[bikepacker67]

Are you sure?

Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food

[Cboldt]

National Guard = Blanco troops. Yes, I'm sure the state of Louisiana denied the Red Cross entry, and at the same time, loudly complianed "Where is the aid? Where is FEMA?"

[Bostton1]

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html
From the Red Cross website (link above):

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

[CyberAnt]

Well .. if the Gov told HS not to give them food and water - then why wouldn't HS have told the Red Cross - the Gov doesn't want food and water there - in order to encourage people to leave.

My question is ..: If they wanted the people to leave so bad - they should have taken the idle buses and MOVED THEM. Good grief. No common sense was used in over a week.

[Phsstpok]

I'm sure you've picked up on this by now, but the reporter in the piece you linked to assumed "Homeland Security" meant the Federal agency, but in fact it was referring to the STATE Homeland Security department, who were, and still are, in control of New Orleans and all other access to areas within the state needing help.

They have never ceded authority to the Feds.

To mis-quote J from Men In Black "or do you owe them an apology?"

[UB355]

Yes it was the state homeland security person, not federal

[Texas Songwriter]

I get it now. Blanco wants to starve out any remaining New Orleaneans.

[DilJective]

The article is not factual according to what I just heard the head of Red Cross say on Fox. She said the "state" homeland security agency wouldn't let them in, not the "federal" homeland security agency as stated in your linked article.

Just so FReepers don't get the wrong idea when they read the article.

[libbylu]

it's right on the red cross website.... hard to believe it's true isn't it?

[bobsunshine]

According to the Red Cross Web Page, it was the STATE Homeland that didn't allow them to go into NO, not the Federal - The MSM has it wrong and Fox has it correct:

---

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

1. Access to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

2. The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4524

[shhrubbery!]

Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food

That's STATE OF LOUISIANA Homeland Security -- NOT federal Homeland Security.

Note that the reporterette in your linked article automatically blames "federal" homeland security --while her quoted Red Cross official apparently didn't say that. Here's the Red Cross quote:

"The Homeland Security Department [which one? state or federal?] has requested and continues to request that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans," said Renita Hosler, spokeswoman for the Red Cross.

FoxNews reporter Major Garrett said his Red Cross source was very specific that it was the STATE, not the feds.

Anybody who doesn't make the distinction is either being duped, or is one of the dupers.