Posted on 09/04/2005 11:39:17 PM PDT by smoothsailing
State and local officials did not inform top federal officials early on of the deaths and lack of food among hurricane victims in the Superdome or convention center, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said yesterday.
Mr. Chertoff said neither he nor Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown was told of the deteriorating situation in New Orleans until Thursday night.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
I too find Michael Chertoff's denial of any knowledge of conditions in the Superdome very unconvincing. Everyone else in America knew it, what world is he living in? It's particularly off-putting when he sat there and denied any knowledge to Chris Wallace as though he were denying that he knew about an unpaid parking ticket. I think if the DHS truly did not have that information (very doubtful), it must be because they didn't want it. As it was, he came across at best as a bloodless bureaucrat who was covering his arse.
None of this excuses the Major or the Governor in any way, they are culpable of homicidal bungling and worse. That doesn't change the fact that the Dir of Homeland Security looks to be sidestepping any responsibility for action in a national disaster and it makes the whole administration look bad.
I had heard a report (don't recall from where as I have been channel surfing all weeking for bits and pieces, but probably have it recorded) that it was being opened to out-bound traffic only and had video of police blocking incoming on-ramps.
For what?
I guess the FEDS are supposed to make life and death decisions based on MSM reports now, huh. I would assume Chertoff and Brown would not have been sitting around eating potato chips watching CNN.
Some people live in fantasyland.
>If we could get this excerpt, that would be the smoking gun.<
It was "televised" or whatever you would call it, on a web link from Free Republic. Is there a way to capture streaming video? I was just struck by how depressed Nagin sounded, like he knew a lot of people would be killed, and he was powerless to help.
Little did I realize how far out of his league he was a week ago.
No need too,I share it.
I just don't believe the truth can be hidden forever.Of course that's the optimist in me!
I'm rooting for the optimist!;)
Let's hope those sorts of facts come out pretty soon. The Republicans are going to have to figure out that the 2006 and 2008 campaign season begins as soon as the press/Democrats smell blood. Bush and Co. should already know what they need to do.
I don't think the federal government is to blame. Hell, they have done a great job. But, I knew there was a problem by Thursday. If this is true, it is a BS answer from Homeland Security!
Your link shows me requests for money, loans, crisis counseling, debris removal, etc. You will have to point out to me where she says she can't evacuate thousands, can't feed or secure the thousands that went to centers and couldn't keep civil order.
The AP just reported that the Govenor STILL has not handed over control of the National Guard to the Feds. So, just because the Feds see something on tv, doesn't mean they can disregard the laws that are in place. Posse Comitatus for example prevents law enforcement actions to be performed by the federal military. And control over various agencies must be approved by the state. Blanco would not yield control to the feds and the feds had to legally work around that. That takes time.
Should they do their jobs, or should be watching TV news?
Exactly right. In fact with the horrible performance of the MSM during this disaster, I think it should be a REQUIREMENT that no one at FEMA watches any MSM outlets during a natural disaster. Imagine if they were watching Monday night when the Shrimp said 'Looks Like New Orleans has Dodged a Bullet'. In the first few days the MSM was at least 24 hours behind freerepublic in just reporting what was going on. Then when they finally got caught up, in the past few days, all the talking heads were strangely reading reports that were off by a day or two. To paraphrase for example 'People have been stuck here for 6 days' when it was actually just 5 days at the time.
Which is why We the People need to maintain a well armed and regulated militia. Gee, perhaps we can modify the constitution and put something like that in it.
Relax. I spoke with a family member today who is very liberal and before I could speak on the subject, she told me that the mayor did not get the people out in time, there were buses in the flooding, there was no plan at all, and the governor was no better. Coming from her, this is a sign of hope in America. People get it. Even liberal folks.
To be honest with you, I didn't know until Thursday or Friday that there were people in the convention center and I have had my TV on 24/7 for over a week. All I ever heard was the Superdome. Maybe I didn't hear it because I got so disgusted with hearing the complaints and blame games. All I know is that I didn't know about the convention center until Geraldo reported it at the end of the week.
It's been stated in the past that staffers sit in the basement of the White House and monitor Free Republic...I don't know if it is staffers or if it's even at the White House...But you can rest assured that gov't agents of one stripe or another monitor FR as well as numerous other political web sites...
Having said that, it would be total and complete foolishness if Chertoff did not have someone monitoring news reports...And we well know that our gov't monitors news broadcasts and publications in the Mideast and beyond...
I think the foolishness is to assume Homeland Security does not monitor Fox, Cnn, etc...I surely would...
Chertoff should have been more media savvy,IMO.He was more than likely being honest.
In todays political climate,he should have been more careful in his statement.Newt made the same mistake when he said NO should be bulldozed.
It's a sad reality.
"Mr. Chertoff said neither he nor Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown was told of the deteriorating situation in New Orleans until Thursday night."
This is unacceptable.
"The situation was like a war, and there is such a thing as the fog of war. Only in restrospect can we penetrate it,"
Unless you were on FR
Yep.
I'm glad you cleared that up! ;)
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