They are lying their asses off all over the media. They did not prepare properly. They did not respond properly. They knew MONDAY the levee was breached and what it meant. They have LET the situation devolve into chaos.
I know it's hard to accept. I know no one wants to think the US has sunk this far. But look at it. The crucial 72 hours they did nothing. And I'm not talking about the poor souls, the rescue and charity workers who are down there -- I'm talking about an organized response to a crisis.
The world press didn't even know the enormity. Our own press didn't start somewhat reporting it until Tuesday night. Why is that? We knew Monday the levee was breached. We knew what that meant. We did nothing. Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
What is BULL-FUCKING-SHIT?
I wrote that the response of the US gov't has been a fiasco. I have written multiple posts here saying that the disaster response deserves the utmost repudiation. The very post you're replying to says as much.
However, whether you like it or not, these are the facts on the ground. The US needs no search 7 rescue teams right now. Why? Because there are hundreds of S & R teams from all over the country in Louisiana right now. Where are these teams? Are they in New Orleans? No. They haven't been allowed to go in. In fact, a few teams have been pulled out because of the conditions. So, let me ask you again, what would the US do with foreign S 7 R teams when there are already hundreds of them down there twiddling their thumbs.
We already know that the government effed up royally by not securing things IMMEDIATELY. But that has little bearing on the situation as it stands. The facts are that they haven't secured the area, and even the most secure area (Superdome) has had to have the evacuation postponed because of violence.
So, again, what exactly is BULL-FUCKING-SHIT?
I'm so sorry it seemed aimed at you. It was not.
And I do think we should be getting worked up. We cannot let them off the hook. Even now, it is not too late to do some things. It may not be productive for other countries to send teams, but they should be aware of what's happening here and, as a global community, denounce this. Bring every political pressure to bear to make us do the right thing. Maybe we can eventually make language a complete impediment to understanding. -Hobbes
I think you might both be right.
It does not appear that our own government has been able to handle the situation. Reports from people on the ground there are they they don't have enough resources & back-up. In all fairness they were not given a ton of time to plan for this and I'm not sure people really understood, could comprehend how bad it would be.
Despite the fact that the US was obviously unable to deal with this disaster on its own (where is Homeland Security? Weren't they supposed to be able to rescue people, even in the face of violence?), it does not appear to us that the International press or governments have digested, or at least acted upon, the enormity of the situation. May be a dozen reasons for that (time, US response, politics, logistics, etc...). Time will tell.
And yet it also does not appear that even if every government with the resources to help were to provide those resources they would have any immediate impact on the situation because of the difficulties on the ground, er, in New Orleans with lack of communications, lack of ways in or out of the city and rising violence. ... I personally have a little trouble buying that last bit. But that's the word on the street. Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. -Voltaire
As for the violence, I have academic colleagues in Baton Rouge who have given me first hand reports of wounded arriving from New Orleans. In short, I don't doubt the violence. But, it is now dawning on me that this can be used against the rescue effort. Normally, I would have made the connection right away, but I was horrified by the report from my colleague and I am in despair over it. There are 70,000-90,000 people in the city. The vast majority are good desperate people trying to get out.
