Lotus Puppy
02-09-2005, 02:20
You have to look hard to find any good news coming out of this city: starving survivors, looters, armed gangs, rampant rape, and desparate evacuations. I've even heard that an armed gang entered a hospital, and the patients and staff barricaded themselves on the top few floors. I have no idea if they have been rescued yet.
These looters, though, are increasingly turning into gangs. They are robbing relief trucks entering the city, shooting at search and rescue helicopters, and are overruning police positions, because as these gangs percieve it, they are in a position to loose more than the police, soldiers, and even other civilians.
These are, of course, New Orleans criminals. But this discription can also apply to any guerilla or terrorist out there. Which leads me to a point on why this may be a blessing: when this thing dies down, it can be an easy lesson for the US in counterinsurgency. Of course, this is a much smaller scale than Afghanistan or Iraq, and the gunmen are not well organized at all. But the distinct advantage of this lawlessness is that it is happening in the US. No doubt the process will be probed and vivisected by every agency there is. It'd be wise for the Pentagon to take notes, because in reality, the psychology and motives of a New Orleans gang member is not too terribly much different from an Iraqi insurgent or a Taliban fighter: all are desparate for something, and have more to loose than the other guy.
These looters, though, are increasingly turning into gangs. They are robbing relief trucks entering the city, shooting at search and rescue helicopters, and are overruning police positions, because as these gangs percieve it, they are in a position to loose more than the police, soldiers, and even other civilians.
These are, of course, New Orleans criminals. But this discription can also apply to any guerilla or terrorist out there. Which leads me to a point on why this may be a blessing: when this thing dies down, it can be an easy lesson for the US in counterinsurgency. Of course, this is a much smaller scale than Afghanistan or Iraq, and the gunmen are not well organized at all. But the distinct advantage of this lawlessness is that it is happening in the US. No doubt the process will be probed and vivisected by every agency there is. It'd be wise for the Pentagon to take notes, because in reality, the psychology and motives of a New Orleans gang member is not too terribly much different from an Iraqi insurgent or a Taliban fighter: all are desparate for something, and have more to loose than the other guy.