Being protected by Larry, Curly and Moe
I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I read the Secretery of Homeland Security's response to questions about the lack of preparedness in his department. It breaks down as follows:
1. Nobody expected a category 4 or 5 hurricane.
2. Nobody forecast a breech.
3. There was so little warning.
4. We must adapt and we're doing so.
5. It's our job to save the city and the survivors.
These are, of course, all lies - and surprisingly brazen given the actual facts. CNN, in a wonderful report on his news conference, lays them bare. I don't know how this guy can actually sleep at night. If you haven't done 1-4, I don't really trust you to do 5. Chertoff, along with FEMA head, Brown, and President Bush are all feeding the press the same pack of excuses and lies which basically reflect the aforementioned list. It really is a bit like being protected by Larry, Curly and Moe. But the latter are actually funny!
posted by Joker & Thief @ 1:20 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
About that #5. I caught this exchange on FOX news Friday night. It's been posted here (WM seems to work better):
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2005/09/02.html#a4763
I'm still not sure what to make of it. On one hand you've got reporters on the ground that are at a breaking point, and on the other it on one of the most conservative news outlets in the US. I'm still looking for Shep Smith shouting down Bill O'Reilly moments earlier.
'It's all the perspective you need', as Shep said.
But if it is the local governments job to determine what to do, why did the mayor of New Orleans wait until after the Levys broke to start telling people to evacuate? I have a storm chasing friend that earns his living getting video footage of storms.
He was asking cops the day the storm hit why they weren't hollering at people to get out. The cops said that the mayor had not issued an evacuation order so they were not allowed to order people to evacuate.
So why is everybody beating up Bush? If Bush had tried to order an evacuation without the cooperation of the mayor, wouldn't you guys still be hammering Bush because he was breaking the law by getting involved in local government issues?
This was part of a press release by FEMA from SATURDAY, AUGUST 27:
Release Date: August 27, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-169
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, today announced that Federal resources are being allocated to support emergency protective response efforts response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina.
Brown said President Bush authorized the aid under an emergency disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA's analysis of the state's request for federal assistance. FEMA will mobilize equipment and resources necessary to protect public health and safety by assisting law enforcement with evacuations, establishing shelters, supporting emergency medical needs, meeting immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining human needs and protecting property, in addition to other emergency protective measures.
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease_print.fema?id=18447
Now, according to CNN on Monday, August 29, 2005; Posted: 12:10 a.m. EDT (04:10 GMT):
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared a state of emergency Sunday (28) and ordered a mandatory evacuation of the city. (Watch video of mayor's announcement).
http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/28/hurricane.katrina/
New Orleans was to be eveacuated, FEMA was to assist in the effort. Niether thing happened, obviously.
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