The National Guard Returns
The National Guard returned to New Orleans today in an effort to help the beleaguered police force. The deployment follows the tragic murders of five teenagers in an apparently drug or revenge motivated dispute. Mayor Ray Nagin and City Council President Oliver Thomas supported the move. Thomas, speaking on "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch" said that security is the most important thing for the city right now. "Without safety, no one is going to come back," he said.
One hundred Guardsmen arrived in the city, and an additional two hundred will arrive later to patrol neighborhoods that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. This will free up the NOPD to patrol more populated areas of the city. Many citizens applauded the move, and rightfully so. New Orleans cannot tolerate a rise in crime that would be disastrous for the recovery effort. Most of these Guardsmen were stationed in the city after Katrina, and their presence will be a security blanket both for current residents and those planning on returning or visiting New Orleans.
