Presidential response to Gulf Coast tragedy

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I am truly trying to be objective here. Everyone who posts here knows that I am not a Bush supporter, but have tried for a couple of days to not let that affect my view on this issue. I would appreciate your input.

Why has it taken Washington so long to respond? It has been almost 96 hours since landfall and about 72 hours since the first levee breach. Only now are federal and National Guard forces being dispatched to the area. Anyone watching the local news channels online has known for a couple of days now knows bad it is on the Gulf Coast, and notably in New Orleans.

It gives an American very little comfort to know that in case of a disaster help is at least three days away. The situation has deteriorated to the point that it may now take military action to restore order. These gangs have armed themselves with enough weapons and ammunition to be problematic for years to come. $10.5 billion is a drop in the bucket.

People have died and will die because emergency crews have not been protected. Drugs and emergency equipment are now in the hands of anarchist gangs.

Why has it taken so long to respond? Why has society been allowed to collapse before help has arrived?

Where has President Bush been for three days? The words and rhetoric have been there, where has the action been?

[ September 02, 2005, 06:59 AM: Message edited by: C4K ]

 

[Rachel]

I want to know the same thing and I have always mostly supported our President. Why?! It doesn't make sense to me. I just posted in another thread if they weren't mostly poor and black would that have made a difference?

 

[Matt Black]

Roger, please see my penultimate post on the 'Failure of government' thread in the Politics Forum - you will see that I'm wondering the same thing; how can the richest nation on earth be producing scenes and a response more reminiscent of the Third World???

[ETA - interesting:-

Letter in today's Guardian, from an American woman:

"Why should hundreds die, mostly African-Americans, in a predicted disaster in the richest nation on earth? Did city, state or federal government make any efforts at all to transport these people to safety? They had days in which to do it, but only now are they erecting tent cities.

The poor in the US are, at best, unconsidered, unthought of, mostly invisible. Too often they are despised as lazy parasites: an ugly blemish on America's self-image. Obviously, nobody gave them much thought in this disaster. The whole country should do some rigorous soul searching - not least those evangelical Christians so quick in their condemnation of others. I am, incidentally, American-born and bred.
Anne Williams
London"]

 

[Brother Ian]

As a member of the Armed Forces, I can tell you it does take some time to mobilize relief.

That being said, prior to landfall, President Bush declared Louisina and surrounding areas a disaster area which released money and resources for the area. A move that was applauded by all. Unfortunately, many of the early response teams were trapped because of the devastation and were not able to get to where they needed to be.

The response teams, as most of you know, are now being hindered by gunfire, fire, open hostility, etc. Fox News is now reporting New Orleans policemen are turning in their badges and quitting because what they are now doing is more dangerous than their regular police work and they fear for their lives.

I find it interesting that our military sometimes feel the same way, often in fear for their lives, yet the call of duty is stronger than the fear.

Relief is coming, but it takes time.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I am an American. I have been living abroad for more than 10 years. Seeing my country from the outside I do see more of her flaws than those living there. Because of that I can be more critcal than perhaps i should be at times.

This time is different. A major US city has been allowed to fend for herself for almost three days. I have been watching WWLTV.com hours a day and have yet to see a FEMA t-shirt on the scene. Courageous New Orleans fireman, policeman, and emergancy workers, along with a few National Guard troops are trying to protect a devestated city from armed terrorist gangs who have taken control of the city, and still Washington sleeps. One National Guard actually made the statement, "We can not resume evacuations until we regain control of the Superdome." Regain control?? Are we talking about the Battle of the Superdome?

The poor local and state officials are worn out. At a press conference last night the governor and other officials were on the verge of tears as the begged for help.

New Orleans alone needs 40,000 troops to restore order, evacuate, and rescue.

Are we supposed to believe that the great American hegemon does not have the resources to repair breaches in the levees?

I am stunned and embarrassed at the lack of action while an American city slows dies before our eyes.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

I cannor accept that it takes our nation three days to repond to an emergency within her own borders.

Of course policemen are quitting, they have been abondoned. They are facing armed forces which are better equipped than they are.

If and when troops arrive they need to treat this as a war zone. The new Battle of New Orleans must be won and won quckly.

All of our focus has been on New Orleans, there is massive devastation in Gulfport, Pascagoula, Biloxi, and all along the coast.

Is this really the best we can do to help one of our injured states?

Do you think if Washington, D.C. were hit by a force 4 hurricane it would take three days to get help in?

 

[Hardsheller]

There are several things many of you are missing.

1. The news that is being reported is selective and worst case scenarios. Just like Iraq, the Good News and the Best News is not being reported.

2. Much of it is being chosen to put on the airwaves because it sheds a bad light on the Bush Administration. ABC's special last night was a prime example. The ABC Reporter did her best to get Sen. Landreau (d) of La. to blame this on the Bush Administration.

3. The situation in Mississippi is vastly different and more positive than the situation in New Orleans and this is directly attributable to the BETTER GOVERNMENT in that STATE and in those AFFECTED CITIES.

4. Having lived in New Orleans I can testify to this fact. New Orleans has always been a violent city. The city government of New Orleans and the Police Department has for as long as I can remember had a reputation for being corrupt. They have long tolerated behavior and crime that other cities would have deemed unacceptable. The Violent element in N.O. only needed a push to explode into anarchy. Katrina provided that push.

5. Regardless of the Evacuation Order there was no way to get everyone out of New Orleans before the storm hit. It was a physical impossibility. There are limited escape routes (essentially three) This has been known for decades.

6. The Blame for the escalating disaster after the Hurricane Hit rests solely on the shoulders of the Mayor and officials of N.O. and the Governor of Louisiana. It was their unpreparedness and their lack of leadership that caused this fiasco. The Federal Government is not there to take over but to assist and you cannot assist something that is broken.

[ September 02, 2005, 07:50 AM: Message edited by: Hardsheller ]

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Thanks you for the insight HS. It helps me gain some more perspective.

None of the sources I have seen have blamed Bush. The American coverage here is provided by the conservative Fox News via Skynews. I do not have cable to didn't even see that until this morning.

My thoughts were stirred by an Irish friend this morning at the supermarket. She simply asked, innocently, "How can the richest, most powerful nation on earth be letting this happen?" I didn't have an answer.

So now we just let the city die because of their stupidity and mismanagement?

Moving this to the Politics Forum.