Cross-posted at Bush and Katrina ’05

I have seen national disasters and tragedies.  I grew up in Dhaka, Bangladesh, home to some of the most devastating floods recorded in history.  And I lived in NYC during 9-11. I have experienced my share of tragedies and disasters, but nothing pales in comparison to the failed leadership in the Gulf.  

Looking back at all of the disasters, the relief efforts during massive floods in Bangladesh to some degree, were handled more effectively in Bangladesh, than in New Orleans and Biloxi.  Not because the people received more food or aid, but because there was a genuine effort to use all resources available to do everything possible to provide hope and relief.  I don’t get that sense that President Bush has even attempted to do what is expected of a civilized modern nation.  Bangladesh after-all, is a 3rd world country, the U.S. is not.  But perhaps President Bush sees all of those poor working class folks on the Gulf as 3rd class citizens.
Watching the situation unfold in New Orleans and Biloxi brought to mind images from Bangladesh, but the anger and anguish I felt was much, much, much stronger.

Here’s why.

Krugman Op-Ed N.Y Times

Before 9/11 the Federal Emergency Management Agency listed the three most likely catastrophic disasters facing America: a terrorist attack on New York, a major earthquake in San Francisco and a hurricane strike on New Orleans. “The New Orleans hurricane scenario,” The Houston Chronicle wrote in December 2001, “may be the deadliest of all.” It described a potential catastrophe very much like the one now happening.

1. President Bush is now 2 for 2.  Third time WON’T be a charm.

During the 2000 Presidential Elections I wasn’t eligible to vote because I didn’t become a U.S. Citizen until 2002.  But while watching the situation unfold in Florida, I supported Bush and preferred a Bush Presidency.  I’ve since come to regret my support for Bush because of his irresponsible behavior and reckless policies, but unfortunately we’re stuck with him for another three years.

It’s scary that President Bush is 2 for 2, batting 1.000 when it comes to major catastropic disasters predicted to hit the U.S., as having happened under his watch.

Can we continue to live with such failure and incompetence at the highest levels of the government?  President Bush, Senator Frist, and Republican leadership did everything in their power to save the life of a brain dead woman in Florida while they sit idle while hundreds of thousands of living, breathing, hopeless people face despair in the Gulf?  Will this be a lesson for the Bush administration?  Will they prepare for the worst, and make sure a possible Sanfrancisco Earthquake doesn’t turn into even a bigger tragedy?  Will Bush go to vacation for another 300 days while the nation is at risk?  

I pray to God that Bush does NOT go 3 for 3.  If our response to a massive earthquake in Sanfrancisco is as reprensible as our response to Hurrican Katrina, then we’re in serious trouble.  

I am ashamed for my President. And I am ashamed for my government today.

Krugman Op-Ed N.Y Times

First question: Why have aid and security taken so long to arrive? Katrina hit five days ago – and it was already clear by last Friday that Katrina could do immense damage along the Gulf Coast. Yet the response you’d expect from an advanced country never happened. Thousands of Americans are dead or dying, not because they refused to evacuate, but because they were too poor or too sick to get out without help – and help wasn’t provided. Many have yet to receive any help at all.

2. We live in the MOST powerful country in the world which is the United States. We have unlimited resources to help folks who are in need of emergency relief and security. We have the most sophisticated tools and technology at our disposal.  No one would ever believe that in such a nation, people would be left without water, resources, security, or HOPE for over 5 DAYS. It is unbelievable. Unacceptable.  I’m not very emotional, but I cried watching it unfold on TV.  And I felt so angry and disgusted by the INACTIONS of our state and federal Government, I had to turn off my TV.  The failed leadership of President Bush, Secretary Chertoff, Senator Landrieu, Senator Vitter, Governor Blanco, and Governor Barbour is unbelievable and unacceptable.  

The state of LA and MS, along with the Bush administration failed these people.  It is unacceptable and reprehensible.

My mom called me from Bangladesh in shock.  She wants to know what went wrong?  She wants to know why people are being left for dead?  She wants to know where the help is?

Is it fair to point fingers at a time of tragedy?  It’s not about pointing fingers.  It’s about what’s missing from the Bush Administration:   ACCOUNTABILITY.

President Bush should apologize to the millions of people who have been affected for failing to fully fund engineering and transportation projects that would have funded the construction of levees.  He should apologize for diverting the funds to fight a war in Iraq which is questionable at best, and illegal at the worst.

Secretary Chertoff and Mike Brown (FEMA) should resign in disgust for their failure.  They failed to plan for this disaster.  They failed to respond.  They failed the people of the Gulf Coast.  No food.  No Water.  No Hope.  Only despair.

Even Democrats, Governor Blanco and Senator Landreau need to answer.  No more grandstanding.  No more political rhetoric.  They need to go.

It is time for change.  The time is now.  

This country needs visionaries.  We need bold leadership.  We need courage.  We need someone who will not only understand our needs, but produce those resources.

After 9-11 I believed that Mayor Giuliani received too much credit, and thought that Mark Green or Fernando Ferrer would have done just as well as Giuliani.  I am not a fan of Mayor Giuliani, but this disaster has me asking:

Where is mayor Giuliani?

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