Originally posted by StratComm
Because 1) while devestating, this is nothing that the US shouldn't be able to handle, and 2) because Bob is of the opinion that our government is making a mockery of crisis management. I'm of a slightly differing opinion on point 2, and while I don't want to downplay the extent of human suffering, even in this country there are only a finite number of resources available to do the job.
the sad thing is that its not that the government is intentionally making a mockery of this (last thing bush and his conservies wanted to do was tap the oil reserve), but its a matter of fact that the current leaders of THIS COUNTRY are so fuc-kin behind the reality of things that "most of our lawmakers are still on vacation and may come back to work a 'lil' bit early than usual". this is coming STRAIGHT from the white house. this is pathetic man. the president doesnt get a break, the lawmakers do, prez may take a vacation when he feels like it (cause truth is, when bush isnt planning middle east nonsense, half the time his function is meetings, debreifings, and signing laws/documents), but its not like he cant do a fidel castro and snap his fingers and make things happen.
maybe any other person in his shoes might make the same slow responces, but jesus christ not EVERYONE in our government is ->THIS SLOW!<
truth is if he wanted to he'd tell the other states to lend national gauards men to the areas affected, extra army personel, have the navy out there assisting in evacuations, there are so many things that arent directly government resource but that all he'd have to do is say GO, and they would go cause people want to help. on 9/11 there was no looting, none. no wild shooters looking for arabs to get revenge on and whatnot, everyone including myself was down there in the thick of it and we all helped as much as we could until the national guard came in. Our govenor (as much as i dont like pataki) and guliani was able to procure national guardsmen, airforce, and sea based assistance in far less time. and were talking about a man made disaster compared to a natural disaster which is 5x worse than 9/11 and maybe double the capacity of the Asian Tsunami.
the Tenesse gov asked the gov'ment to get cruise ships to the docks down there (mind u carnival offered), the government said NO. "money issues". seriously. were talkin bout ships that can take 5000 people at a time out of the areas into texas and florida and surounding areas and that can support that many people at sea and provide shelter for a certain amount of time. gov said no, too much money.
the govenor (and the old one) pleaded for 40,000 national guardsmen to help evacuate and maintain lawenforcement, only now theyre getting it. theyve even asked for army support heli's to put pressure on armed groups to intimidate them, Military said no, so the reservists (who asked also), cant support themselves anymore than the police can.
The military isnt even deploying assets down there to make things happen at an excelerated pace.
and yes its quite interesting how with 9/11 because its political based, Land, Air and Sea asets were in NEW YORK airspace @ 11am ready to kick ass, and yet a week later, grey hound, GREY HOUND is doing a better job at helping out than the people that STATE ELECTED INTO OFFICE!
!!!! people were cleanin that area the second it got owned by the collapses.... (pardon l33t).
things need to get done. the leveys need fixing and the army corps of engineers should have apaches protecting them. or atleast skiff boats the military used in vietnam or in hawaii... u know anything to allow them to get things done.
had this been an attack on the US, u best believe our governments responce woulda probrably been just as slow.
"again, no more ranting for me today. I fully understand that if i can do better, then i should run for Bushes job...."
