911 Review and FEMA Update :: meant for ask …

9 Comments

1. 

   Oui on September 17, 2005 at 11:33 am

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   MSNBC report ::
   New FEMA boss is ‘Duct Tape Man’ ◊ Keith Olbermann

   SECAUCUS Sept. 12, 2005 — If Michael Brown’s resignation this afternoon as the head of FEMA was supposed to end the political controversy over the administration’s response to Hurricane Katrina, it probably won’t.

   In another gesture symbolizing the continued confusion of the federal response, the man President Bush immediately named to succeed “Brownie,” proves to have been the same FEMA official who, two-and-a-half years ago, suggested that Americans stock up on duct tape to protect against a biological or chemical terrorist attack.

   
   <click on pic for article>

   David Paulison, then the government’s Fire Administrator, joined with the then-head of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, on February 10th, 2003, to say that duct tape and plastic sheeting should be part of any home’s “survival kit” in preparation for a terrorist attack. That set off a run on duct tape at stores, and widespread criticism of the administration. It might have been the first time after 9/11 that a large number of Americans wondered if the government really knew what it was talking about when it came to disaster preparedness.

   And the man behind that politically explosive proposal, has just been named to succeed the man, who had been the face of the politically explosive response to Hurricane Katrina.

   
   IAFC President Bob DiPoli addresses the summit regarding the importance of speaking with one voice to strengthen the message of the fire service. Seated to his right is the USFA Administrator R. David Paulison.   IAFC

   Paulison brings an extensive resume to the post. He ran fire operations for Miami-Dade County in Florida, and was past president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. But in light of the response to this hurricane, another comment he made at the time of the Duct Tape announcements rings especially loudly. Paulison said in February, 2003 that in the first 48 to 72 hours of an emergency, many Americans would likely have to look after themselves.

              

   Executive Order, February 28, 2003

   The White House
   Office of the Press Secretary
   February 28, 2003
   For Immediate Release

   Executive Order

   By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296) and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in order to reflect the transfer of certain functions to, and other responsibilities vested in, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the transfer of certain agencies and agency components to the Department of Homeland Security, and the delegation of appropriate responsibilities to the Secretary of Homeland Security, it is hereby ordered as follows:

   [Links and bold emphasis are added – Oui]

   USFA – FIRE Grant Application Available Online Now

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2. 

   Oui on September 17, 2005 at 4:11 pm

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   Jan. 12, 2005 – Bush picks ex-prosecutor for homeland post

   WASHINGTON — Bush said that Chertoff has “been confirmed by the Senate three times,” signaling that he should have no problem surmounting the advise and consent process.

   Chertoff, whose appeal court nomination sailed through Congress (vote 98-0), won immediate support on Capitol Hill, where even Democrats applauded the choice.

   “Judge Mike Chertoff has the resume to be an excellent Homeland Security Secretary, given his law enforcement background and understanding of New York’s and America’s neglected homeland security needs,” said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y.

   
   DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff left, introduces the new acting director of FEMA R.David Paulison during a news conference outside FEMA HQ in Washington. Paulison pledged to intensify efforts to finding more permanent housing for the tens of thousands of Hurricane Katrina survivors now in shelters.   AP Photo/Kevin Wolf

   Chertoff biography – dual citizenship U.S. and Israel

    

   • Bush’s Homeland Security czar Mike Chertoff and his days in New Jersey
   • Chertoff allowed Israeli spies to return to Israel
   • Architect of a post-9/11 policy to detain hundreds of Arabs indefinitely

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3. 

   ask on September 17, 2005 at 4:49 pm

   Thanks for the links in your entry, Oui.  I must admit that I read some of them with some scepticism.
   However, this one dovetails very well with my argument:

   The inspector general, Richard L. Skinner, who serves as the department’s internal watchdog, said in an interview that he intended to be “extremely aggressive” in monitoring the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which will receive most of the $62 billion in disaster-response financing approved by Congress last week.
   FEMA, which is part of Homeland Security, was harshly criticized in recent months as mismanaging millions of dollars in relief funds after a 2004 hurricane in Florida.

   “Extremely aggressive”, maybe – we’ll see.  Here is how WaPO reported on Skinner when Bush forwarded his nomination:

   Skinner is generally considered less assertive than his predecessor, who has said he was asked to tone down his criticism of the department.

   For instance, Skinner has ended Ervin’s practice of informing reporters by e-mail when the office issues a new report.

   Here is what they reported when Skinner took over from previous Inspector General Clark Kent Ervin:

   Some critics of the administration suggested that Ervin, a former inspector general at the State Department, was forced out for being overly critical of DHS operations and management practices. Ervin has attributed his departure to the Senate’s unwillingness to act on his nomination.

   The thesis of my diary entry is that the administration and DHS management have deliberately downplayed, even undermined the capacity for internal oversight.

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     Oui on September 17, 2005 at 5:09 pm

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     Federal spending in every department of Bush | Rove WH is focused on religious and special interests groups. Cheney is focused on providing his corporations with “no-bid” contracts, similar to what Jeb Bush is doing in Florida.

     Read this info on dep’t HHS and CDC ::
     Claude Allen – watch dog appointed by Karl Rove

     Bush | VP Cheney | AG Gonzales | Rumsfeld all have made it clear they do not want Congressional oversight while stealing billions and circumventing every law on human rights and International Conventions. Speaking of a rogue state …

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       ask on September 17, 2005 at 5:30 pm

       I agree.  Department budgets are seen as slush funds to benefit cronies.

       Friday, September 9, 2005
       FEMA cozies up with Pat Robertson
       FEMA is including Pat Robertson’s charity group Operation Blessing on its list of charities accepting donations for victims of Katrina.

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         Salunga on September 19, 2005 at 12:02 am

          These guys are corrupt and incompetent. You buy duct tape and pray I’m looking for someone that can do the job.

4. 

   EtJ on September 18, 2005 at 3:49 pm

   You post an excellent link: complete 911 timeline
   You, as have others bring up the 9-11 issue, a key to the destruction of America, as well as a key to the potential destruction of the World. Sooooooooooooo many questions need to be asked about 9-11. Yet Americans thrust their head into the sand, or their ass, and refuse to question and debate 911. Rather talk about anything else. This site as well as many others underline the fact, Americans can not handle the truth..  Excellent diary… Sad sad response. America deserves everything she has coming. Sadly it will get much worse, here in the States.

5. 

   EtJ on September 18, 2005 at 3:52 pm

   I have a hunch that Depression 18, soon to be Tropical Storm Rita, soon to be Hurrican Rita, will be the next disaster to strike America, followed by martial law in Texas. Just a hunch, I do hope I am WRONG….

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     EtJ on September 21, 2005 at 12:56 pm

     EEEKKKKK  !! Rita Upgraded to ‘Monster’ Category 4 Hurricane
     Mandatory Evacuations Underway in Galveston, Tex. and New Orleans