Month: September 2005

Military bases could be used for long-term transient housing

by Timothy D. Smith
ePluribus Media

As a mandatory mass evacuation of New Orleans began on Wednesday, August 31, relief crews began busing 25,000 refugees from their current precarious perch at the Superdome on a 350-mile trip west to yet another ‘dome, this time the Astrodome in Houston, after Texas Governor Rick Perry offered the massive structure to Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco.

But do relief workers really need to create this new breed of “Dome People?” Isn’t there anywhere else that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could take these desperate people that would be more humane, that would have real beds, plumbing, and basic creature comforts?
According to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which was passed in 1987 to respond to America’s growing homeless population, the federal government has a “clear responsibility and … existing capacity to meet the basic needs of all the homeless.” This responsibility is met by Title V of the act which says that surplus federal property should be made available, and that non-profit or government agencies that aid the homeless population could obtain said properties at no cost.

Armed with this knowledge, and using this map and this list of military bases, ePluribus Media attempted to locate every U.S. Armed Forces military base currently in use that had a minimum of 100 temporary housing units, in an effort to identify “surplus” property available for immediate use.

Those bases that qualified account for less than a third of the total number of bases in the continental United States. Despite that, these bases alone have a total combined 17,182 units or rooms assigned for temporary housing. Even if unit means one bed in a large room with multiple beds, and a room has only one bed, you could theoretically house nearly 35,000 married people (assuming they were sleeping two per bed) or more than 8,500 families of four requiring two beds per family. All of these facilities have food-production facilities, modern plumbing and the basic creature comforts needed for long-term survival.

Refugees could even be put to work caring for their habitats and teaming up for meal preparation, etc., as to not strain Armed Forces personnel currently working at these bases.

Another source of housing not being counted here is the thousands of empty billets that normally house active military personnel that are currently overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan. Fort Benning alone has 4,070 family units. Those billets that would normally be filled could be reconverted to house refugees until permanent housing could be rebuilt.

Calls to the Department of Defense Press Office were not returned at the time this story was published.

Fort Benning, Georgia
Located seven miles south of Columbus, GA, Fort Benning is home to 3d Brigade, 3d Infantry Division; 36th Engineer Group; Army Infantry Training Brigade; Army Ranger School and Army Infantry School.
Temporary Lodging:  1,079 visitor and temporary lodging units 706-689-0067 campground 706-545-7238
Health care:  130-bed hospital. Appointments 706-544-2041; Tricare 706-544-3461
—-

Fort Gordon, GA
Located near Augusta, GA, Fort Gordon is home to the Army Signal Center, a number of military intelligence brigades and battalions and the 73d Ordnance Battalion. Fort Gordon is like a city. The garrison provides logistical and community services necessary for the day-to-day operation of the installation. The garrison command is responsible for maintaining high-quality living and working conditions for all military and civilian personnel on the installation. The command also ensures the force readiness and mobilization capabilities of the installation as a power-projection platform.
Temporary Lodging:   843 temporary duty units; 106-room guest house 706-790-3676
Health care:  333-bed Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center. Appointments 706-787-5811; Tricare 706-787-1430
—-

Fort Bliss, Texas
Located in El Paso, TX, Fort Bliss is home to 32d Army Air and Missile Defense Command, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Joint Task Force 6, U.S. Army Sergeant Major Academy and 204th Military Intelligence Battalion.
Temporary lodging:  565 temporary units; campground 915-565-7777
Health care:  330-bed medical center. Appointments 915-569-2262; Tricare 915-680-7600
—-

Fort Hood, Texas
Like the state of Texas, Fort Hood is big and boasts of being the largest active-duty armored post in the United States Armed Services. Fort Hood covers a total of 339 square miles and is the only post in the United States that supports two full armored divisions.
Temporary lodging:  274 visitor units 254-532-8233; 75-unit guest house 254-287-3067; 64 RV spaces
Health care:  187-bed hospital, seven clinics. Appointments 254-288-8000; Tricare 800-406-2832
—-

Fort Rucker, Alabama
Located 80 miles south of Montgomery, Fort Rucker is home to the 1st Aviation Brigade, Aviation Training Brigade, Army Aviation Center Noncommissioned Officer Academy and the Aeromedical Center.
Temporary lodging:  38 guest-house units; 504 transient units 334-598-5216
Health care:  37-bed medical center. Appointments 800-261-7193; Tricare 334-598-6500
—-

Fort Polk, Louisiana
Located in Lousiana, Fort Polk is home to the Joint Readiness Training Center, 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 519th Military Police Battalion.
Fort Polk was established in 1941 and named in honor of the Right Reverend Leonidas Polk, the first Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of Louisiana and a Confederate general. Since then Fort Polk has adapted to service during every U.S. military crisis.
Temporary lodging:  322 visiting officer and enlisted quarters; 70-room guest house 337-531-9200
Health care:  150-bed hospital. Appointments 337-531-3000
—-

Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
Today, as the largest bomb wing in Air Combat Command and part of the historic 8th Air Force, the wing continues to reflect the heritage of its motto, Libertatem Defendimus: “Liberty We Defend.”
Temporary lodging:  264 visitor and temporary units 318-456-3091; campground 318-456-2679
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 318-456-6555; Tricare 800-611-2875
—-

Brooks City-Base, Texas
Brooks AFB, situated on a 1310-acre tract in the southeast part of San Antonio, has undergone a continual metamorphosis since its construction in 1918. As a military installation, Brooks has adapted to changes in mission and organization that are reflected in the planning, design, and construction history of the base. While some historic facilities remain, others have made way for newer buildings to serve the overall mission of the base. The result is a mix of old and new that continues to evolve with the new Brooks City-Base project.
Temporary lodging:  175 visitor units; eight temporary-lodging facilities; 15 RV spaces at campground 210-536-1844
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 210-536-1847; Tricare 210-536-2928
—-

Dyess AFB, Texas
Today Dyess B-1Bs and the 7th BW make up a large portion of the U.S. Air Force bomber force. Dyess has played a vital role in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The B-1B continues to produce effective sorties at Dyess and the “Bastion in the Big Country” continues to flourish and remains one our nation’s most revered bases. The men and women of Dyess serve our great nation and Abilene community proudly.
Temporary lodging:  160 visitor units; 39 temporary units 915-696-2681
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 915-696-4677; Tricare 800-406-2832
—-

Goodfellow AFB, Texas
On 1 July 1993, the 17th Training Wing was activated on Goodfellow AFB. With the change in name came a marked diversification and increase in Goodfellow’s mission. Rounds one and two of the base realignment and closure process transferred special instruments training from Lowry AFB and fire-protection training from Chanute AFB to Goodfellow. To support the increased training load, Goodfellow underwent extensive modernization and growth. With new training facilities, dormitories, dining halls, a commissary, a youth center and a physical fitness center, Goodfellow entered its second half-century of operation as one of the most modern installations in the Air Force.
Temporary lodging:  777 visitor units; 11 temporary lodging units; 915-654-3332; campground 915-944-1012
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 915-654-3149; Tricare 800-406-2832
—-

Lackland AFB, Texas
Located near San Antonio, Lackland is home to the 37th Training Wing, 37th Training Group, Defense language Institute English Language Center, and Inter-American Air Forces Academy and Wilford Hall Medical Center.
Temporary lodging:  3,350 visitor spaces 210-671-2556; 98 temporary units 210-671-5397; 29 RV spaces at campground 210-671-5179
Health care:  200-bed medical center. Appointments 210-292-7177; Tricare 800-406-2832
—-

Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Maxwell AFB and Gunter are located near Montgomery, AL. Maxwell houses Headquarters, Air University Air Education and Training Command; Air War College; Air Command and Staff College; and 42d Air Base Wing Host Wing. Gunter is home to College for Enlisted Professional Military Education, Officer Training School, Commissioned Officer Training, Standard Systems Group Air Force Materiel Command, and Air Force Logistics management Agency
Temporary lodging:  2,079 temporary units; 334-953-4789; campground 334-953-5161
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 334-953-7605; Tricare 334-953-7855
—-

Maxwell AFB, Alabama
Maxwell AFB and Gunter are located near Montgomery, AL. Maxwell houses Headquarters, Air University Air Education and Training Command; Air War College; Air Command and Staff College; and 42d Air Base Wing Host Wing. Gunter is home to College for Enlisted Professional Military Education, Officer Training School, Commissioned Officer Training, Standard Systems Group Air Force Materiel Command, and Air Force Logistics management Agency
Temporary lodging:  2,079 temporary units; 334-953-4789; campground 334-953-5161
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 334-953-7605; Tricare 334-953-7855
—-

Randolph AFB, Texas
Randolph Air Force Base, located at FM 78 and Loop 1604, occupies the far northeastern section of the Corridor in Universal City. It is the home of more than 10,000 military and civilian employees who make their home in the surrounding communities collectively known as the Randolph Metrocom. The base employs over 5700 military personnel and 6500 civilians. Randolph is headquarters of the U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command, the 19th Air Force, the 12th Flying Wing, the Air Force Personnel Center, the Air Force Recruiting Service Headquarters, and the Air Force Center for Quality and Management Innovation. A number of buildings located on the base including the Taj Mahal are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its economic impact region covers a 50-mile commuting radius and has a yearly payroll of more than $350 million. Randolph is believed to have created more than 7,500 jobs for local communities.
Temporary lodging:  549 visitor units; 30 temporary units 210-652-1844; campground 21-652-4125
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 210-652-2273; Tricare 210-652-2933
—-

Sheppard AFB, Texas
Located near Wichita Falls, Sheppard is home to the 82d Training Wing; 82d Training, Logistics, Medical and Support groups; 782d, 882d and 982d Training Groups; and 80th Flying Training Wing. Today Sheppard is the largest training base and most diversified in Air Education and Training Command. Two organizations — 82d Training Wing and 80th Flying Training Wing — conduct resident training that qualifies students in a broad range of career fields, from pilot, aircraft maintenance, civil engineering, communications, comptroller and transportation to a wide scope of medical specialties. The 82d TRW, the host unit, conducts all technical training here, while the 80th FTW conducts pilot training. The 982d Training Group, under the 82d TRW, provides instruction in a wide range of specialties at more than 60 Air Force installations worldwide. The 82d Support Group, 82d Logistics Group and 82d Medical Group support these organizations.
Temporary lodging:  2,711 visitor units; 80 temporary lodging units 940-676-1844
Health care: 45-bed hospital. Appointments 940-676-1847; Tricare 940-851-2709
—-

Tinker AFB, Oklahoma
Tinker is one of the Department of Defense’s premier joint-service facilities. The Air Logistics Center’s (ALC) mission is dedicated to providing worldwide technical logistic support to Air Force aerospace weapon systems, as well as associated equipment and commodity items. Its major product line directorates of aircraft, propulsion and commodities manage, maintain and procure resources to support first-line overhaul and maintenance of B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers; the multipurpose C/KC-135 aircraft; and several missile systems. The center’s facilities house some of the most sophisticated technical repair and manufacturing processes in the world, acquiring and maintaining the world’s best aviation systems in partnership with our customers and suppliers. Other directorates furnish center-wide services such as environmental management, financial management, procurement policy, technical and industrial plant maintenance and computer services.

As of 2004 more than 14,000 civilians and military personnel perform the mission of the ALC. Another 10,000 people perform the missions of the many associate organizations that call Tinker home. Together they make Tinker AFB the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma with an annual payroll exceeding $1.1 billion and a statewide economic impact estimated at more than $2.79 billion. In addition to a $1.1B payroll, the OC-ALC impacts the state’s economics with construction projects valued at $36.4 million, major contracts and daily procurements valued at $601.8 million, education requirements $2.8 million, health necessities $15.7 million and commissary and exchange expenditures $.8 million. Base and ALC employees as well as 30,000 secondary jobs in the communities in such fields as housing, food and the services industries, have an economic impact on Oklahoma of approximately $869 million. In addition to Tinker’s work force, there are more than 85,000 base retirees, both civilian and military, who continue to have a large impact on the state’s economy.
Temporary lodging:  165 visitor units; 39 temporary units 405-734-2822; campground 405-734-2289<
Health care:  Hospital. Appointments 405-734-2778; Tricare 800-406-2832
—-

Altus AFB, Oklahoma
The new millennium continues to bring changes to the base. In August 2002 the mission of the wing grew when the Air Force moved the basic loadmaster course from Sheppard AFB Texas to Altus. This initiative combined similar training programs to reduce the number of moves required by trainees while cutting overall costs. In addition, at the same time the wing reorganized as a “combat wing.” The 97th Support Group became the Mission Support Group, gaining the new 97th Logistics Readiness Squadron comprising the former 97th Supply and Transportation Squadrons and Logistics Plans Flight and the 97th Contracting Squadron. Also, the Logistics Group was deactivated while the 97th Maintenance Directorate was activated. This directorate comprises civil service personnel who are responsible for the care and maintenance of all three aircraft at the base.
As the base moves into the 21st century, it continues to perform the basic mission it started in 1943: providing a safe, comfortable location to train military personnel on the intricacies of operating multi-engine aircraft.
Temporary lodging:  463 visitor units; 30 temporary units 580-481-7356; five RV spaces at campground 580-481-6704
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 580-481-5235; Tricare 800-406-2832
—-

Whiting Field Naval Air Station, Florida
NAS Whiting Field was opened in July 1943 to fulfill the pilot-training demands of World War II. Although Whiting Field is just over 50 years old, the facilities have been upgraded and renovated to create a new infrastructure that is less than 17 years old. Throughout its existence, NAS Whiting Field’s primary purpose has been to support pilot training. A wealth of attributes contributes to its status as a premier field.
Temporary lodging:  153 visitor units 850-623-0354
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 850-505-7171; Tricare 850-623-7657
—-

Panama City Coastal Systems Station, FL
Today, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City is one of the major research, development, testing and evaluation laboratories of the U.S. Navy and boasts a wide base of expertise in engineering and scientific disciplines. It is one of Bay County’s finest resources and employs approximately 2,000 civilian and military personnel with an annual payroll of about $117 million. NSWC Panama City contracts services, buys local goods, and maintains an active construction program. Its economic impact on Bay County is about $336 million annually.
Temporary lodging:  315-room inn 850-234-4217; campground with 22 RV hookups 850-234-4402
Health care:  Clinic. Appointments 850-234-4177; Tricare 850-784-7979
—-

Ft. Bragg, NC
Located near Fayettville, NC, Fort Bragg is known as the “Home of the Airborne and Special Operations Forces.” Fort Bragg houses the 82nd Airborne Division and the XVIII Airborne Corps. The U.S. Army Special Operations Command and the U.S. Army Parachute Team — the Golden Knights — also call Fort Bragg home. Fort Bragg units include the 1st Corps Support Command, 44th Medical Command, XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, 18th Aviation Brigade, 35th Signal Brigade, and more.
Temporary lodging:  681-room inn; four guest-house units 910-396-7700; campground 910-396-5979
Health care:  200-bed medical center. Appointments 910-907-6451; Tricare 800-931-9501
—-

Fort Campbell, KY
Located about 50 miles from Nashville, Fort Campbell is home to the 101st Airborne Division Air Assault, 5th Special Forces Group, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and the 31st Military Police Detachment. Fort Campbell is named in honor of Brig. Gen. William Bowen Campbell, the last Whig Governor of Tennessee. He was elected Colonel of the First Tennessee Volunteers, the “Bloody First,” and is remembered in history as he led his regiment in the storming of Monterey in 1846 with the cry, “Boys, follow me!”
Temporary lodging:  135-room guest house 270-439-2229; campground 270-798-3126/5590<
Health care:  241-bed hospital. Appointments/Tricare 931-431-5569 or 800-941-4501
—-

Fort Leavenworth, KS
Located on the Kansas/Missouri border, Fort Leavenworth is home to U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Battle Command Battle Laboratory, Command and General Staff College, and the Combined Arms Center. Fort Leavenworth, the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi River, has devoted more than 170 years of service to the nation. During the country’s westward expansion, Fort Leavenworth was a forward destination for thousands of soldiers, surveyors, emigrants, American Indians, preachers and settlers who passed through.
Temporary lodging:  774 visitor and temporary units 913-684-5625
Health care:  25-bed health center. Appointments 913-684-6000; Tricare 913-680-4000

Cross posted at ePluribus Media’s Community site at ePluribus Media Community; come join us.

 Selected Leader misses no opportunity to practice deceit and behave like a tyrant.  He’s done it again.

   President George W. Bush authorized the US Department of Energy to take crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for refiners that may be short of supplies.

Don’t be fooled!  This action is an empty gesture for the following reasons:

    * Refineries do not need it; they are over-stocked;
    * Refineries cannot refine it; they are shut down due to Katrina;
    * The amount Dubya’s authorized is equivalent to a single day’s output by those refineries if they were up and running.

[DISCLOSURE:  First posted at DailyKos where it scrolled outta sight as I appear to have posted it during rush hour.  Think you will agree, what you’re reading ties in nicely with susanhu’s front page story about Congressional ER Session.  While I’m at it, requesting shamelessly that you recommend DK post as well, if you’d be so kind.]
According to an article by Sam Fletcher, Senior Writer, in Oil & Gas Journal that appeared online yesterday,

It will take weeks–perhaps months–to bring flooded, powerless Gulf Coast refineries back to operation and to restore oil and natural gas production to its former levels. . .

By industry estimates, it would take 2 weeks to get refineries operating again — but they can’t because there are no workers and no electric power.  Add to that time frame another 2 weeks, which is what Entergy Corp., the supplier of electrical power to the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port — the biggest US port for importing crude, which survived Hurricane Katrina without damage —  said it needs to reconstruct power line and string wire.  That’s a minimum estimate.

Here’s what’s no longer being refined into consumer gasoline:

Analysts at the Houston office of Raymond James & Associates Inc. said: “Approximately 1.79 million b/d of refining capacity (10% of the nation’s total) has been suspended indefinitely due to shut-ins at eight refineries. . .”

Let’s assume those 1.79 million daily barrels represent the full-out capacity that refineries were operating at prior to Hurricane Katrina’s strike.

Plus,

“An additional total of 684,000 b/d of capacity is running at reduced rates at three other refineries.”

Further, let’s assume “reduced” means working at 50% of capacity.  Under that scenario, 342,000 b/d are also not making it to the gas stations.  For a grand total of: 2.13 b/d loss in production.

Now, just how much of that (unneeded) SPR crude did Bush magananimously release?  Here ya go. . .

The supply of SPR crude “is likely to be 1-3 million bbl,” said Raymond James analysts.

That’s right — about a day’s output.  That’s all.

Heck, even industry analysts don’t want it.  Waste of time.  Empty gesture.

“The main problem now for the US refined product market is not a shortage of crude oil (which is what the SPR contains). . .While the SPR oil may be useful in certain cases, in general the bottleneck will be at the refinery level.”

BushCo, isn’t offering “all the assistance we can,” as he promised in his empty-speech last night.  He’s creating a windfall for his buddies in the oil business who have absolutely NO INCENTIVE TO INCREASE PRODUCTION at any refineries, anywhere.

Because even while

Commercial inventories of crude, excluding SPR, plunged by 1.5 million bbl to 321.4 million bbl, (they are) well above the upper end of the average range for this time of year.

at the same time,

US gasoline inventories currently are below historical averages, analysts said. On Aug. 31, the Energy Information Administration reported US gasoline stocks fell by 500,000 bbl to 194.4 million bbl during the week ended Aug. 26.

Exactly: supply at the pump is very low, demand at the pump is very high, and the Big Oil Fat Cats are sitting on a surplus of crude.

Pretend you’re one of them.  Let the price at the pump run up to whatever the traffic will bear. Be sure NOT to supply regular, only premium grade fuel, to the gas stations.  Sit back and watch the money roll in at an obscene clip.  Then follow your energy stocks on the computer as they soar.

Every Have More will become a Have Even More Still.

And this has been the total estimated loss so far:

Cumulative production lost because of Katrina during the period of Aug. 26-31 totaled 6.1 million bbl of oil and 34.2 bcf of natural gas.

It doesn’t take much imagination to calculate that those “losses” will skyrocket over the next 4 weeks, until maybe — only maybe — they start cracking crude once again.

And it doesn’t strain one’s empathy to feel just a little bit on the side of the Have Nots who are prowling the streets of New Orleans, trying to equalize the distribution of wealth and close the gap on the separation of power.  God help them, their Federal Government surely doesn’t give a damn!

“[A]n angry Terry Ebbert, head of New Orleans’ emergency operations, watching the slow procession from the Superdome, said the Federal Emergency Management Agency response was inadequate,” reports AP via NW Indiana News.

“This is a national disgrace. FEMA has been here three days, yet there is no command and control,” Ebbert said. “We can send massive amounts of aid to tsunami victims but we can’t bail out the city of New Orleans. We have got a mayor who has been pushing and asking but we’re not getting supplies.”

He said the evacuation was almost entirely a Louisiana operation. “This is not a FEMA operation. I haven’t seen a single FEMA guy.” …

Randi Rhodes is on a tear. She just said that the White House should call CNN and MSNBC’s producers because clearly they’re able to get there, so maybe Bush should ask them how to do it.

Update [2005-9-1 15:53:58 by susanhu]: Physicians at hospital in New Orleans couldn’t get any help from the mayor, the governor, or the White House. They called the Associated Press to beg for help to evacuate them. The doctors said they have no food left, only liquid is fruit punch. (Randi, reading from story just off the AP wire.)

Forgive a short diary please. My daugher and her boyfriend are in touch with someone who runs a large server in NO: he has stayed in their tower block – on floor 12 – and kept going with a generator.

He has just posted on his LJ that the FEMA/national guard are being replaced by regular military. I don’t know what this means, whether it is good or bad, but have a horrid feeling that desperate people who have been left to drown/starve/dehydrate will end up being shot as looters.

The LJ is here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/interdictor/

http://www.hurricanehousing.org

this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war and other disasters

cross-posted at DailyKos, Booman Tribune, European Tribune, and My Left Wing.

images and poem below the fold

Relatives react during the funeral ceremony for pilgrims killed on Wednesday in Sadr City Shiite district in Baghdad, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005. Thousands of people attended funerals Thursday for some of the hundreds of Shiite pilgrims killed in a stampede on a Baghdad bridge during a religious procession, as criticism mounted against the Shiite-led government for failing to prevent the tragedy.
(AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Residents wait to be rescued from the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans September 1, 2005. Chaos and lawlessness hampered the evacuation of New Orleans on Thursday and a U.S. senator said thousands may have died in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast. In New Orleans, shell-shocked officials tried to regain control of the historic jazz city reduced to a swampy ruin by Monday’s storm. Bodies floated in the flooded city and authorities still could only guess how many people had died. REUTERS/David J. Phillip/Pool

At a Fishing Settlement
by Alistair Campbell

October, and a rain-blurred face,
And all the anguish of that bitter place.
It was a bare sea-battered town,
With its one street leading down
Onto a shingly beach. Sea winds
Had long picked the dark hills clean
Of everything but tussock and stones
And pines that dropped small brittle cones
Onto a soured soil. And old houses flanking
The street hung poised like driftwood planking
Blown together and could not outlast
The next window-shuddering blast
From the storm-whitened sea.
It was bitterly cold; I could see
Where muffled against gusty spray
She walked the clinking shingle; a stray
Dog whimpered and pushed a small
Wet nose into my hand – that is all.
Yet I am haunted by that face,
That dog, and that bare bitter place.

– – –

give to the American Red Cross
support the Iraqi people
support the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC)
support CARE
support the victims of torture
support the fallen
support the troops
support the troops and the Iraqi people
read This is what John Kerry did today, the diary by lawnorder that prompted this series
read Riverbend’s Bagdhad Burning
read Dahr Jamail’s Iraq Dispatches
read Today in Iraq
read this soldier’s blog
witness every day

Listen… It’s sound is carried by the wind, wafting through conversations wherever people gather, surging through the blogosphere, and erupting onto the pages of major newspapers. It’s even glanced across the surface of our corporate controlled TV news shows. Like the levees bursting from the mounting pressure of Lake Pontchartrain, the teflon coating that has protected the Bush Administration from the consequences of everything from ignoring the terrorist threat before 9/11 to its violent quest for mythical WMD, is cracking apart.

We are witnessing a massive, collective shift in awareness. These things do not happen over night, but as a cumulative process. The bad news for this President has gathered momentum over a politically disastrous summer. It may too early to tell if the storm headed Bush’s way is full category 5, but it’s clear that the hundredth monkey has noticed that Bush is an ineffectual and detached leader, unprepared for the “hard work” of dealing with reality.

A casual reading of some of the major press organs tells me that the dam has truly burst for Bush and even his titanium reinforced bubble won’t protect him.

— scathing media commentary below the fold —
From the New York Times:

Waiting for a Leader

George W. Bush gave one of the worst speeches of his life yesterday, especially given the level of national distress and the need for words of consolation and wisdom. In what seems to be a ritual in this administration, the president appeared a day later than he was needed. He then read an address of a quality more appropriate for an Arbor Day celebration…

Over at CNN Jack Cafferty exhibited another Bush-bashing verbal tick:

Cafferty: Where’s President Bush? Is he still on vacation?

Blitzer: He’s cut short his vacation he’s coming back to Washington tomorrow.

Cafferty: Oh, 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, based on the latest polls, my guess is getting back to work might not be a terrible idea.

The Bush endorsing Union Leader had this to say:

Bush and Katrina:
A time for action, not aloofness

AS THE EXTENT of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation became clearer on Tuesday — millions without power, tens of thousands homeless, a death toll unknowable because rescue crews can’t reach some regions — President Bush carried on with his plans to speak in San Diego, as if nothing important had happened the day before….

The cool, confident, intuitive leadership Bush exhibited in his first term, particularly in the months immediately following Sept. 11, 2001, has vanished. In its place is a diffident detachment unsuitable for the leader of a nation facing war, natural disaster and economic uncertainty.

Conservative Chicago Sun Times columnist Micheal Sneed raises a point:

Watch for a public uproar when statistics show how many impoverished citizens of New Orleans were killed by Hurricane Katrina because they couldn’t afford to flee.

Quoth a top Sneed source who has lived in Cuba on and off for 20 years, and who asked to remain anonymous: “I detest Fidel Castro, but I will tell you this. When a hurricane is approaching Cuba, Castro has set up a system to bus everybody out of harm’s way before disaster hits.

This is just a smattering of the initial reactions to Bush’s leadership, and the water has not, yet receded to show the full scope of this disaster. But as Howard Fineman points out, Bush is returning early from his vacation to face far more than the turning tide of Hurricane Katrina.

We have journalist Malcolm Gladwell to thank for the idea that every social phenomenon has a dramatic “tipping point.” It doesn’t always work that way. And yet Hurricane Katrina is just such a moment. We are a big, strong country — and New Orleans will, somehow, survive — but you do get the sense, as President Bush finally arrived here after a month-long vacation, that a political hurricane is gathering force, and it’s going to hit the capital any day….

Andy Jackson won the Battle of New Orleans. Will George Bush? His poll numbers already at near-record low levels, he will have to oversee the rescue of the Gulf in the midst of a changing climate in Washington. The public’s sense of where America is headed — the “right direction/wrong track” numbers — are dismal. Gas prices are high and unsettling. Congressional Democrats, reluctant since 9/11 to take on a “war president,” finally have decided to do so. And Republicans, knowing that they’ll be facing the voters a year from now, are beginning to seek ways to distance themselves from him.

Chris Floyd suggests that Bush will return to Washington to face a perfect storm. I agree. This “wartime President” will face criticism, this time, with no “enemy” to scapegoat. He’ll have no “with us or against us,” Manichean rhetoric, with which to gird himself. He is about to face the most difficult battle of his presidency, and learn as many have, that you can’t fight Mother Nature.

(Cross-posted here on DailyKos and here on Phillybits)

John Aravosis….some love him, some hate him. Personally, I like what he writes and find he takes a no-holds barred approach to saying what he feels, and taking a situation and grabbing the inside, and pulling it through to the outside for everyone to see.

In regards to Hurricane Katrina, the rescue effort, and the response time of the Bush administration in dealing with this crisis, I almost see no better.
Here on [Insert Blog Here], we’re doing our part in trying to motivate people to donate and get the word out for opportunities for people to get down to the affected areas and help out any way they can. We’re pushing blog ads, we’re linking to the Red Cross and other disaster relief agencies.

We’re also bring up the role of who’s responsible and while that’s all well and good, honestly, it doesn’t compare to what Aravosis is doing. In case DailyKos isn’t making you mad enough, just go to John’s site where you’ll see such headlines and articles as:

BREAKING: Sec of State Condi Rice caught buying several-thousand-dollar pair of shoes in NYC moments ago, spends last night at Broadway show!

The president, finally, has decided that the hurricane is a problem. He claims yesterday at 5pm, finally, that he’s going to be devoting his entire administration to saving the lives of the people currently dying in this growing national disaster. And what does a top member of his cabinet do? She goes to a Broadway comedy and today is buying multi-thousand-dollar shoes on 5th Avenue at the same time CNN is showing dead grandmothers in wheelchairs abandoned on the streets of New Orleans.

This is more than just a cheap shot at Condi. What in the blazes is this woman doing at a Broadway show in the middle of a national emergency?

White House: We have NOT requested international aid

UPDATE: Bush administration REFUSING to let Canada send emergency aid.

McClellan just told the press briefing that we have not requested international assistance.

Why not? Other nations don’t have troops and aircraft and boats that can help us protect New Orleans and get people out of that death zone?

So now Bush’s pride is going to risk the lives of even more Americans.

“I don’t treat my dog like that”

The White House is now refusing to respond to concerns about their having dropped the ball. “This is not the time for criticsm.” Oh my, he just said this was about “people seeking partisan gain in Washington.”

Really Scott? People are dying in New Orleans because your boss decided to stay on vacation until yesterday afternoon and because people are upset about that, and want your boss to finally be held responsible for his repeated lack of nerve, his propensity to run and hide every time a crisis hits, because people would like him to finally stop running and start doing his job, that makes us partisans.

BREAKING NEWS: FEMA suspends rescue operations in New Orleans

CNN just announced that New Orleans has now become so dangerous that FEMA is calling off its search and rescue operations in the city.

-snip-

Glad Bush decided TODAY to send those extra troops on the aircraft carrier that should arrive, oh, when?

John goes on…and on….and on. I commend him for his hard-hitting style of writing and pointing out what needs to be noticed and brought into the spotlight.

Of course, you can all go and see for yourself. It’s hard to stay so on point here, given the size of this community, the number of diarists, and the wide spectrum of diary topics that get thrown around here. We’re doing a great job informing people of current conditions that either are being under-reported, or not being reported at all.

Not for one minute should we let up on our push for accountability. Funding was cut, levee project coordinators were scrambling to get funds and complete the projects on time; before the next natural disaster.

We’re all aware of what Bush just said. “I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” And we’re all aware that Lake New Orleans is Bush’s fault and DWCG did an excellent job of proving it.

My point? Don’t let up. Now is the time to push. People don’t want it politicized? We are dealing with a horrible disaster right now but this administration has gone on far too long being impervious to criticism and accountability. The drums need to start being beaten again. We need to push through the TRUTH that this administration is incompetent, irresponsible, and outright dangerous to America, it’s people, it’s allies, and the entire world.

We’ve seen that danger in terms of the military response to 9/11, the bait-and-switch with Afghanistan funds to Iraq, the missing WMD’s, the still-on-the-loose Anthrax mailer, Bin Laden (on the run, what, 1500 days or so now?), The Downing Street Memo, outing of a CIA agent, endangering environmental areas, tax breaks for the rich, deepening pockets for corporations and now…one of, if not the worst natural disasters in this country’s history, and the President and Friends has done an almost negligible amount in terms of response, both visual and physical.

A real president would have come straight to New Orleans after the storm had passed to survey the damage and offer condolence. A real President, seeing the forecast, talking with advisers and experts, wouldn’t have left in the first place, but instead, would have stayed in Washington to coordinate efforts and create a plan BEFORE the hurricane even hit. Instead, the President boasts of his ability to carry out all the functions of the President from his ranch in Crawford.

You know what? I’m so fucking tired of the Vacation President and his Crawford ranch and whether he can or cannot commit the functions of the President from his ranch. Your job is in Washington. Your office is in Washington. See, when your job is done, you can go back home…to Crawford. Until then, your office is Washington D.C., where the people employ you.

You’re job is in D.C. Your office is in D.C. You belong in D.C. during a time of crisis. But you’re home, home on the range.

Way to go, George Bush. Way to let the country down. Yet again.

The title? That’s from me.

This post however comes from our defense department: a news conference with General Rick Hillier, Chief of Defense Staff that just aired live on CTV Newsnet.

“We stand ready to help,” said General Hillier. “They know what we are capable of.”

“All units for disaster relief are on high stand-by.”

“The US Ambassador knows that we can help and that we want to help.”

Gen. Hillier was asked if Canada was lobbying for a role.

“We are making sure that we are ready and ensuring that the chain of command in the USAF and here in Canada is aware of what we have. I have the full backing of the Governor General, the Canadian people and the PM, who I talked to last night.”

Gen Hillier was asked if he thinks pride has stopped the Americans from accepting our help, due to the size of the large American military vs Canada’s small military?

“No. I think they realize the desperate nature of the situation and will call on us for help if need be.”

Asked about a possible timeframe.

“We could have the first assist in the water nearby – we’d package whatever we could and go from there.”

He has spoken with his US counterpart and the Ambassador and let them know that, “We are willing and ready to respond to basically anything the US needs right now.”

The response he got back …

A heartfelt thank you.

After the interview, Roger Smith CTV reporter said the following:

• Canada really wants to help.
• A neighbour helping a neighbour.
• We are on stand-by.
• We are taking the unusual step of packing a vessel in Halifax, which would be ready to be sent to the gulf.
• There is no further news on being asked or if we will ever be asked to help.
• We could provide, CF-130 Hercules, helicopters, electric generators, water purification via DART, small boats for getting around, diving units to work underwater to retrieve bodies and remove debris, medical supplies, etc.

OTTAWA (CP) – Gen. Rick Hillier says the Canadian military is ready to respond immediately if the United States asks for help in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Hillier says he told U.S. ambassador David Wilkins that there are contingency plans. Although he says the Americans have most or all they need to help with recovery from the devastating hurricane, there may be things they need in addition.

Prime Minister Paul Martin told U.S. President George W. Bush by telephone as well that Canada will help in any way needed. (link)

Canadian Government’s response site on Hurricane Katrina

PLEASE! Let us help you. Please!
Update [2005-9-1 18:36:7 by olivia]: Looks like the US is going to start accepting aid, via WorldTraveler’s diary on Kos:

In a dramatic turnabout, the United States is now on the receiving end of help from around the world as some two dozen countries offer post-hurricane assistance.

(…)

With offers from the four corners of the globe pouring in, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has decided “no offer that can help alleviate the suffering of the people in the afflicted area will be refused,” State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Thursday.

(…)

Offers have been received from Russia, Japan, Canada, France, Honduras, Germany, Venezuela, Jamaica, Australia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Hungary, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, China, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, NATO and the Organization of American States, the spokesman said. (Two dozen nations offer aid)

Let’s hope that it’s not too late to save lives. We need to get those poor people out of the crisis situation and stabilized.

I’ve asked this question before and this seems like an interesting time to ask it again…

I’m curious today about breaking points. What is your personal limit? And what will your course of action be when that line has been crossed?
I’ve asked before…

Once in March

I already have    2 votes – 3%  
I’m working out the details    10 votes – 19%
Post federal judicial reform    3 votes – 5%  
Diebold + biometrics    0 votes – 0%  
The draft    7 votes – 13%  
When my neighbors burn a cross in my yard    4 votes – 7%  
Internment for thought-terrorism    7 votes – 13%  
Never, it’s MY country!    18 votes – 35%  

51 Total Votes

And once in May…

I already have    4 votes – 2%  
I’m working out the details    24 votes – 13%  
Post federal judicial ‘reform’    4 votes – 2%  
Diebold + biometrics    2 votes – 1%  
The draft    12 votes – 6%  
Contraception outlawed    15 votes – 8%  
When my neighbors burn a cross in my yard    3 votes – 1%  
Internment for thought-terrorism    18 votes – 10%  
Republican president 2008    13 votes – 7%  
Never, it’s MY country!    72 votes – 41%  
See my comment posted below    7 votes – 4%  

174 Total Votes