The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has said there have been no shots fired at rescue helicopters.

NOLA's mayor has finally lost his patience . . . .

The video of Ray Nagin (Mayor of NO)is available on www.cnn.com

When i hear the news bulletins and see the latest pictures showing chaos etc just can't help thinking is New Orlleans the 'New Basra'.... and that's not meant to be flippant in any way.

All cities are dependent upon an uninterrupted supply of water, food and utilities. Disrupt these services and chaos is only hours away. There but for the grace of God....

Once again the government is trying to push the blame on the poorest people, hence all these stories about lawlessness etc. news agencies should not carry them as most have not been verified.
The only film of looting I have seen so far was pretty petty stuff, water, beer and clothes. if the government cannot provide the basics of life where are people supposed to get them from.

I heard a great one today, the government are putting public service messages out over TV, yet in the worst effected areas there is no electricity to run TV sets. It makes you want to weep for the poor souls who are caught up in this.

I was struck by the comments of the governor that state forces have been ordered to shoot to kill looters and she "expects" them to do so. It hasn't happened yet. Maybe state forces have a little more respect for human life than to kill poor black folks (who can't afford to leave) and who are lifting food and some drink and "nice stuff" while they're at it.

I see the Sally Army is promising on its website that "A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies." I'm thinking of giving them, $100, my home adresss and inviting three friend to share the food (in payment for cleaning my house with the mops and buckets). If "Rip Off Ireland" has thought me anything, it's to look out for a bargain.

Strange that the country which pollutes the most is not prepared to invest in defences against the results of their headlong and irresponsible charge for wealth

We'll keep that in mind as you make your headlong charge for poverty.

We'll also keep in mind that New Orleans has been below sea level for 150 years. And that monster hurricanes have been hitting our shores since that time and before. Did you ever hear about the 3,000 people who died in Galveston, Texas in 1900? They just wouldn't get out of their SUVs.