Obama - just doing his part:
Al-Qaida touts forest arson as terrorism
5/3/12
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2879837/posts
If a decade ago, that means Bush was involved, also. Either way, this is a Fedgov responsibility. I hope that all those who have lost their homes sue the Fedgov for reparations. It's time we hold them ALL accountable.
The Obama administration’s neglect of the federal government’s aerial-tanker fleet raises acrid questions about its core public-safety priorities. Bipartisan complaints goaded the White House into signing a Band-Aid fix last week. But it smacks more of election-year gesture politics: too little, too late, too fake.
Ten years ago, the feds had a fleet of 44 firefighting planes. Today, the number is down to nine for the entire country. Last summer, Obama’s National Forest Service canceled a key federal contract with Sacramento-based Aero Union just as last season’s wildfires were raging. Aero Union had supplied eight vital air tankers to Washington’s dwindling fleet of aerial firefighters. Two weeks later, the company closed down and 60 employees lost their jobs. Aero Union had been a leader in the business for a half-century.
If it is bad for America, Obama is for it. As soon as he knows for sure he is going to be out of his free vacation, he will go ape crazy.
California company did not meet agency’s safety standards
WASHINGTON, July 29, 2011–The U.S. Forest Service announced today that it has terminated its contract with Aero Union of Sacramento, Calif., because the company failed to meet its contractual obligations. The company was providing six airtankers under exclusive-use contracts to the Forest Service.
"Our main priority is protecting and saving lives, and we can't in good conscience maintain an aviation contract where we feel lives may be put at risk due to inadequate safety practices” said Tom Harbour, director of the Forest Service’s Fire and Aviation Management program. “This contract termination notwithstanding, we possess the aircraft support needed for this year's fire season."
The Forest Service has access to additional aviation assets to meet operational needs. Two other private companies provide 11 large airtankers under exclusive-use contracts. In addition, there are two very large airtankers available through a “call when needed” contract, as well as eight military firefighting aircraft.
The five-year contract the Forest Service signed with Aero Union in 2008 required participation in a continued airworthiness program, which included a Fatigue and Damage Tolerance Evaluation and structural inspection program. In April 2011, Aero Union informed the Forest Service that the Federal Aviation Administration found the company was not in compliance with its mandated structural inspection program requirements.
Because of the extraordinary stresses placed on aircraft during aerial firefighting and to prevent catastrophic failures and ensure safety, the Forest Service adds requirements to its airtanker contracts that are specific to the agency’s firefighting mission. The Forest Service will not use aircraft that do not meet its requirements.
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The Agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to State and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.
Why should he care? The forest fire states in the Mountain West lean conservative.
If the Planes were made out of EBT Cards, we would have a million of them.
Heck of a job Brownie(guy).
Could this turn out with over 400 homes burned in CO and NM to be O’s Katrina?
A 12%
B 6%
C 4%
D 17%
F 60%
Total Votes: 169
Conservatives still in the state, need to suck it up and also enjoy your consequences OR MOVE THE F*** ON!!
Wildfires causing mass destruction soften people up for climate change legislation.
Government at every level does almost nothing FOR people. It only does things TO people. Local goverment has taken their queue from the federal government and have become the most oppresive form of goverment.
An Analysis of the Sierra Club Fire Policy. Activists seldom face technical scrutiny of their policy proposals. They are too busy supplying donors with what they want, to pay much attention to the consequences. As a result, it is surprisingly easy to show how foolish their proposals really are.