Hi Timberwolf. Were talking about 2 different things here. The declaration of marshall law was made by the state Govenor, who thus empowered the State Militia IE; the National Guard to take over. The President of the United States would need to declare a federal state of emergency for the Congress to consider declare Martial law which would be country wide not just issolated to N.O. The Fema part is only supportive of the states efforts. I know, I work for D.H.S. F.E.M.A. is now under our control and direction and cannot take control of anything, They are mainly experts in areas of support such as transportation stock and supply etc.... As far as Black waters involvement, they are private contractors who are present in every major metropolitan area around the world and under contract to the private sector as well as governments. Their directives while secret in nature are always conscerning security, not policing. Thus they secure personell and property under extreme conditions. Lets face the facts here, had it not been for a glorified security guard company like Blackwater, every jeweler store, gun store, bank, and every other target of opportunity would have been looted. Those private gun toting citizens were complaining that the police had disarmed them, yet obviously they survived as did most everyone who lived through the Hurricane and flooding. Not to mention if the police were that oppressive then why did they need their guns ? This is just internet conspiracy trash, not unlike the crap about the World Trade Towers.