Don't get stuck on stupid (Transcript and audio of Lt. Gen. Honore briefing reporters on Rita)

Honore: And Mr. Mayor, let's go back, because I can see right now, we're setting this up as he said, he said, we said. All right? We are not going to go, by order of the mayor and the governor, and open the convention center for people to come in. There are buses there. Is that clear to you? Buses parked. There are 4,000 troops there. People come, they get on a bus, they get on a truck, they move on. Is that clear? Is that clear to the public?

Honore: Wait a minute. It didn't work the first time. This ain't the first time. Okay? If...we don't control Rita, you understand? So there are a lot of pieces of it that's going to be worked out. You got good public servants working through it. Let's get a little trust here, because you're starting to act like this is your problem. You are carrying the message, okay? What we're going to do is have the buses staged. The initial place is at the convention center. We're not going to announce other places at this time, until we get a plan set, and we'll let people know where those locations are, through the government, and through public announcements. Right now, to handle the number of people that want to leave, we've got the capacity. You will come to the convention center. There are soldiers there from the 82nd Airborne, and from the Louisiana National Guard. People will be told to get on the bus, and we will take care of them. And where they go will be dependent on the capacity in this state. We've got our communications up. And we'll tell them where to go. And when they get there, they'll be able to get a chance, an opportunity to get registered, and so they can let their families know where they are. But don't start panic here. Okay? We've got a location. It is in the front of the convention center, and that's where we will use to migrate people from it, into the system.

Male reporter: General Honore, we were told that Berman Stadium on the west bank would be another staging area...

Honore: Not to my knowledge. Again, the current place, I just told you one time, is the convention center. Once we complete the plan with the mayor, and is approved by the governor, then we'll start that in the next 12-24 hours. And we understand that there's a problem in getting communications out. That's where we need your help. But let's not confuse the questions with the answers. Buses at the convention center will move our citizens, for whom we have sworn that we will support and defend...and we'll move them on. Let's not get stuck on the last storm. You're asking last storm questions for people who are concerned about the future storm. Don't get stuck on stupid, reporters. We are moving forward. And don't confuse the people please. You are part of the public message. So help us get the message straight. And if you don't understand, maybe you'll confuse it to the people. That's why we like follow-up questions. But right now, it's the convention center, and move on.

Male reporter: General, a little bit more about why that's happening this time, though, and did not have that last time...

Honore: You are stuck on stupid. I'm not going to answer that question. We are going to deal with Rita. This is public information that people are depending on the government to put out. This is the way we've got to do it. So please. I apologize to you, but let's talk about the future. Rita is happening. And right now, we need to get good, clean information out to the people that they can use. And we can have a conversation on the side about the past, in a couple of months.

from Powerline

A word from Major E.

Major E. writes:

I just wanted to check in from Baghdad. I am only here for a short while longer until heading back home, Lord willing, for the birth of our first child. Thus, I doubt there will be many updates since I am here for a short time and not expecting to go out on missions.

One interesting meeting occured, though, at a recent meeting with the leadership of the 3rd Infantry Division here on Camp Victory. When the army colonel who is chief of operations walked into the room, I thought that his appearance and speech resembled someone. After seeing "Honore" on his nametag, I wondered if he was related to the National Guard general from Lousiana. Sure enough, they are cousins, and the one here said of the one there, "I think Russ may be on his way to becoming governor of Louisiana."

Afterwards, I thought about the likely competition for that position, and their post-hurricane job performances: a governor whose only plan, it seems, was to blame Bush; the mayor of New Orleans who let his bus fleet drown while letting legal concerns delay his call for a mandatory evacuation; and, the congressman who represents New Orleans, who commandered a five-ton truck and several soldiers to take him to his house while people still needed rescuing.

He tried to say he was only going to check on his constituents, but the tracks from the five-ton are still in his front lawn. I was hoping that the media would hammer him for abusing his power and preventing the military from saving lives, rather than saving his suitcases, but I just noted his party affiliation so understanding seems more likely than hammering.

Anyway, if the most likely contenders for the governorship are these, then maybe Russ will indeed run -- and win.

Thank you for all of your prayers and support.

Major E.

UPDATE: Dennis Akers writes with a correction:

Love your blog and it is not often that I find something to disagree with or comment on, but Major E got it wrong on Lt.G. Honore. Lt.G. Honore is not in the Lousiana National Guard. He is an active duty general who commanded the 2d Infantry Division in Korea as a Major General when I was there and most recently received some notoriety for limited involvement in Guantanamo. He is indeed from Louisiana, known as the "Raging Cajun" and is a blunt, tough talking general who is almost God like to the many soldiers who have served under him.

And Lt. Col. Ray Stickler (USAF Reserve, ret.) writes:

Guys - Some additional information on LTG Honore (I retired form his staff at the end of July):

He is the Commander of 1st Army, Ft Gillem Georgia, which has two main responsibilities: training and mobilizing Army personnel for deployment, and providing Military Support to Civilian Agencies (MSCA). 1st Army is responsible for states east of the Mississippi, and 5th Army in Texas provides the same support for west of the Mississippi. Being that this hurricane hit along the Mississippi, I would say that 5th Army is in a support role to 1st Army.

For every disaster, either man-made or natural, there is a lead federal agency - in this case FEMA. If FEMA needs military support, they send their request to NORTHCOM, which sends the request to 1st Army. 1st Army will then see what supplies and units it has available, and task them to support the mission. These units and supplies are spread around the US, so you could have tents coming from New York, cots form Kentucky, MREs from North Carolina, and personnel from Minnesota. It is a monumental task to get these units and supplies mobilized and moved into the disaster area. If anyone can do it, the Ragin' Cajun and his staff will. HUAH!

http://powerlineblog.com/archives/011680.php

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.