September 02, 2005

Cavalry has arrived

UPDATED BELOW

Reports are that a very large contingent of National Guard are now arriving in New Orleans. Their stated mission is to restore order and aid the victims.

We have the makings of our first genuine hero of this disaster. There is a General in charge of this effort who was praised by the NOLA mayor. And now I hear a report of a General on the ground, directing traffic from the street, as this convoy arrives in downtown.

Here's a story which refers to, and quotes Lt. Gen. Steven Blum regarding the mission of the Guard. I'm trying to find out if all these references are to the same man.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum of the National Guard said 7,000 National Guardsmen arriving in Louisiana on Friday would be dedicated to restoring order in New Orleans. He said half of them had just returned from assignments overseas and are "highly proficient in the use of lethal force." He pledged to "put down" the violence "in a quick and efficient manner."

"But they are coming here to save Louisiana citizens. The only thing we are attacking is the effects of this hurricane," he said. Blum said that a huge airlift of supplies was landing Friday and that it signaled "the cavalry is and will continue to arrive."

This has the potential of being a star-making situation.

UPDATE: It now appears that the "take charge" leader may be "three-star Army Lieutenant General Russell Russel Honore"

Photo.

Posted by jackhodgson at September 2, 2005 12:43 PM