- RCAF_MadDog
IMHO after seeing the massive amount of destruction in the aftermath and all the health issues of the dead, chemicals and such posing such a health threat they should have declared marshall law in order to save the people still there.
People there cant be aware of the massive amount of destruction and death that has happened to their world.
Andas far as finger pointing, It doesnt really matter who screwed up but as Americans and the time of terrorism we need to find what failed (not who) and fix it so we will be ready for the next disaster, whether it e natural or terrorism.
As a matter of law and practicality, one must appreciate what "martial law" means. Martial law, by definition means that military authority is in effect for all aspects of security AND administration. i.e. a military govenor. In a disaster situation, the bulk of the effort in all precedant situations has been shown to be most effective when local government is the "first responder". This is precisely what did not happen in LA, because the local and state government is more dysfunctional than you can likely imagine. It is a dangerous precedant to declare martial law in a civil crisis and the federal government is understandably reluctant to impose it....it means ALL aspect of the effort and administration falls to the military governor and absolves the local one on any responsibility. Given the virtual absence of anything that could be called local government, a case for doing so might be made, in retrospect, but it's counter to the U.S. system of federal government.