Difference between revisions of "Hurricane Katrina/response"
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It should be noted, also, that this administration has "[http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fmediamatters.org%2Fitems%2F200509020001 repeatedly denied full funding for hurricane prevention and flood control]" (siphoning much of the money off to pay for the war in Iraq), thus allowing a known problem to remain unaddressed until it was too late. | It should be noted, also, that this administration has "[http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fmediamatters.org%2Fitems%2F200509020001 repeatedly denied full funding for hurricane prevention and flood control]" (siphoning much of the money off to pay for the war in Iraq), thus allowing a known problem to remain unaddressed until it was too late. | ||
| + | As icing on the cake, the Department of Homeland Security has apparently gone ahead with declaring September to be [http://www.ready.gov/npm/ National Preparedness Month]. | ||
==Transportation Effects== | ==Transportation Effects== | ||
A further effect of the hurricane has been a sudden leap in gasoline prices, because of damage to the supply lines (many of which went through southern Louisiana) and drilling rigs (many located just offshore in the Gulf of Mexico). This has added to already high gasoline prices which appear to be ultimately due to gradually decreasing output as the Earth's supply of crude oil dwindles (see [[Dependence on Oil]]), which highlights the current administration's continual inattention to strengthening public transportation (using less fuel per passenger-mile) and development of alternative fuels. | A further effect of the hurricane has been a sudden leap in gasoline prices, because of damage to the supply lines (many of which went through southern Louisiana) and drilling rigs (many located just offshore in the Gulf of Mexico). This has added to already high gasoline prices which appear to be ultimately due to gradually decreasing output as the Earth's supply of crude oil dwindles (see [[Dependence on Oil]]), which highlights the current administration's continual inattention to strengthening public transportation (using less fuel per passenger-mile) and development of alternative fuels. | ||
==Media Manipulation== | ==Media Manipulation== | ||
| − | * '''2005-09-10''' about 2 days ago, the Bush administration began trying to shift blame to local officials – including a blatantly false statement about the Louisiana governor's actions, which was widely repeated as fact – and to paint criticisms of the administration's handling of the crisis as "Democrats ... seeking political gain at a moment of national crisis". [http://mediamatters.org/items/200509080023] [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html?ex=1283572800&en=6fea4620b7c96ac5&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss] | + | * '''2005-09-10''' about 2 days ago, the Bush administration apparently began trying to shift blame to local officials – including a blatantly false statement about the Louisiana governor's actions, which was widely repeated as fact – and to paint criticisms of the administration's handling of the crisis as "Democrats ... seeking political gain at a moment of national crisis". [http://mediamatters.org/items/200509080023] [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspecial/05bush.html?ex=1283572800&en=6fea4620b7c96ac5&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss] |
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==Reference== | ==Reference== | ||
*[http://www.nola-intel.org/ New Orleans, LA Post-Katrina Intelligence Dissemination] wiki | *[http://www.nola-intel.org/ New Orleans, LA Post-Katrina Intelligence Dissemination] wiki | ||
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** [[wikipedia:Hurricane Katrina disaster relief|disaster relief]] | ** [[wikipedia:Hurricane Katrina disaster relief|disaster relief]] | ||
* [http://www.truthout.org/mayday.shtml Truthout.org] | * [http://www.truthout.org/mayday.shtml Truthout.org] | ||
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==News== | ==News== | ||
* '''2005-09-23''' [[wikinews:FDA to incinerate foreign aid meant for victims of Hurricane Katrina|FDA to incinerate foreign aid meant for victims of Hurricane Katrina]] | * '''2005-09-23''' [[wikinews:FDA to incinerate foreign aid meant for victims of Hurricane Katrina|FDA to incinerate foreign aid meant for victims of Hurricane Katrina]] | ||
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*[http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/02/levee.criticism.reut/index.html CNN: Models predicted New Orleans disaster] but Bush says "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." | *[http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/09/02/levee.criticism.reut/index.html CNN: Models predicted New Orleans disaster] but Bush says "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." | ||
*[http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/katrina.chertoff/index.html Chertoff: Katrina scenario did not exist]: "Homeland Security Secretary [[wikipedia:Michael Chertoff|Michael Chertoff]] argued Saturday that government planners did not predict such a disaster ever could occur." WTF?? | *[http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/katrina.chertoff/index.html Chertoff: Katrina scenario did not exist]: "Homeland Security Secretary [[wikipedia:Michael Chertoff|Michael Chertoff]] argued Saturday that government planners did not predict such a disaster ever could occur." WTF?? | ||
| + | ==Opinion== | ||
| + | ===Analysis=== | ||
| + | * '''2005-10-08''' [http://www.lewrockwell.com/rockwell/central-katrina.html Conservative Central Planning] by Lew Rockwell | ||
| + | ===Counterpoints=== | ||
| + | *'The governor of Mississippi, for instance, was pressed hard by a television news interviewer until he finally said, "I know what you want me to say -- that the federal government dropped the ball on this. But they didn't. They were as prepared as anyone could have been, and they've done everything that could be done.' (Or words to that effect)." -- [http://www.ornery.org/essays/warwatch/2005-09-04-1.html Orson Scott Card] (the remainder of the article argues, among other things, that GWB was not in a position to prevent the damage.) | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
*There have been rumors that Canada offered help, but that the help was not allowed to enter the country — details, anyone? | *There have been rumors that Canada offered help, but that the help was not allowed to enter the country — details, anyone? | ||
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Revision as of 23:42, 14 October 2005
Opinionated Summary
George W. Bush's administration has been shameful in its lackadaisical response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and has compounded this shame by focusing their belated responses primarily on their own political power-reinforcement, self-congratulations, and (when they reach the point of admitting that the response has been inadequate) claiming that nobody had foreseen the possibility of such a disaster.
The government's response has been widely described as a national disgrace, by critics inside the US and abroad. Such accusations tend to fly thick and fast in any major disaster such as this — but in this case they do seem warranted in that there seems to have been no contingency plan, despite the countless discussions of the inevitability of exactly this disaster (and worse) over the past few years, with plenty of warning that action was needed if it was to be prevented.
Worse, the administration seems to be actively denying that anyone had any idea that this could happen (Bush: "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." [1]; Chertoff: "That 'perfect storm' of a combination of catastrophes exceeded the foresight of the planners, and maybe anybody's foresight." [2]). This can only be monumental stupidity, willful ignorance, or perhaps a deliberate application of the Big Lie technique.
It should be noted, also, that this administration has "repeatedly denied full funding for hurricane prevention and flood control" (siphoning much of the money off to pay for the war in Iraq), thus allowing a known problem to remain unaddressed until it was too late.
As icing on the cake, the Department of Homeland Security has apparently gone ahead with declaring September to be National Preparedness Month.
Transportation Effects
A further effect of the hurricane has been a sudden leap in gasoline prices, because of damage to the supply lines (many of which went through southern Louisiana) and drilling rigs (many located just offshore in the Gulf of Mexico). This has added to already high gasoline prices which appear to be ultimately due to gradually decreasing output as the Earth's supply of crude oil dwindles (see Dependence on Oil), which highlights the current administration's continual inattention to strengthening public transportation (using less fuel per passenger-mile) and development of alternative fuels.
Media Manipulation
- 2005-09-10 about 2 days ago, the Bush administration apparently began trying to shift blame to local officials – including a blatantly false statement about the Louisiana governor's actions, which was widely repeated as fact – and to paint criticisms of the administration's handling of the crisis as "Democrats ... seeking political gain at a moment of national crisis". [3] [4]
Reference
News
- 2005-09-23 FDA to incinerate foreign aid meant for victims of Hurricane Katrina
- 2005-09-13 more details come to light regarding why there was no planned evacuation
- 2005-09-10 Firms with Bush-Cheney ties clinching Katrina deals (Reuters)
- 2005-09-03 statement from Louisiana senator Mary Landrieu
- Impeach George: some rather damning details
- Katrina-related quotes from government officials and others
- CNN: Models predicted New Orleans disaster but Bush says "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees."
- Chertoff: Katrina scenario did not exist: "Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff argued Saturday that government planners did not predict such a disaster ever could occur." WTF??
Opinion
Analysis
- 2005-10-08 Conservative Central Planning by Lew Rockwell
Counterpoints
- 'The governor of Mississippi, for instance, was pressed hard by a television news interviewer until he finally said, "I know what you want me to say -- that the federal government dropped the ball on this. But they didn't. They were as prepared as anyone could have been, and they've done everything that could be done.' (Or words to that effect)." -- Orson Scott Card (the remainder of the article argues, among other things, that GWB was not in a position to prevent the damage.)
Notes
- There have been rumors that Canada offered help, but that the help was not allowed to enter the country — details, anyone?