zone. When the police are outnumbered AND outgunned by terrorists gunmen, maybe treating the place like Iraq will accomplish a couple of things. For one, maybe now the general population will see how difficult it is to keep the peace in chaos and understand what we're doing in Iraq. Second, it only takes a few dead idiots with AK-47s to start convincing the rest that we mean business and won't let this pass without consequences.
Why is it that when the tsunami hit in Indonesia, the people banded together and helped each other out and we break out into total anarchy? I know this country is better than that, but it's a question that begs discussion and serious inner thought. I think one of the reasons we have these terrorists gunmen running about like they own the place is because we've disarmed our citizenry. I can guarantee you that if more people were allowed to own guns, the criminals would get what they have coming to them WITHOUT military assistance. When you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have them.
I can't stand sitting back here watching all this unfold, unable to do anything about it. I'm sure that the soldiers stationed at Fort Polk will have a huge part in maintaining stability there, along with the National Guard soldiers already there or still arriving. Thankfully, they've been given "shoot to kill" orders to curb looting, something we also did in Iraq after we took Baghdad which worked VERY well.
Keep your gun pointed down my a$$. They are not there to look cute and get hurt, they are there to stop rapists, thieves, and murderers. Get the #@%& out of the way and let 'em go to work….Git R Done, if you will. A good friend of ours explained that while we live in Arizona, this stuff wouldn't be happening in his state of TEXAS. Yes, all caps, all the time. He pointed out that with the laws there, "these guys wudda been dealt with quick and permnent by the folks they wuz tryin' to rob." Makes me want to move to Texas. Sorry..TEXAS.:)
I totally agree with you CJ. They talk about rapes happening in the Superdome (hard to determine the validity in these stories, as I've also heard the report on shots fired at a military helicopter might have been a rumor) and you wonder how many of these ordinary citizens are banding together to provide their own security. Rather than relying on government and police to be everywhere at once, it's up to the citizens to take charge of their own defense. I'm sure the decent citizenry must outnumber the thugs roaming the streets out there.
Of course I'm just Monday quarterbacking here, so what the hell do I really know, since I'm not there? Still….
Yea, I can attest that Texans have a pretty heavy trigger finger. But its going to be kinda like Iraq there in the Big Easy.
You got your common criminals that got guns
You got your newly minted criminals that just want to steal stuff and may or may not have stolen guns, ammo.
You got your regular folk who may have had a gun or stole or bought one to protect themselves and their family
Then you got your hardened crazies, with guns, who are out to get everything they can for themselves, while they can.
Sounds just like Iraq…don't it.
So, keep your fingers easy, but ready.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA
Ditto to Sherri!
Just got off the phone with my son in Corpus Christi and their National Guard unit has been told to be ready to head that way at a moments notice. As a mom, I'm not sure I'd want him in Iraq OR New Orleans, but know that if he goes and where ever he goes, he'll do his job and do it well and he'll make his momma proud of him. I gotta agree with CJ though, it IS a warzone down there, and the men and women who are sent there are there to do a job and if that means shooting someone who was shooting at them or someone else, so be it!
Darn right! Let your son know that he is in our prayers!!! {{{hugs}}}
"Why is it that when the tsunami hit in Indonesia, the people banded together and helped each other out and we break out into total anarchy? I know this country is better than that"
CJ, I have to differ with ya here. Americans are a bunch of spoiled teenagers. We have a "me" society. Not often do you see people who only think of others. Most of what you see is people asking what is in it for me. THOSE are the people that stayed in the city. They only want for them and don't give a donkey about anyone else.
Terri, I will keep him in my thoughts if he has to go over.
I have to say that i differ with you, Peggy. Everyone needs to get things into perspective and really do numbers on what the percentage of people are realy the spoiled teenagers there. You are seeing a small percent of the population acting that way, and of course, the media is there to point it all out for us and make us feel horrible.
I don't think we live in a "me" society. I honestly think this country IS better than that. I don't know if their brains just got a bit too much water, and that's why they are reacting the way they are. But, i do know that there are MORE people out there doing great things and who are thinking about everyone BUT themselves.
CJ, where was your self portrait today? Was looking forward to seeing what you came up with today.
grumby
It's hard hearing about all that has been going on in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, and everywhere you turn, this is what people are talking about as it is such a catastrophic siutation. I notice though that the news of our troops in Iraq has been pretty silent lately. This really struck me today as I talked to four people who each mentioned someone close to them who is being deployed to Iraq this month. Also, as I got to the gates of Walter Reed tonite to visit some of the wounded soldiers, there were crowds of protestors on both sides of Georgia Avenue in front of the entrance. It is not unusual for there to be protestors there on Friday evenings, but I had not seen that many before, and what made me anxious was all the police cars and guards that were there both outside the gates and inside, and quite a few of the guards were carrying rifles which I have never experienced before. Things seemed pretty calm as I went on in and about my business, so I don't know what transpired out there – all I know was that when I left the grounds a couple of hours later, there were still some protestors but I didn't see any extra security.
I understand that a lot of the citizens protected their businesses & homes with their own guns. All it takes to stop cowards like these looters is the guts (and weapons) to make 'em back down. Very poor crisis planning on the part the N.O. city gov't – a flooded parking lot FULL of school buses about 2 miles from the Superdome. Of course, now it's all the President's fault according to N.O. mayor, which sounds a lot like CYA to me, but the media will encourage that, I'm sure.
Grumby,
you are right, silly me listening to the "media"
But you have to admit, there is a section of our society that only wants for themselves and could care less about their neighbor.
and here I got even madder this evening about the whole thing too. (Insead of ranting here, I did it at my journal)
Sabo,
The guards at Walter Reed are probably worried that the commie-Pinko protesters are in emminent danger of a severe a**woopin' by those of us standing on the other side of the street. It was a big crowd tonight, but we all follow the rules.
YEA GunnNutt!!!! Thank you from those who are too far away.
Ditto to what Sherri said!!! thanx, GunnNut, for being there ~ I would be if I wasn't 900 miles away, LOL!
PROTESTERS! Arghhh! I really hate protesters. Good or bad, right or left—whiners all. Since I am a civilian now, I do my protesting at the ballot box then carry on with my life. I have better things to do than stand around with a sign on my shoulder and whine all day. There, I guess I just protested, didn't I. Did it accomplish a darned thing? Nope. Kind of silly isn't it? I think I'll go fishing or shooting or something that makes me happy, instead of watching the stupid news.
dusgalan of mt