Mr. President, WHY is the National Guard in IRAQ?

[Slade]

Not trying to make political capital out of a disastrous situation, but I knew this day would come unfortunately.

There should ALREADY be a lot more help, food, water, clothing, medical supplies and re-location efforts under way in the Gulf states than there has been. And I, frankly, am outraged that there hasn't been.

WHY hasn't it been better and more coordinated? There's plenty of food, water, and other supplies available..but the MANPOWER to distribute/move these items is NOT. Right now the Gulf states are operating at only 50% or less than normal of their National Guard manpower. Why? Because they are in frigging Iraq!

That's one of the main purposes of the National Guard..to be in your state in case of emergencies just like this one. Now other states are hurrying up and sending what they have in terms on manpower down to to the Gulf states.

And Gawd forbid that another terrible disaster hits this country as we are ill prepared to deal with a second Katrina like disaster.

[Northstar]

I agree 100%. I know it takes time to get things done but it seem like more should be being done by now. Why isn't the national guard air dropping bottled water to the stranded people in need? It is a disgrace that people have to wait this long for help in the richest country in the world.

[Bec]

I agree 100%. I know it takes time to get things done but it seem like more should be being done by now. Why isn't the national guard air dropping bottled water to the stranded people in need? It is a disgrace that people have to wait this long for help in the richest country in the world.

That's the part I didn't get -- air dropping in supplies. I'd of thought they'd have some pallets done up with water and food that could be lowered into areas they can't get to by road. What good is having 3 ships loaded with supplies arriving early next week???? They'll have everyone out by then (hopefully).

[Slade]

That's the part I didn't get -- air dropping in supplies. I'd of thought they'd have some pallets done up with water and food that could be lowered into areas they can't get to by road. What good is having 3 ships loaded with supplies arriving early next week???? They'll have everyone out by then (hopefully).

That's the sad reality of it. I think the media, demos, etc. are biding their time because it would look very partisan to suddenly attack the Prez on this issue..but this WILL come out. You have to have to manpower to air lift/drop and move all of this equipment/supplies.

I hope the south in the next few elections tells the Repubs & neo-cons to SHOVE it big time.

[Bec]

Hell -- set em up on a tarmac and let the media copters take em. They're covering places that the gov't relief teams haven't even seen yet.

[Happysucks]

<quote>NEW ORLEANS - Fights and fires broke out, rescue helicopters and law enforcement officers were shot at and anger mounted across New Orleans on Thursday, as National Guardsmen poured in to help restore order across this increasingly desperate and lawless city. “We are out here like pure animals. We don’t have help,” the Rev. Issac Clark, 68, said outside the New Orleans Convention Center, where corpses lay in the open and he and other evacuees complained that they were dropped off and given nothing — no food, no water, no medicine. </quote>

<quote>New Orleans’ Charity Hospital halted efforts to evacuate its patients after it came under sniper fire, according to Dr. Tyler Curiel, who witnessed the incidents.

The attack came as New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin issued “a desperate SOS” for the thousands of people stranded in an around the city’s convention center with no food or water and fading hope.

Curiel and his National Guard escorts, were returning to the hospital after dropping off patients at nearby Tulane Medical Center, when someone started shooting at their convoy of Humvees.

“We were coming in from a parking deck at Tulane Medical Center, and a guy in a white shirt started firing at us,” Curiel said. “The National Guard (troops), wearing flak jackets, tried to get a bead on this guy </quote>


Been looking but can't seem to find any link to the story of how we are not trying to help the situation, but rather, playing cards and sipping tea.

[Bec]

Been looking but can't seem to find any link to the story of how we are not trying to help the situation, but rather, playing cards and sipping tea.

That's not the point we were making ... yes, National Guardsmen are finally arriving ... but things that could of been done to ease the plight of survivors in devastated areas is being reported along the vein of "we can't help them til we can get in to them" ... yet we're getting news reports from these very same "inaccessible" areas. Something does NOT compute here.

[basschick]

the republicans i have talked with already have their reasons for believing that this was all necessary. i have been told that i simply don't understand logistics, and it couldn't have been done any faster. i have been called a tree-hugger who doesn't understand that the president is doing what's best for america.

the displacement of a million people, deaths of so many, and the fact that americans are doing without basic necessities don't even enter the minds of hardcore christian rightists. they have their excuses ready so denial can continue to function for them.

That's the sad reality of it. I think the media, demos, etc. are biding their time because it would look very partisan to suddenly attack the Prez on this issue..but this WILL come out. You have to have to manpower to air lift/drop and move all of this equipment/supplies.

I hope the south in the next few elections tells the Repubs & neo-cons to SHOVE it big time.

[robin]

Well I do understand military logistics, having been in that field of operations for years -- It most certainly could have been done quite a bit faster.

[desslock]

This has nothing to do with National Guard troops being in Iraq. If there were no troops in Iraq, the sequence of events would not have played out any differently.

Perhaps if you suggest the Louisianans should turn out their representation, do you also think their Democrat Governor should be held at least as accountable? After all, Louisiana is her full time job. The "neo-cons" don't run the state.

In fact New Orleans is a town pretty much run by a Democrat machine. Despite this, I would suggest that it is not a R or D thing. It is more then anything else, a natural disaster.

I would hesititate trying to push a national RedState/BlueState lens onto New Orleans. I would remind people to realzie that Louisiana politics have always been one of the country's most colorful. In fact, there are a number of very good books for sale about Huey Long, state politics and the infamous Long subsequent dynasty.

Louisiana has always lived by its own set of rules. (that is a state that utilizes the Napoleonic legal code, for example) It's not a secret that the city's 1920s era system of dirt levys should be redone. It wasn't a secret twenty five years ago either.

I have been rattled all week watching the New Orleans news. Among other things, I was just there in June walking around Canal St, the French Quarter, etc. It is so sad. We just need to hang on and get through it. I will be happy to do what I can myself to help that beautiful city emerge into something even better.

Steve

[basschick]

the gov of louisiana sure hasn't impressed me - but that's just me.

as far as the rest, the government could have arranged to start transporting people out of there on thursday night, and then all day friday and saturday. sure, that's not the way we ever do things - we need red tape to cover every action - but think of the lives they would have saved.

the military just made the levy that broke, btw. it's not one of the old levies. for some reason, they made it only to withstand a category 3 or less :-/

[Slade]

This has nothing to do with National Guard troops being in Iraq. If there were no troops in Iraq, the sequence of events would not have played out any differently.

This has quite a bit to do with troops being in Iraq and the lack of organization and manpower.

I don't want a history on "state politics" here. What we are talking about is simple humanity and the ability of the most powerful, resourceful, and inventive nation on this planet to take care of it's OWN people. It is a sad commentary that we seem to be failing thousands miserably.

This has nothing to do with the Governor, or the Mayor, or Louisiana politics.
This is a NATIONAL effort in which the RESOURCES of the nation can and should have been mobilized quite quickly.

Look how slowly the FIRST response was. And that's my point about the national guard troops being in Iraq. They were so overwhelmed by the destruction and had such reduced manpower, that the National Guard wasn't even really used for the first 24 hours or so after this storm hit. And I still stick by my point that MORE guardsmen would have been VERY helpful in getting more done faster.

As it is now..the Gulf States are getting help from guardsmen from other states because of the sheer volume of the devastation. So, I cannot sit idly by and be quiet while I watch people die BECAUSE WE WERE NOT, AS A NATION, PREPARED FOR SUCH A DISASTER!

[Slade]

A post from another board:


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9160710/

TONY ZUMBADO: I've gotta tell you, I thought I'd seen it all, but just when you think you've seen it all, you go into another situation and you see something horrific. I've never seen anything in my life like this. ... I can't put it into words the amount of destruction that is in this city and how these people are coping. They are just left behind. There is nothing offered to them. No water, no ice, no C-rations, nothing, for the last four days.

They were told to go to the convention center. They did, they've been behaving. It's unbelievable how organized they are, how supportive they are of each other. They have not started any mêlées, any riots ... they just want food and support. And what I saw there I've never seen in this country.

We need to really look at this situation at the convention center. It's getting very very crazy in there and very dangerous. Somebody needs to come down with a lot of food and a lot of water. There's no hostility there ... they need support. These people are very desperate. I saw two gentlemen die in front of me because of dehydration. I saw a baby near death.

[Slade]

One other noteworthy post:

you can take military transport helicopters that have armoured protection and IMMEDIATELY fly in convoys of h20 and c-rations to place like NO convention center.

these machines are all weather 24/7 vehicles used by the us military all over the world in combat zones.

this is VERY poor form and shows a complete lack of understanding.

humans can exist for 7-14 days with no food.

they can exist only 3 or 4 days with no water, expecially since temps are in the 90's now in the gulf.
----------
and btw..mre's, which we have MILLIONS of, are sealed water tight and FLOAT!

[desslock]

Well I have lately been comparing this to my memories of 9-11. At least there you had Mayor Guilliani having press conferences, talking about where they were at in the operation, and what there was to do. At least the New York City government had some semblence of a process. This is chaos. You keep hearing how no one knows what is going on, and there is no information. Where is the chief of police? the mayor? the governor? After all, they live there and know all the local knowledge. Not a bunch of feds who live in Northern Virginia.

I visited New Orleans back in June, and you know the locals would go around and say how a force 5 hurricane could tear through their levy system if it happened... then they would sell you a "Hurricane" and send you to go walk around on the street.

And I've been hearing all summer long about how hurricanes are expected to be stronger in the Gulf for awhile. My exasperation would be more at why the people who live there and elect hadn't prepared a little better for it. But really to say that right now I think would be unfair, considering there are bodies floating around at the moment.

Much less try to allege that because there are troops in Iraq, this would have changed anything. Everything will be temporary until they now stop the breeches and get the water out.

Steve