Reply With QuoteGlad to hear that you are okay. Go well.
Best wishes,
Bob
First, I want to offer my heart felt apologies for not communicating our support for all Brits after the attacks. We had friends in London at the time that had just decided the morning of the attacks not to take the trains into town that would have put them in the way of the terrorists. I think we can all learn from the way you conduct yourselves in the face of a national crisis.
I have been away from the posts due to our leasing a home in New Orleans this summer. My wife and I put the last stick of furniture together at 1:30 A.M. Sunday morning of the hurricane and by 8:30 were running for our lives. What the world is not seeing are the pitched gun battles between remaining residents and the thugs.
Our home is just across the river from the French Quarter, ten minutes by ferry, in Algiers Point and is the western most area of New Orleans. By the grace of God, our home is unharmed as far as we can tell.
Many of our friends and neighbors stayed and are there still. Yesterday, Friday, the mayor exempted the Point from the mandatory evacuation order. The FBI and other organizations are staging from the naval base about a mile from where we live.
The afternoon after the hurricane, three armed thugs, in broad daylight attempted to loot some homes. The residents were ready for them and a pitched gun battle ensued. Thugs 0, residents, 2.
Our home is right on the levee and it held. A couple of days ago, two squads of army soldiers swept through in APC's and apprehended another group of thugs attempting to loot and carried them away. A few minutes later, three Blackhawk gunships swept the area about twenty feet above the homes.
Since we are closest to the city, we are farthest from the support that is staging on the West Side as it is known. Army, Navy, relief workers, etc. However, we have clean running water, gas and very soon electricity will be restored.
A couple of days ago, three Blackhawks with commandos swept into the Garden District, just outside of the French Quarter and the troops fast-roped into the district carrying M-60 machine guns and M-4 automatic weapons to protect this most beautiful area. During the hurricane, the thugs were in the district attempting to loot.
We are going back as soon as we can get in, and armed as well. My wife is a crisis counselor and dead shot with a pistol. I am an over-the-hill vet going back to help rebuild, armed with a tactical shotgun. We will be bringing supplies to our friends and neighbors.
What must the world think of this mess? This is America at its best and worst. Tens of thousands of homeowners across the land have taken in New Orleans refugees. It will be some time before they can go home, if at all.
I cannot believe that the city will be rebuilt with the means to keep 200,000 welfare residents, which is what you are seeing. Thank goodness that Bush got rid of the FEMA idiot and turned the efforts to the military.
The first National Guard troops in the city were a contingent of 600 Afgan-Iraq battle veterans. They cleaned out the inner city looters in short order. The reason there is a mandatory evacuation order is to prevent all out war when the city is drained. The horror stories are unbeleivable. The city let the thugs take over the Superdome. Many were killed and a lot of both men and women were gang raped. The worst was a twelve year old boy found gang raped and chained to a post. I hope there is no mercy shown to these monsters.
Best Wishes
Glad to hear that you are okay. Go well.
Best wishes,
Bob
Been to New Orleans a few times. It's hard to imagine somewhere like that in such a mess. "Laissez les bons temps rouler" for you in the near future.
Cheers,
A hell of a story Don, I hope your return to New Orleans goes smoother than you anticipate. Frankly the idea of having to defend my home with a sawn off shotgun scares the willies out of me :shock: Still it sounds like you've the practical experience required.....
Who knows New Orleans may come out of all this mayhem new and improved. We're all rooting for Louisiana and Mississippi to get itself back on its feet again.
hi there watchesyall
for sure it's been one hell of a mess,it just proves that mankind is no match for mother nature.
it's hard for me to imagine living in what has been described as a 'warzone',the closest i've ever come is fisticuffs down at the local and have never felt that my survival was at risk.
my heart goes out to all the poor unfortunate victims that have suffered rape and murder at the hands of this scum of society.
i hope these bastards get what they deserve :evil:
anyhow,i hope normality returns very quickly and please be extra vigilant for these violent offenders.
warmest regards, john.
I've read more about the current situation in this morning's paper and also seen some more newsreel on the television. I cannot imagine living in the conditions I saw, absolutely abominable. When one policaman/national guardsman was asked about removing bodies, he replied, "We can't do anything for the dead, we're here to help the living."
There is, of course, some truth and logic in his statement but doesn't the presence of decomposing corpses add to the distress of survivers and exacerbate the already high risk to health? Surely the relief effort should include the removal of corpses.
Please be very, very careful Watchesyall; when it's a fight for personal survival, the normal rules of civilised society don't apply.
Eddie
Whole chunks of my life come under the heading "it seemed like a good idea at the time".
I find it strange that under battlefield conditions Americans go to extroadinary lenghts to retrieve compatriots yet when its their own backyard they are left lying around for two weeks sad very sad.
Paul. :cry:
Glad to hear you're okay.
Ming
Greetings from Prague to New Orleans. Hope that the situation will get better soon. I feel with the N.O. inhabitants and deeply despise the looters and what I'd call "white collar looters" who have hijacked this human tragedy to promote their political agenda.
Hi Don, glad to know you're O.K.
I guess the horror stories we're hearing this side of the pond are only the tip of the iceberg. Living with it out there must be a real nightmare. As you say, we're seeing both the best and worst of America in respect of this tragedy. One can only hope and believe that the 'best' will win in the end.
Stay safe.
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
I was relating Don's story to colleagues at work yesterday ... and was told that Liverpool was offering to send people to help with the looting. :POriginally Posted by Pavel
john
Every watch a story.
A Scouser walks into his local job centre, marches straight up to the counter and says, "Hi. You know, I just HATE being unemployed and drawing social security. I'd really rather have a job. Do you have anything available? I?ll take anything, anything at all".
The girl behind the counter says, "Your timing is excellent. We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants a chauffeur/bodyguard for his nymphomaniac daughter. You'll have to drive her around in his Mercedes, and he'll supply all of your clothes. Because of the long hours, meals will be provided. Oh, and you'll be expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You'll have a two-bedroom apartment above the garage and the starting salary is £200,000 a year."
The Scouser says, "Go on, you're bullshittin' me right!"
The girl says, "Yeah, well, you started it."
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
.
:lol: :lol: :lol: Excellent Peter.
john
Every watch a story.
watchesyall, what a sitrep, glad to hear that you and your familiy is okay.
Watch your six.
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