Down South
I heard this morning that police are no longer participating in the rescue effort in New Orleans and are instead focusing their attention on looters. If that's true it's a horrible mistake. At this point saving people's lives needs to be the number one priority. I watched video of a black woman being arrested for stealing Bacardi 151. I didn't really see the point of arresting her, other than to appease Bill O'Reilly's audience.
On Anderson Cooper's 360 last night he was visibly upset by the slow FEMA response in Mississippi. He had been told that people may have to wait 2 or 3 more days for supplies. He had met people that were not going to last that long. We are now seeing the reason why it is a mistake to send National Guard troops to fight in a war on foreign soil, we need them here.
On Anderson Cooper's 360 last night he was visibly upset by the slow FEMA response in Mississippi. He had been told that people may have to wait 2 or 3 more days for supplies. He had met people that were not going to last that long. We are now seeing the reason why it is a mistake to send National Guard troops to fight in a war on foreign soil, we need them here.
posted by mochi at 7:22 AM
10 Comments:
Indeed. All other things that would be different aside, think of how many American lives on the gulf coast would be saved if we had only gotten adequate support for the war. One of many, many reasons our president failed...
Mochi, I don't understand. If Anderson Cooper is so distraught doesn't he roll up his sleeves and start helping with the relief effort?
There are three kinds of people in the world, Mochi, those that do nothing, those that sit around and complain about what others aren't doing, and those that do.
I have already made my donation, and am leaving this weekend to go help.
The National Guard assertion was made two days ago by Paula Zahn, Larry King, Dan Harris, and a host of other left leaning reporters before anyone really knows the full extent of what NG strength is required in that area. And of course this shot by Jack Cafferty was the most hilarious one I heard so far:
Cafferty asked host Wolf Blitzer: "Where's President Bush? Is he still on vacation?" Blitzer answered that "he's cut short his vacation. He's coming back to Washington tomorrow." Cafferty: "Well, that would be a good idea. He was out in San Diego, I think, at a Naval air station giving a speech on Japan and the war in Iraq today. Based on his approval rating in the latest polls, my guess is getting back to work might not be a terrible idea."
So predictable, it is actually getting a little humorous.
-Jack
Also, Smorg, PLEASE check out my post at:
News Snipet 'Blog: PRESIDENT BUSH
Jack, kudos to you for helping in the relief effort. Still, Mochi's statement about the National Guard is true. They are supposed to be used for domestic situations, not sent off to foreign wars.
I guess I just thought it was a little premature to jump on this assertion till the extent of need was determined. To me it seemed an issue jumped on and repeated more for political reasons. (I envision these people sitting in conferences after disasters hit saying "ok, everyone, let's brainstorm and see how we can make this damaging to George Bush).
Sigh...
-Jack
Leave tomorrow, will holler back at you guys when I get back. I happen to be fortunate enough to have the time to get off. Know you would be with me if you could--you will be in spirit I am sure.
I'm not sure I get what you're driving at with the post on your site. I haven't heard anyone seriously blame the hurricane on Bush. He IS to blame, however, for an overextended National Guard.
It's great that you are going down there. I would if I could...
First off, there are thousands of national guard in and on the way to the disaster areas. Secondly, before jumping all over this non-issue, perhaps we should take a look at the actual mission statement of the Army National Guard:
Even when not federalized, the Army National Guard has a federal obligation (or mission.) That mission is to maintain properly trained and equipped units, available for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency, or as otherwise needed.
Imagine that.
They are supposed to be used for domestic situations, not sent off to foreign wars.
Wrong.
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Actually Sean you are wrong. That's the federal mission of the national guard not the state level mission. The national guard is the only military force that can be activated by a state. Mission statements vary actoss states but in Alabama the mission is "to provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise required by State laws."
The president and congress can activate the national guard for service in a war overseas but they do it to the detriment of the protection of the states. If you think that the response would have been the same consider that 40% of national guard troops Mississippi are either in Iraq or about to go. By their own admission that makes them streched to appropriately deal with the aftermath of the hurricane.
Does anyone rememeber the FEMA response in Florida during an election year? A little different now you are in a city that's 85% black...
The Army National Guard's state mission is perhaps the most visible and well known. Nearly everyone has seen or heard of Guard units responding to battle fires or helping communities deal with floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, snowstorms or other emergency situations. In times of civil unrest, the citizens of a state can rest assured that the Guard will be ready to respond, if needed.
...Unless, of course, they're spread thin by an idiotic war that we could have gotten significantly more help with (or avoided) if our President wasn't an asshole.
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