[Rad_J]

Part of the reason the tsunami relief was so quick is that they announced 1000's of ESTIMATED deaths and quickly reached up to 100,000+ dead. Plus, at least 50% to 90% of the larger tsunami cities were still intact and the water receded quickly. There was still infrastructure to launch relief efforts and aid from. Plus, the 100,000+ dead didn't need food, water, and shelter. In fact, there was initially extra food for the survivors because the dead were no longer there to eat it. Plus, the locals still had homes because they couldn't afford to live in the tourist areas near the beach. Completely different situation and logistics.

It is hard for people to understand the severity of the situation when all week we hear 40 confirmed deaths and then eventually up to 50 confirmed deaths and so on. IF they had started out estimating 10,000+ dead or missing, the american people would have mobilized quicker. Now, who wants to help out when all they see on TV is looters and thugs?

[jwpjr]

The primary reason tsunami relief was so much quicker than Katrina relief is that the military was pretty much free to bring its awesome power to bear on the tsunami problem. No so in NO or LA. If the military had been told to do whatever was necessary for the residents of the Gulf Coast, without regard to local author ties, you would have seen a vastly different response and result. Politicians are simply unable to respond to a situation in the same manner as a military commander.