Katrina.
It was, and still is, hard to watch what happened to the Gulf Coast this past week or so. I've spoken with people who are mad with Bush--he is ultimately responsible because he's the President. I agree, just like after Sept. 11 there was no leadership at the top. There was no Juliani-like figure to step in and since FEMA is now part of "Homeland Security" it's easy to understand where the priorities were focused. Rumsfield & Rice kept their jobs or recieved a promotion, so Chertoff will keep his and Brown the head of FEMA, the one who actually did incredibly well under the circumstances, will be the one who gets the blame. I don't get that one: how could any agency anticipate the worst natural disaster in American history?. People also seemed to have forgotten that there is a whole protocol from county to state to the federal government. I know its semantics when people are dying but folks we're just trying to follow the rules. Also, with Florida getting hit by hurricanes no one thought it would be that bad. Some people over the years had made predictions on what could happen, the local newspaper just days before, but unfortunatly that information got lost on the current administration and that cost some people their lives. Putin, I recall, got a lot of flak after that Russian Sub-disaster a few years back because he didn't quickly enough recognize public opinion and leave his holiday. Bush repeated this mistake, I'm sure that when you are President every phone call is 'an emergency' but he should have gone and started barking orders because he is the President. I've been thinking about it, the Boxing Day Tsunami last year was worse. Someone mentioned the 1970 Bangladesh flood, the one George Harrison did the concert for, as being worse. Anyway, its up there. Listening to Aaron Brown beak off was particularily galling. Hello, there is no infrastructure, no roads, no electricity, no water, no food. Where are the helicopters supposed to land? Refuel? We're not talking about a 3 or 4 person news crew we are talking about thousands of tons of supplies. I've always known that when a big natural disaster happens that essentially you are on your own for at least 72 hours. New Orleans will become a bench mark for what you don't want to happen, before or after a disaster. I'm hoping the predictions for the body count will be one-tenth of one-percent of what some people are saying. The mentality of the arrogant North Americans with our instant lifestyle somehow expecting our lives to be inconvenienced only and then quickly back to normal is the real problem. Its sad that people had to wait for food and water but why were some folks, it seems mostly African-Americans, still there? Well, of course, the poor people we're still there and that issue surely needs to be addressed. Hopefully, the finger pointing will stop, the recovery will get some real momentum and then they can analyse what happened and learn about what to do so next time, and believe me there will be a next time. If not a Hurricane, maybe an earthquake or who knows what(giant meteor?), and high paid lessons from Katrina will ensure that everyone is better prepared.
It was, and still is, hard to watch what happened to the Gulf Coast this past week or so. I've spoken with people who are mad with Bush--he is ultimately responsible because he's the President. I agree, just like after Sept. 11 there was no leadership at the top. There was no Juliani-like figure to step in and since FEMA is now part of "Homeland Security" it's easy to understand where the priorities were focused. Rumsfield & Rice kept their jobs or recieved a promotion, so Chertoff will keep his and Brown the head of FEMA, the one who actually did incredibly well under the circumstances, will be the one who gets the blame. I don't get that one: how could any agency anticipate the worst natural disaster in American history?. People also seemed to have forgotten that there is a whole protocol from county to state to the federal government. I know its semantics when people are dying but folks we're just trying to follow the rules. Also, with Florida getting hit by hurricanes no one thought it would be that bad. Some people over the years had made predictions on what could happen, the local newspaper just days before, but unfortunatly that information got lost on the current administration and that cost some people their lives. Putin, I recall, got a lot of flak after that Russian Sub-disaster a few years back because he didn't quickly enough recognize public opinion and leave his holiday. Bush repeated this mistake, I'm sure that when you are President every phone call is 'an emergency' but he should have gone and started barking orders because he is the President. I've been thinking about it, the Boxing Day Tsunami last year was worse. Someone mentioned the 1970 Bangladesh flood, the one George Harrison did the concert for, as being worse. Anyway, its up there. Listening to Aaron Brown beak off was particularily galling. Hello, there is no infrastructure, no roads, no electricity, no water, no food. Where are the helicopters supposed to land? Refuel? We're not talking about a 3 or 4 person news crew we are talking about thousands of tons of supplies. I've always known that when a big natural disaster happens that essentially you are on your own for at least 72 hours. New Orleans will become a bench mark for what you don't want to happen, before or after a disaster. I'm hoping the predictions for the body count will be one-tenth of one-percent of what some people are saying. The mentality of the arrogant North Americans with our instant lifestyle somehow expecting our lives to be inconvenienced only and then quickly back to normal is the real problem. Its sad that people had to wait for food and water but why were some folks, it seems mostly African-Americans, still there? Well, of course, the poor people we're still there and that issue surely needs to be addressed. Hopefully, the finger pointing will stop, the recovery will get some real momentum and then they can analyse what happened and learn about what to do so next time, and believe me there will be a next time. If not a Hurricane, maybe an earthquake or who knows what(giant meteor?), and high paid lessons from Katrina will ensure that everyone is better prepared.
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"PM Martin praises Canadian hurricane relief effort states CTV.ca News Staff."
Okay, but what about our own countries relief effort abilities?
I'm not saying Canada should not go and help other nations in times of need, what I am hoping for is that our country will be more prepared for such emergencies here and afar.
For example: Canada should have a standing armed force of no less than 100,000 regulars and specialists. Ready for disasters like Katrina or Winnipeg and the fires in Kelowna. That way if somewhere in the world the UN needs soldiers to save lives and help, we can send 25,000 able bodies without it taking away from our own security and emergency capability.
"Prime Minister Paul Martin was dockside in Halifax as three Canadian warships and a Coast Guard vessel set sail for New Orleans Tuesday. The ships are packed with relief supplies for the disaster-stricken city."
The ships, which are due to arrive at the U.S. Gulf Coast by the end of the week, are carrying at least 1,000 Canadian Forces personnel as well as water, food and blankets to help in the hurricane Katrina relief effort."
Well its better than nothing but seriously wouldn't 10,000 personnel be more logical and maybe increase the naval assistance, oh, that is almost all our navy, damn. We need to increase the number of ships and our airforce airlift and surveillance capabilities so that we can ensure our national sovereignty at the same time as assist foreign nations in trouble.
"On behalf of my grateful country thank you for giving us your best when we need you the most," he said. "Once again Canada is coming to our rescue, said U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins"
Maybe he should put in a word on our behalf regarding the lumber dispute, and all the other Free Trade Agreement abuses America has been delivering to its northern neighbour.
"Martin reiterated that that there will be more Canadian aid coming to the Americans down the road."
"I believe this will be a very long-term process," he told CTV Newsnet. "As I said to the president almost a week ago, look, whatever it is that you need, we have it. They're going to have it and we'll be there for as long as we're needed. The material is coming from stockpiles maintained by Canadian authorities as part of their own disaster preparedness plans."
This could be several years by the look of the toxic mess caused by the flooded region. I can only hope the US and the world would do the same for Canada in its time of need and believe me there will come a day...
Then we will see how ready Canada truly is.
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