and it just keep coming.....

[Guest guest]

snapshots

 

New Orleans Mayor Sends " Desperate SOS " To Nation

Tens of thousands of refugees remain in New Orleans - four days after Hurricane

Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region. On Thursday New Orleans Mayor Ray

Nagin sent a desperate SOS to the country for more aid. The city is admitting

that some survivors have not eaten or had water in three or four days. Corpses

are floating in the floodwater. Thousands of people across the country are

searching for relatives and friends -- not knowing if they have survived the

catastrophoe Nearly 2 million people remain without power. The Coast Guard

reports there are still many residents stuck on their roofs seeking to be

rescued. Officials fear thousands may be dead. The banner headline in this

morning's Time-Picayune newspaper reads " Help Us, Please. "

 

Federal Aid Arrives Days Late In Biloxi, MS

In Biloxi Mississippi, the first federal aid arrived only yesterday - three full

days after the storm wiped out entire sections of the city. In smaller towns in

Mississippi help still hasn't arrived.

 

Nightmarish Conditions Reported at City Convention Center

In New Orleans, nightmarish scenes were reported both inside and outside the

City's Convention Center. Outside an old man lay dead in a long chair in a

grassy median. Infants wailed around him. Nearby, the corpse of an elderly woman

lay stiffened in a wheelchair, covered by a plaid blanket. Another dead body was

at her feet, wrapped in a white sheet. Inside thousands of refugees were trying

to stay alive with little food, water and no electricity. Mayor Nagin said " the

convention center is unsanitary and unsafe and we're running out of supplies. "

Federal relief officials have played almost no role. The head of FEMA, Michael

Brown, admitted on CNN last night that his agency didn't even know that

thousands of hungry refugees were inside the convention center. Until yesterday

the only food inside came after refugees broke into the center's food-service

area to retrieve water and other goods.

 

Top City Official Blasts FEMA: " This Is A National Disgrace "

The head of New Orleans' emergency operations blasted the federal government and

FEMA for its slow response. The official Terry Ebbert said " This is a national

emergency. This is a national disgrace. " Ebbert went on to say " FEMA has been

here three days, yet there is no command and control. We can send massive

amounts of aid to tsunami victims, but we can't bail out the city of New

Orleans. " Ebbert said " It's criminal within the confines of the United States

that within one hour of the hurricane they weren't force-feeding us. It's like

FEMA has never been to a hurricane. "

 

No FEMA Officials Reported in Mississippi

FEMA has also been widely criticized in Mississippi where some towns are still

waiting for federal aid to arrive. Lakeshore, Mississippi resident James Gibson

said " There's no FEMA. No Red Cross. No help. People are sick. The water is like

toxic gumbo. We're the forgotten little town that got blown away. " The state of

Mississippi is reporting that there is a 50 mile stretch of coastline where 90

percent of the structures are destroyed.

 

Federal Relief Efforts Just Beginning

Much of the federal government's relief efforts are just beginning to be felt.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Department of Health of Human Services

has promised to set up 40 emergency aid stations. As of yesterday only one was

open and it was located 80 miles away from New Orleans. It took until Wednesday

for the Pentagon to activate a major Navy hospital ship but it may take days

before the ship actually arrives to the devastated region.

 

Governor Gives Troops Shoot-to-Kill Orders

Violence has also increased on the streets of New Orleans. Armed citizens have

reportedly taken over some of the relief sites. Shots have been fired at police

officers and rescue helicopters. There have been reports of rapes, murders and

carjackings. Residents continue to break into stores in search of everything

from food and water to guns to luxury items. The White House announced it would

have zero tolerance for looters - even for those taking essential items needed

to stay alive. Louisiana Governor's Kathleen Blanco warned that troops had

orders to shoot to kill. She said " These troops are fresh back from Iraq, well

trained, experienced, battle tested and under my orders to restore order in the

streets. She went on to say " They have M-16s and they are locked and loaded.

" These troops know how to shoot and kill and they are more than willing to do so

if necessary and I expect they will. "

 

Early Morning Explosions Reported

Early this morning explosions illuminated the pre-dawn sky. Officials are still

investigating what caused the blasts.

 

White House: National Guard Won't Return From Iraq

The Pentagon said that by next week 24,000 troops will be on the ground to

assist in recovery efforts, including 8,600 National Guard members by today who

could be put to work in law enforcement. White House Press Secretary Scott

McClellan said there are no plans to call back the 6,000 plus members of the

Louisiana and Mississippi National Guard currently stationed in Iraq. But to

make up for the shortfall, states from as far as Wisconsin are now sending Guard

units. Meanwhile CNN is reporting that in some New Orleans precincts up to 20

percent of the police force has gone AWOL.

 

Bush Officials Criticized For Staying On Vacation

Criticism is also mounting over the Bush administration's handling of the

crisis. President Bush didn't return from his vacation until Wednesday and

several other top officials remain on summer breaks. Secretary of State

Condoleeza Rice had been vacationing in New York City but returned to Washington

on Thursday. Meanwhile Vice President Dick Cheney has been in Wyoming and White

House Chief of Staff Andrew Card has been in Maine.

 

Senate Oks $10 Billion Emergency Bill

On Capitol Hill, the Senate convened a special session last night and passed a

$10 billion emergency supplemental spending bill. The House is expected to vote

on the measure today.

 

FEMA Suggests Donor Gives To Pat Robertson's Charity

Private donors have given over $100 million to charities. On its website, FEMA

lists a series of possible charities. The top three charities are: the Red

Cross, Operation Second Harvest and Operation Blessing, which was founded by

Christian televangelist Pat Robertson. Meanwhile the Red Cross announced last

night that its shelters in the region are already at capacity with 76,000

refugees.

 

UN Offers Aid

The international community, including the United Nations, has responded with

offers of aid. UN Sec. General Kofi Annan said " The American people who have

always been the most generous in responding to disasters in other parts of the

world, have now themselves suffered a grievous blow. "

 

 

 

Those who control the past, control the future; Those who control the future,

control the present; Those who control the present, control the past.^

[Guest guest]

Read the anger in of the Mayor in this CNN interview

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/02/nagin.transcript/index.html

Q: What do you need right now to get control of this situation?

A: " I need reinforcements, I need troops, man. I need 500 buses, man. We

ain't talking about -- you know, one of the briefings we had, they were

talking about getting public school bus drivers to come down here and

bus people out here.

 

I'm like, " You got to be kidding me. This is a national disaster. Get

every doggone Greyhound bus line in the country and get their asses

moving to New Orleans. "

 

That's -- they're thinking small, man. And this is a major, major, major

deal. And I can't emphasize it enough, man. This is crazy.

 

I've got 15,000 to 20,000 people over at the convention center. It's

bursting at the seams. The poor people in Plaquemines Parish. ... We

don't have anything, and we're sharing with our brothers in Plaquemines

Parish. "

 

<snip>

 

Mayor: " I have no idea what they're doing. But I will tell you this: You

know, God is looking down on all this, and if they are not doing

everything in their power to save people, they are going to pay the

price. Because every day that we delay, people are dying and they're

dying by the hundreds, I'm willing to bet you. "

 

<snip>

 

" And I am telling you right now: They're showing all these reports of

people looting and doing all that weird stuff, and they are doing that,

but people are desperate and they're trying to find food and water, the

majority of them.

 

Now you got some knuckleheads out there, and they are taking advantage

of this lawless -- this situation where, you know, we can't really

control it, and they're doing some awful, awful things. But that's a

small majority of the people. Most people are looking to try and survive. "

 

<snip>

 

Well, did the tsunami victims request? Did it go through a formal

process to request?

 

You know, did the Iraqi people request that we go in there? Did they ask

us to go in there? What is more important?

 

<snip>

 

But we authorized $8 billion to go to Iraq lickety-quick. After 9/11, we

gave the president unprecedented powers lickety-quick to take care of

New York and other places.

 

Now, you mean to tell me that a place where most of your oil is coming

through, a place that is so unique when you mention New Orleans anywhere

around the world, everybody's eyes light up -- you mean to tell me that

a place where you probably have thousands of people that have died and

thousands more that are dying every day, that we can't figure out a way

to authorize the resources that we need? Come on, man. "

 

-

" fraggle " <EBbrewpunx

; <lettuceheads >;

<TFHB >

Friday, September 02, 2005 11:56 AM

and it just keep coming.....

 

 

> snapshots

>

> New Orleans Mayor Sends " Desperate SOS " To Nation

> Tens of thousands of refugees remain in New Orleans - four days after

> Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast region. On Thursday New

> Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin sent a desperate SOS to the country for more aid.

> The city is admitting that some survivors have not eaten or had water in

> three or four days. Corpses are floating in the floodwater. Thousands of

> people across the country are searching for relatives and friends -- not

> knowing if they have survived the catastrophoe Nearly 2 million people

> remain without power. The Coast Guard reports there are still many

> residents stuck on their roofs seeking to be rescued. Officials fear

> thousands may be dead. The banner headline in this morning's Time-Picayune

> newspaper reads " Help Us, Please. "

>

> Federal Aid Arrives Days Late In Biloxi, MS

> In Biloxi Mississippi, the first federal aid arrived only yesterday -

> three full days after the storm wiped out entire sections of the city. In

> smaller towns in Mississippi help still hasn't arrived.

>

> Nightmarish Conditions Reported at City Convention Center

> In New Orleans, nightmarish scenes were reported both inside and outside

> the City's Convention Center. Outside an old man lay dead in a long chair

> in a grassy median. Infants wailed around him. Nearby, the corpse of an

> elderly woman lay stiffened in a wheelchair, covered by a plaid blanket.

> Another dead body was at her feet, wrapped in a white sheet. Inside

> thousands of refugees were trying to stay alive with little food, water

> and no electricity. Mayor Nagin said " the convention center is unsanitary

> and unsafe and we're running out of supplies. " Federal relief officials

> have played almost no role. The head of FEMA, Michael Brown, admitted on

> CNN last night that his agency didn't even know that thousands of hungry

> refugees were inside the convention center. Until yesterday the only food

> inside came after refugees broke into the center's food-service area to

> retrieve water and other goods.

>

> Top City Official Blasts FEMA: " This Is A National Disgrace "

> The head of New Orleans' emergency operations blasted the federal

> government and FEMA for its slow response. The official Terry Ebbert said

> " This is a national emergency. This is a national disgrace. " Ebbert went

> on to say " FEMA has been here three days, yet there is no command and

> control. We can send massive amounts of aid to tsunami victims, but we

> can't bail out the city of New Orleans. " Ebbert said " It's criminal within

> the confines of the United States that within one hour of the hurricane

> they weren't force-feeding us. It's like FEMA has never been to a

> hurricane. "

>

> No FEMA Officials Reported in Mississippi

> FEMA has also been widely criticized in Mississippi where some towns are

> still waiting for federal aid to arrive. Lakeshore, Mississippi resident

> James Gibson said " There's no FEMA. No Red Cross. No help. People are

> sick. The water is like toxic gumbo. We're the forgotten little town that

> got blown away. " The state of Mississippi is reporting that there is a 50

> mile stretch of coastline where 90 percent of the structures are

> destroyed.

>

> Federal Relief Efforts Just Beginning

> Much of the federal government's relief efforts are just beginning to be

> felt. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Department of Health of

> Human Services has promised to set up 40 emergency aid stations. As of

> yesterday only one was open and it was located 80 miles away from New

> Orleans. It took until Wednesday for the Pentagon to activate a major Navy

> hospital ship but it may take days before the ship actually arrives to the

> devastated region.

>

> Governor Gives Troops Shoot-to-Kill Orders

> Violence has also increased on the streets of New Orleans. Armed citizens

> have reportedly taken over some of the relief sites. Shots have been fired

> at police officers and rescue helicopters. There have been reports of

> rapes, murders and carjackings. Residents continue to break into stores in

> search of everything from food and water to guns to luxury items. The

> White House announced it would have zero tolerance for looters - even for

> those taking essential items needed to stay alive. Louisiana Governor's

> Kathleen Blanco warned that troops had orders to shoot to kill. She said

> " These troops are fresh back from Iraq, well trained, experienced, battle

> tested and under my orders to restore order in the streets. She went on to

> say " They have M-16s and they are locked and loaded. " These troops know

> how to shoot and kill and they are more than willing to do so if necessary

> and I expect they will. "

>

> Early Morning Explosions Reported

> Early this morning explosions illuminated the pre-dawn sky. Officials are

> still investigating what caused the blasts.

>

> White House: National Guard Won't Return From Iraq

> The Pentagon said that by next week 24,000 troops will be on the ground to

> assist in recovery efforts, including 8,600 National Guard members by

> today who could be put to work in law enforcement. White House Press

> Secretary Scott McClellan said there are no plans to call back the 6,000

> plus members of the Louisiana and Mississippi National Guard currently

> stationed in Iraq. But to make up for the shortfall, states from as far as

> Wisconsin are now sending Guard units. Meanwhile CNN is reporting that in

> some New Orleans precincts up to 20 percent of the police force has gone

> AWOL.

>

> Bush Officials Criticized For Staying On Vacation

> Criticism is also mounting over the Bush administration's handling of the

> crisis. President Bush didn't return from his vacation until Wednesday and

> several other top officials remain on summer breaks. Secretary of State

> Condoleeza Rice had been vacationing in New York City but returned to

> Washington on Thursday. Meanwhile Vice President Dick Cheney has been in

> Wyoming and White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card has been in Maine.

>

> Senate Oks $10 Billion Emergency Bill

> On Capitol Hill, the Senate convened a special session last night and

> passed a $10 billion emergency supplemental spending bill. The House is

> expected to vote on the measure today.

>

> FEMA Suggests Donor Gives To Pat Robertson's Charity

> Private donors have given over $100 million to charities. On its website,

> FEMA lists a series of possible charities. The top three charities are:

> the Red Cross, Operation Second Harvest and Operation Blessing, which was

> founded by Christian televangelist Pat Robertson. Meanwhile the Red Cross

> announced last night that its shelters in the region are already at

> capacity with 76,000 refugees.

>

> UN Offers Aid

> The international community, including the United Nations, has responded

> with offers of aid. UN Sec. General Kofi Annan said " The American people

> who have always been the most generous in responding to disasters in other

> parts of the world, have now themselves suffered a grievous blow. "

>

>

>

> Those who control the past, control the future; Those who control the

> future, control the present; Those who control the present, control the

> past.^

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>