Posted on 09/04/2005 6:02:59 AM PDT by mcg2000
SYDNEY (AFP) - The Australian government criticised a US ban on consular officials entering hurricane-stricken New Orleans Sunday, after being embarrassed when media crews rescued its stranded citizens while diplomats awaited access to the disaster zone.
Officials in Canberra said 31 Australians had been evacuated from New Orleans in the past two days and another 40 were still believed to be trapped in the city.
Some rescued Australians who were transported out of New Orleans by Australian news crews have criticised their government for doing nothing to help them, but Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Bruce Billson said efforts were hampered by the US ban.
"Yes we are frustrated by not being given authority to enter into New Orleans where we do see some media outlets entering though other avenues, we are concerned about that," Billson told ABC radio.
"We've continued to press our case to the State Department and US authorities pointing out this seeming inconsistency.
"The explanation we are being given is that the media authorities are sneaking in under certain other avenues or access points."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia, Britain and other countries had been trying to gain consular access to New Orleans.
"We've been making it clear to the Americans that we'd like our officials to be given access to New Orleans, but the Americans remain very strongly of the view that they're going to evacuate people," Downer told Channel Nine.
He said US authorities wanted to keep everyone but emergency services out of the affected area.
"The dimensions of this issue are almost beyond comprehension," Downer said. "You are talking about millions of people who have been displaced because of the impact of the hurricane, so it's a massive logistical task."
Australia has set up temporary consulates in Dallas, Baton Rouge and San Antonio to help citizens leaving the disaster zone.
It's a disaster area, folks. Come on.
That is not cool. Our government shouldn't be telling people where they are allowed and not allowed to go.
The last thing that is needed is a couple of dozen foreign diplomats with guards and guns being shot at by roaming "freedom fighters"...I mean looters...through an American disaster area.
So what? I'd say, you guys can go in but do so at your own risk.
Excuse me.....the freaking city has thousands of dead... and random shootings the last thing we need is a foreign diplomat getting killed.
Let the Australian officials in and keep the left wing press out.
Thanks for clarifying that. I think I'll stroll down to the local ANG now and take one of their my C-130s for a test drive.
"So what?" For the same reason firemen won't let anyone run back into a burning house--to keep them safe. The last thing they need down there is an interloper, much less a dead interloper.
Great, so are we. It has to do something with a large hurricane hitting nearby and flooding the city, or at least that's what I've heard. I thought they would have got the wire.
The "media authorities"? Is Fourth Estate more than a metaphor now?
I wasn't aware that New Orleans was federal government property.
Our government seems to have no problem with letting the news media in.
According to CBS News on Aug 30: NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Martial Law has been declared in New Orleans as conditions continued to deteriorate.
Definition: Martial law is the system of rules that takes effect (usually after a formal declaration) when a military authority takes control of the normal administration of justice.
Yes, the feds do have the authority to tell people where they can go in New Orleans.
Although, I do agree that you can't just let anyone roam around NO at this time, you've got to respect the fact that you have a countries' leaders that are out there to "help" their own citizens when it's obvious that Blanco cannot. IMHO
What were the Aussies going to do, set up offices in a parking lot? Having more foreigners to look after is not helpful.
We're having enough trouble coordinating our own highly trained & equipped search-and-rescue crews. We don't need under-equipped under-trained diplomats unfamiliar with the area getting lost in NO - then screaming when they get in trouble and we don't get them out "in time".
And who's gonna give Aussie citizens/tourists directions to find that little parking lot?
Sheesh, the bureacrats would be more helpful and effective outside the disaster area, perhaps providing contact information and assistance at evacuation centers like the Astrodome. IMHO, they're simply disgruntled because they're being deprived of a photo-op opportunity.
Wrong. The federal government has no such constitutional authority.
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