A Thank You/Katrina response

Mark

I am appalled by degree and the extent of damage done by the storm. I am also saddened by the volume of the attacks on the Federal government and GWB by those at the state and municipal level (who obviously were and are in charge of disaster relief plans, their execution and therefore the successes and failures) and all the others who choose to say with absolute certainty that GWB is responsible.

The need to blame seems to be the priority of the press, the Democrats, the black racist industry, and the usual Hollywood moonbats. Unfortunately some of the foreign media, individuals and even governments are using this sad event as another opportunity to mock the U.S.

I can’t supply precise info on Canadian aid to the U.S. but while there may be a small team of urban rescue personnel from the city of Vancouver, I do not believe the RCMP is involved in any such door to door recon as you suggest. I guess the important point is that there is a small number of such personnel as well as Canadian Red Cross teams are on the ground doing what they can.

The 4 ship Canadian Naval formation is delayed at sea due to new Atlantic storms and it will probably be days yet before it can offer any significant aid. Again there are claims that two Canadian ships are held up because the U.S. hasn’t decided where they should go. Sounds like BS to me.

It disturbs me to say this but there are those Canadians who question whether we should offer aid because of trade disputes. On the other hand there are many more who are simply saddened and who are not interested in the politics of the blame game and are heartened to see that the casualties seem realitively few so far.

Regards

Sauron

Anna, the French quarter was built on high ground and as such basically remains unscathed (if it was indeed built by the FVrench as I heard it was then kudos to them for the forethought of building it on the highest ground they could find), it will bounce back, as will all of New Orleans eventually…
The Mexican Army/Navy has made their presence felt with a 35 truck convoy now operating on American soil for the first time since the Mexican/American war in the mid-1800’s, and the navy has sent a ship to assist with efforts in the Gulf….and rumor has it one of the FIRST rescue groups was a band of Canadian Mounties from Vancouver that went around trying to determine if folks in buildings were alive or not and helping them get out….way to go, Neighbors!!

Mark

Well, I’m just back from a 14-day trip in the kalahari-desert so forget my late response. The international help only shows us Americans are people as well who can die too, and they should be looked after as well. The all-powerfull US Gov’t was not able to overwhelm Mother nature. Two lessons we have learned now:

1. unlike what many like to believe, the whole world is not anti-american. hence the aid.
2. The rest of the world does not have to threat americans differently than S-E-Asians or Africans. I was in South Africa, where millions of people are still dirt poor, however, they managed to get some aid for new Orleans.

This, Rob, could not have been done by a nation which closed its fences. God thank the US accepted foreign help!!! Only totalitarian states like North Korea let their people starve on the streets.

Never imagined such a awful disaster would happen in Modern America it just seems so unreal, Terrible.
My thought are with all the people involved and the police the Army and resquers who need to try and regain some order in this disaster city.
It does seem the American Government has handled things badly but this is not the time to worry on that, This is the time to do all we can for the people who have lost so much.

I spent many a day in the French Quarter in the early 90’s, It is unbelievable what has happened, sincere condolence 🙁 . Anna

Rob-
Whatever happened, the Government and FEMA both have a lot to answer for in the aftermath…this whole thing should have been taken care of a LOT sooner than it was…and the mayor of NO is a black man, the Governor of Louisiana is a woman.

M

Mark,

With all do respect my friend and you are my FRIEND FEMA didn’t screw the pouch on this one the Mayor and Gov did, they told FEMA they were ok and it wasn’t untill the Dikes broke tdid they start crying for help. Who really screwed up was the Gov. he should have ask Mr. Bush to Federlize the LA National guard two days before the Hurr. hit then i think the problem we have now would never had happen and the Death toll would be alot less because it would have alod the Guard to forcable remove folks for their own good.

Also alot of blame has to fall on the Mayor of NO she could have help the whole cause by mandating that everyone be evac out of the Citythe day before.

RER

Just heard that the famed ‘French quarter’, the famous tourist destination, is relatively unscathed and will probably survive with very few modifications and see yet another Mardi Gras before too long…someday I hope to see this great area/city as it once was and find myself a little depressed that I have not yet made it down there…and it is now trashed.
I am dismayed by those who would say that ‘We’re Americans…we can fend for ourselves and we need no outside help.” What a crap attitude…an emergency is an emergency and help is help, we’ll take it, pride be damned…ask any of the 500,000 folks who have been evacuated from the quagmire that is now New Orleans or any other gulf coast city that was hit by Katrina. FEMA screwed up BIG time and will have its day in court to answer for its incompetencies (FEMA for the uninformed is the Federal Emergency Management Agency), one of which is when it moved into NO a few days after the disaster it FAILED to communicate with local agencies and coordinate its efforts with them. A few days ago a gun battle erupted between Military troops and a band of about 10 roving gunmen/looters and 6 of them were killed, putting forth the message that if they continue to impede the rescue efforts they WILL be taken out one way or another…and since that battle things have calmed down and rescues by helicopter have resumed.

M

^that’s great to hear! nice change from what was being said in another thread.

too bad that once things settle down and the city begins to rebuild.. everyone will go back to their distrusting ways.