News Coverage focusing only on negative

As far as using military bases to house refugees, I'd say it was a great idea, but most of the bases that are closing are closing because the infrastructure in the base needs huge $$$ to remain effective. When Fort Devens in Mass was closed, the proposal was made to take the military housing on Devens and use it for low income and homeless shelters. The answer was that it could not legally be done, as the base housing (fine for soldiers) was not up to section eight standards, and the liability that would be incurred by using old buildings with asbestos in them would be astronomical.

The military has a lot of battery powered equipment, and the LA National Guard has battery powered equipment, but the Governor of LA did not call out the National Guard until it was already too late.

On the Positive side, the Military side of the Relief effort is being led by LTG Russell Honore. If there's a way to get it done, He'll find it. I spent my last year on active duty up at FT Drum under his command. His orders to his staff are simple.....Get it done. If it doesn't get done, there's hell to pay. (Note to the Mayor of N.O. ......stop whining, it isn't going to win you any points in staff meetings) His "nom de guerre" is the Ragin Cajun.

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Originally posted by RICHARD


"I am only here for camera time....."

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Let's not forget Geraldo who is already there and who we could do without. :rolleyes:

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Originally posted by Lady's Human

On the Positive side, the Military side of the Relief effort is being led by LTG Russell Honore. If there's a way to get it done, He'll find it. I spent my last year on active duty up at FT Drum under his command. His orders to his staff are simple.....Get it done. If it doesn't get done, there's hell to pay. (Note to the Mayor of N.O. ......stop whining, it isn't going to win you any points in staff meetings) His "nom de guerre" is the Ragin Cajun.

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:D They showed LTG Russell Honore on the news this morning. I wonder if he would be interested in running for president? I'd sure vote for him!!!:D

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Originally posted by Pam
Let's not forget Geraldo who is already there and who we could do without. :rolleyes:

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What if they threw a disaster and Geraldo didn't come???


Shepard Smith has been doing a slam bang job of promoting stupidity too.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

MOFF, are these the ships you were referring to?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168407,00.html

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Originally posted by Lady's Human
MOFF, are these the ships you were referring to?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,168407,00.html

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No. The ones I meant were the US battle ships. I think they may be there now because I've been seeing helicopters like the ones they carry toops in flying around. I would have thought the news would let everyone know they are there though.
Maybe that's what Geraldo is gushing over. He's really excited about something. I thought it was because the National Guard had more people come.

:)

the US warships, (kinda funny, warships being sent to save lives!!) are in the process of getting there.

You have to remember that these ships are at dock and some are being fitted, fixed and serviced.

We have to make sure that the ships can do the job, there are sailors to assign to the vessels and supplies to be loaded on board.


There are major logistical factors that must be tended to before a rescue mission can be sent.

The people in the affected areas will tolerate nothing less than 100%.

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I am really sorry that people are suffering down there. BUT I AM REALLY SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE PATIENCE.

The Bataan is on station in the Gulf at the moment and there is a hospital ship at dock, I do not remember where and another ship was sent from it's home port in virginia just today.

http://www.bataan.navy.mil/


By the way,
The commander of the Bataan is a woman....


:cool:

Speaking of patience,

One forgotten issue in all this that the media has just started to realise, or maybe they've realised it and are just not bothering to report it, is that the federal government CANNOT just step in and take over. The assistance has to be requested by the political leadership in the affected areas.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/0...ear/index.html

If it's not requested through channels, it cannot move. It could move in minutes if the request was made, but the request has to go in first, which is the case with much of the federal disaster aid materiel and personnel. It appears that the local politicians wanted to handle this themselves, then when they couldn't handle it sent the calls for help too late.

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Originally posted by Lady's Human
Speaking of patience,

One forgotten issue in all this that the media has just started to realise, or maybe they've realised it and are just not bothering to report it, is that the federal government CANNOT just step in and take over. The assistance has to be requested by the political leadership in the affected areas.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/0...ear/index.html

If it's not requested through channels, it cannot move. It could move in minutes if the request was made, but the request has to go in first, which is the case with much of the federal disaster aid materiel and personnel. It appears that the local politicians wanted to handle this themselves, then when they couldn't handle it sent the calls for help too late.

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I thought it was reguested in advance. That was the reason they declared the areas disaster area's even before the hurricane even hit??? :confused:

So, several cities covering roughly the size of Great Britian, has
an enemy attack, major emergency of any kind and they have
lost all power to communicate their need and the Federal Gov.
would never step in to help?

Attacks from an enemy are far different from natural disasters. Different playbooks entirely. One is a purely military response, the other is a MSCA (Military support to civil authorities) response.

What LTG Honore and the rest of the military team are doing is covered by MSCA, and there are specific guidelines that the civilian leadership is well versed in following. The military routinely has exercises with civil authorities to cover those contingencies.

one's sympathy in case of a national disaster? I'm sad that Katrina hit your country so hard and caused so much destruction. It took a while before I realized that it was really really bad - when I first heard about it, I thought it was "just another hurricane - they get them all the time - they're probably used to it - they know what to do - it's no big deal".

But now...:eek: :eek: I'm appalled to see just how bad things are. Earlier today I read the Thursday 122-thread, and someone (don't remember who) asked why the rest of the world doesn't react or send help when it's the americans who are in dire straits. Last night when I watched the news coverage I was thinking exactly that, and I felt quite irritated and embarrassed by the lack of response from the danish government and my fellow danes!

Luckily, tonight, they said on TV that 30 countries - including Denmark - have promised to send help. So now I'm releaved! They also said that one of the reasons why the help is getting out there so slowly is 1) because the american government or officials have been reluctant to accept the help being offered, and 2) that they need time to find out what kind of help is needed where and in which order. It must be difficult to organize.

I sincerely hope that people in need of help will get that help soon.

Lots og love,
Sus and the Bellacat

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Originally posted by momoffuzzyfaces
I thought it was reguested in advance. That was the reason they declared the areas disaster area's even before the hurricane even hit??? :confused:

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Sorry, we skipped over this question. I really would like to
know the answer to that myself.

Isn't FEMA a conglomerate of about 24 different Departments
and Agencies?

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Originally posted by RICHARD


I am really sorry that people are suffering down there. BUT I AM REALLY SADDENED BY THE FACT THAT WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MORE PATIENCE.

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Patience??? What patience? People are DYING, many everyday, and you are speaking of PATIENCE? My GOSH! I'd like to see what you'd do if you were in the situation of those suffering, those seeing dead bodies floating around them, and more people dying...those who haven't eaten all week, those who are getting terrible illnesses from the water. And you speak of PATIENCE? The world's richest country, and we couldn't drop food to the victims by helipoters from day 1. Sorry, but we should feel ashamed of ourselves as a country. These are OUR people. OUR own American people. We need to do more. WAY more. And you are saying we need patience? LORD. The reporters are crying along with the people. That is the intensity of the situation. I have NEVER seen reporters cry. And you speak of patience. Patience? This is not something to take easy. It is a disaster so great it has made that region of the US worse than a 3rd world country. You don't realize how many lives are being lost?? Sheesh...While we're patient, let another million people that could have been saved perish. :(

   Lady's Human, for years I have heard people complaining that FEMA had too much power and could step in and take over at any time in a disaster. Now the Department of Homeland Security has primary responsibility for terrorist attacks, natural disasters or other large-scale emergencies providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort.

   On Sunday, I read the New Orleans National Weather Service report online and wondered why the media was not covering their forecast:

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER
POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...
WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

   On Monday the President issued disaster and emergency declarations.

   Years after the Y2k preparedness, September 11th, the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security and while in a state of war, it's unbelievable how totally unprepared our country is. We have paid billions to prepare for a terrorist attack but we are unprepared for a disaster given days of warning.

   Given the poor and overwhelmed media coverage I would not blame Mayor Nagin. I imagine his actions have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. The only way I can imagine you blaming him would be if you said he was on vacation.

   All government officials should have had General Honore's attitude from Mayor Nagin to the President.

      Paul