The Cavalry (news on progress in New Orleans)

National Review: The Corner ^ | September 5, 2005 | Rich Lowry

[wildwood]

THE CAVALRY [Rich Lowry ] Was just talking to someone who knows military matters and disaster relief, and has been following the situation on the Gulf Coast very closely. Several points (excuse the repetitions):

--“The mayor and the governor are negligent and incompetent. The administration has tried to smooth out the chain of command, but she won't do it. The constitution says that the governor is in charge of the Guard.” (The Washington Post wrote about this on Saturday--and KJL excerpted the relevant bit in here.)

--“None of those poor people were moved prior to the storm. They were told to go to the Superdome, but they had to walk there. Whose responsibility is that?”

-- “General Honore in one day got 20,000 people evacuated from the convention center with a ground and air evacuation. Have you heard about that in the media?”

--“The DoD has been tasked with 40-50 missions here. DoD is the go-to organization for DHS. DHS is trying to build the capacity, but doesn't have it yet. DHS is all brain power and no brawn.”

--“Michael Brown has not done a good job and is in over his head. But, in fairness, FEMA is not organized to handle a catastrophe of this size.”

--“There will be 50k troops there by mid-week, a combination of active duty and National Guard. Including elements of 82nd Airborne Division, First Cavalry Division, and two Marine brigades. That's in just over a week. That's amazing. But no one realizes it. They had to trot General Honore out this morning to try to explain to the media how you move troops. There were National Guard pre-positioned READ MORE......

[OpusatFR]

What is this all about?

"Tracking Katrina: Blanco Requests Federal State of Emergency
Saturday, August 27, 2005


From the NewsChannel 6 Storm Spotting Team:

Governor Blanco requested $9,000,000 and a federal state of emergency declared Saturday. She sent the following letter to President Bush:..."
http://www.newschannel6.tv/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=8601

The left is using this to prove that Bush was in charge and she is not culpable.

To me, at any rate, it just looks like she is requesting support and as far as I can tell, Blanco and the Mayor ignored their own disaster plan that she states will be followed for evacuation.

Anyone? Bueller?

[mylife]

“The mayor and the governor are negligent and incompetent.

The administration has tried to smooth out the chain of command, but she won't do it. The constitution says that the governor is in charge of the Guard.” (The Washington Post wrote about this on Saturday

That is exactly what Ive seen in all this.

Nagin seems to be coming around but Blanco has thwarted efforts with her politics IMHO

[dawn53]

--“Michael Brown has not done a good job and is in over his head. But, in fairness, FEMA is not organized to handle a catastrophe of this size.”

My gripe with Brown was this: He said they were holding back supplies until it was "safe" to go into the city.

Why didn't he push for protection of his people so they could deliver the supplies sooner.

And if FEMA is truly supposed to handle "emergencies," they had better make some provisions for getting into areas, even if they aren't "safe."

[MNJohnnie]

Tell the Left they are idiots studying to be morons and failing. As them why the Sun Sept 4 WASHINGTON POST reported that the Bush Administration was asking Gov Blanco this WEEKEND to turn operations over to the Feds. She is STILL refusing. Declaring a State of Emergency does NOT give the President any legal authority to order troops into LA to perform Law Enforcement operations. All it does is give the State access to a whole lot of Fed emergency money and resources. She is STILL in charge under a Declaration of Emergency. She is commander of the State NG not Bush. So why, after all we saw last week, did she ONLY send 300 Armed NG troops to NO on Thursday??? She had over 10,000 Guards at her disposal and she STILL only sends THREE ZERO ZERO in armed? The Left is grasping at straws and like the rest, this just another LIE.

[wildwood]

but, i think, the issue is that national guard troops, which can keep order, can only be requested be the governor. she did not do that. she also fought any federal intervention,as she appeared to have antipathy toward the administration.

the complaint is that she wanted the money more than anything.

[wildwood]

the only thing i don't like about rich lowry's post is the comment that FEMA wasn't prepared for such a large catastrophe on a huge scale.

if that is true, what on earth encompasses the term FEDERAL? sheesh.

[MNJohnnie]

Why didn't he push for protection of his people so they could deliver the supplies sooner.

Because FEMA doesn't have any Law Enforcement authority. That has to come either from LOCAL City of NO authorities. If they cannot handle it, the City asks the State for MORE resources both Law Enforcement and NG. The City has to ASK because they are RIGHT THERE, the State cannot read their minds and just KNOW what they need. So why, after all we saw, did Blanco ONLY send 300 Armed NG troops on Thursday? According to Sunday's Washington Post, Bush was asking Blanco to turn control over to the Feds. She refused. He DID get her to allow Reg Army Troops to be sent. SHE had to OK it, Bush cannot legally send troops into a state that has an operating Govt to perform Law Enforcement functions without their approval.

[MNJohnnie]

if that is true, what on earth encompasses the term FEDERAL? sheesh.

You do realize the Feds are managing a disaster over an area the size of Great Britain right? How come the Feds are doing such splendid work every where BUT NO? Could it be because the local Govt in Al and MS are working WITH the Feds instead political grandstanding to the "News Media" to avoid accept the blame for their woefully incompetent handling of all this? The reason the locals are screaming so loud is they KNOW they blew it and are trying to muddy up the waters to CYA by trying to splatter everyone involved with blame

[USNBandit]

And if FEMA is truly supposed to handle "emergencies," they had better make some provisions for getting into areas, even if they aren't "safe."

I think one of the big obstacles in this whole exercise has been that nobody expected the collapse of civil order or the collapse of the police force, and the breech of the levees.

I think they all expected 48 hours of bad weather, some flooding which could be pumped out over a reasonable amount of time, restoration of power, and then pushing some FEMA paperwork to get some roofs rebuilt.

[dawn53]

I know FEMA has no military capabilities or folks within the organization to protect them.

If Nagin and Blanco were not willing to protect the FEMA people, then maybe the President should have invoked the "Insurrection Act" under the clause that says the President may invoke it if the local and state authorities are not willing or able to protect their citizens.

Could he have taken any more flack than he's already taken?

[mystery-ak]

Two very good and correct posts...hubby was just activated with the ILNG...I guess he falls under Blanco's control....shame

[maryz]

I think you're right.

[wildwood]

around free republic, i don't think there is much DOUBT that the locals were awful and continue to be, as far as fed help.

the point i was making about lowry's piece is that he excuses the fed response by saying

But, in fairness, FEMA is not organized to handle a catastrophe of this size.”

what if we had a dirty bomb attack? are we not prepared for a large scale catastrophe? only little ones, in this great nation of ours?

[MNJohnnie]

If Nagin and Blanco were not willing to protect the FEMA people, then maybe the President should have invoked the "Insurrection Act" under the clause that says the President may invoke it if the local and state authorities are not willing or able to protect their citizens.


NO what it says if the State is in DEFIANCE of local authority or NOT functioning. It WAS functioning. You can claim it was NOT but that is YOUR opinions not one that fits the legal standard. Bush is in the perfect Catch 22. The Media is NOT interested in reporting the facts so American STILL remain totally ignorant of what a President CAN and CANNOT do. So suppose Bush makes the wild leap of intuition all of you are demanding last week and says "They arn't cutting it send in the troops." The very next day The Black Congressional Caucus and Ms Nacy Pelosie would draw up a Bill of Impeachment and bring it to the US House floor. They would be screaming to the "News Media" "That Racist Sexist cowboy Bush just committed a crime and ran roughshod over a Black Dem Mayor and a Female Dem Gov's LEGAL authority." What is really, really frighting is how so many American think the President is some sort of despot that can just do what ever he wants, when he wants. HE CANNOT. We still are a Nation of Laws even in the midst of disaster. I am also curious why you are so eager to give a complete pass to the total incompetence of the Local and State Gov to shift responsibility onto the THIRD responders? BTW, Bush DID ask the Gov to turn over responsibility to the Feds this weekend. According to the Sun Sept 4 Washington Post, she said NO. He DID get her to accept regular army combat and support troops FINALLY. So how is this ALL FEMAs fault when Blanco was, and IS, still in command? Why is everything going so well everywhere BUT NO? If you want to argue the SYSTEM is broken and we need to change the laws fine but quit pointing fingers NOW. We cannot change the law on a whim. Why do we have local and state Govts at all then if everything is the Feds Fault? Why have we given billions in Federal Homeland Security money to the City of NO and the State of Louisiana since 9-11 to help them prepare for just this sort of disasters? You are aware that the damage zone is an area the size of Great Britain? Why is Mobile AL not having all these problems? Why is Mississippi not having all these problems? Have your heard they have shot at Rescue workers and construction crews in NO? In all honesty, can ANYONE of thought that was a LIKELY response to RESCUE WORKERS?? If the City needs help, and it surely does, the Gov had MORE then enough NG troops on hand if she was willing to use them. Why did she not send in MORE then 300 Armed troops on Thursday? If this "All Bush's fault" why all the foot dragging from the State of Louisiana in turning over responsibility to the Feds?

[Rudder]

some flooding which could be pumped out

Trouble is, some idiot decided to wire the pumps to the NO power grid. Power goes out...no more pumping. The power grid can't be fixed until the water recedes, the water won't recede on its own since NO is in a basin. Big time SNAFU.

[MNJohnnie]

what if we had a dirty bomb attack? are we not prepared for a large scale catastrophe? only little ones, in this great nation of ours?

Why after Billions of Fed dollars pumped into the State of Louisianan to prepare for this type of disaster did the 1st Responders and 2nd Responders so totally fail to do their part of the job? How is FEMA responsible for the failures of the Locals? The are the 1st and second responders to ANY crises. FEMA is a THIRD responder. Not only do they have to manage resources everywhere, they have have to GET across the devastation zone TO get to NO. Things were actually moving along until they start shooting at the Rescuers! That is a Public Safety issue that the City of NO and the STATE have responsibility for under the plan.

I know a LOT of people do not want to believe this but the Govt cant do everything for everyone right this second.

[MNJohnnie]

what if we had a dirty bomb attack? are we not prepared for a large scale catastrophe? only little ones, in this great nation of ours? Maybe not. There is a LOT of Mississippi and and Alabahma that need help. ALSO since Presdient Bush has been allowed by Blanco, FINALLY, to send in Reg Army units into NO he probably will go elsewhere.

Tell your Hubby THANK YOU for me. I am cotinually in awe of the dedication and skill the Guards show.

[MNJohnnie]

Sorry forgot to cut all of the old message out. Here is what I meant to say to you

There is a LOT of Mississippi and and Alabahma that need help. ALSO since Presdient Bush has been allowed by Blanco, FINALLY, to send in Reg Army units into NO he probably will go elsewhere. Tell your Hubby THANK YOU for me. I am cotinually in awe of the dedication and skill the Guards show.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"--“None of those poor people were moved prior to the storm. They were told to go to the Superdome, but they had to walk there. Whose responsibility is that?” "

Right, and never mind the 400+ drowned buses the NO mayor deemed unnecessary to use before the storm or flood, nor to transport people to the SD shelter. Even after on August 26th he said the levees would most likely be breached, the fool did not even bother to reposition the buses on higher ground

I saw the emergency plan he had, the SD was to be used for the hurricane only until the storm passed, No precautions, nada, for anything than maybe an overnighter.

The NO mayor and the LA gov should be placed against the nearest wall or pile of debris and shot forthwith without trial or ceremony. The same as they as they did to the Galveston TX (after the 1900 hurricane) looters and Kodiak fiends (love that word they had for MSM pimps of the era) found taking pictures of the nude dead.