Tragic Deterioration

The rapid deterioration of the situation in New Orleans has taken on tragic proportions. The AP quotes Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Cheri Ben-Iesan, spokesman at the city's emergency operations center: "Hospitals are trying to evacuate. At every one of them, there are reports that as the helicopters come in people are shooting at them. There are people just taking potshots at police and at helicopters, telling them, `You better come get my family.' " In what universe does it make any sense to shoot at people as a means of trying to get them to come and help you? Now FEMA has had to suspend operations in areas where gunfire has broken out.