"War on terror" diverted US resources from disaster prevention: experts

[Judi Lynn]

"War on terror" diverted US resources from disaster prevention: experts

Sat Sep 10, 4:10 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Four years after the September 11 attacks, the failure of the US emergency services to handle the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina is due to resources being diverted to the "war on terror," experts say.

With thousands of National Guard soldiers deployed in Iraq and medical resources being diverted to deal with a potential biological attack, the southern United States was less prepared than it might have been when Katrina struck on August 29.

"The most recent effects of these diversions of funding have been seen in the unfolding tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the surrounding area," said Erica Frank from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

"Had there been more bodies on the ground, there would have been fewer deaths. But 7,000 National Guards from Louisiana and Mississippi are deployed in Iraq," she said.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050910/pl_afp/usweatherattacks;_ylt=Ak2NKT2rJCJ10_FBNqrqXays0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3OXIzMDMzBHNlYwM3MDM-

[Carolab]

1. Are they going to make this about money and resources?

And ignore the truth about how these people were deliberately left without succor? I sure hope not.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. look for the shinny here

money, resouces, so we spend them over there and don't have them over here, so exactly how much safer are we?

[Judi Lynn]

3. It's a given they don't care about the people. They're poor, after all.

What would have helped would have been for _Bush to not have denied through his influence and will, assistance to Louisiana ALL five years of his pResidency in the vital work desperately needed, for which Senator Mary Landrieu begged to stabilize and strength levies, wetlands, etc., etc. which would have, if allowed, kept back the worst part of the flood and the deaths of so many.

He and the Republican Congress gleefully turned a cold shoulder on her every time. That's why she has been wild with anger, and rightfully so. The money was need for physical strengthening measures years PRIOR to the storm and flood. They've spit on the poor of Louisiana every year they have refused to allow these repairs.

[ShockediSay]

4. I thought we were at war with alQaeda and allies

There was always terror in the world; there always will be.

Fuzzy tactical plan. But what can you expect from chicken hawks?

[sandnsea]

5. satellite phones in Iraq

As important as the troops themselves, "The federal disaster response plan hinges on transportation and communication, but National Guard officials in Louisiana and Mississippi had no contingency plan if they were disrupted; they had only one satellite phone for the entire Mississippi coast, because the others were in Iraq."

No communication because the satellite phones everybody has been talking about were in Iraq.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/10/AR2005091001529_5.html

[Judi Lynn]

6. Inexcuseable. Laura Bush should be "disgusted" about this. n/t

[struggle4progress]

7. "Can you hear me now?" eom

[SunDrop23]

8. Can we all agree there is no war on terror?

I mean does anyone feel safer today than four years ago? Not me and I also do not believe we ever launched a true war on terror, as if "terror" could be fought. JMO

[lateo]

9. Indeed...

It is a very cruel joke being played on the idiots in America who drink the kool-aid.

[SunDrop23]

10. Seriously

I hear this "war on terror" shit and I laugh.

(No disrespect to the men and women in uniform, because they are following orders - the most clusterfucked orders any CIC has ever given.)

I just don't think Bush "has my back," so to speak when it comes to matters of national security. And I definitely don't feel the military is involved in a war that we are winning.

But that's just me.

[lateo]

11. Did you see that news article about Tora Bora this weekend?

The Pentagon only committed a about 3 dozen troops to the seige of those caves.

What the fuck? If they were serious about catching him they would have used every resource they had to make sure he didn't escape.

They wanted him to.

[SunDrop23]

15. He's the boogeyman, as long as he's running free...

the kool aid drinkers are scared.

People can say "yea but what kind of life is he leading" and the truth is quite better than most of us on this board.

[truthisfreedom]

12. excuse me, but isn't NOLA a perfect example of a biological terror attack?

it's a stinking cesspool of vile biohazards! it's exactly what we're supposed to be ready for, people!

[davsand]

13. I asked a Repub the other day which was more important to him:

Saving lives of US citizens or sending our National Guardsmen to Iraq so they can hold an election...

Kind of took the steam out of his sails.

As the GOP mantra has changed over time (regarding Iraq and why we invaded) I have taken great personal pleasure in asking local Republicans these kinds of questions. I made zero headway when it was supposed to be about WMD. I made some minimal headway when it was about deposing the killer dictator Saddam, but I am watching them turn green now that it is about why AMERICANS are dying from lack of help here in the US and in Iraq.



Laura

[Ezlivin]

14. Wait a second; I thought the USA had infinite resources

What's this about being "stretched thin"?

For the past several decades, every time I needed more water or electricity or anything, all I had to do was ask for it and pay for it. There was never a question of limits.

Looks like we're going to have to find a fresh planet full of resources to exploit.