Biloxi Newspaper Rips Relief Effort, Begs for Help

[G_j]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001052870

Published on Thursday, September 1, 2005 by Editor & Publisher

Biloxi Newspaper Rips Relief Effort, Begs for Help

by Greg Mitchell

NEW YORK - The Sun Herald of Biloxi, Miss., in an editorial today, criticized the relief effort in its ravaged area so far, and told officials and the nation-at-large: "South Mississippi needs your help."

It angrily revealed: "While the flow of information is frustratingly difficult, our reporters have yet to find evidence of a coordinated approach to relieve pain and hunger or to secure property and maintain order. People are hurting and people are being vandalized.

"Yet where is the National Guard, why hasn't every able-bodied member of the armed forces in South Mississippi been pressed into service?"

Pointedly, it declared that earlier today, "reporters listening to horrific stories of death and survival at the Biloxi Junior High School shelter looked north across Irish Hill Road and saw Air Force personnel playing basketball and performing calisthenics."

It added: "We need the president to back up his declaration of a disaster with a declaration of every man and woman under his command will do whatever is necessary to deal with that disaster."

The newspaper has managed to publish two print editions this week as well as keep its Web site updated.

Here is the text of the editorial.

..more..

[G_j]

1. ==

[Marr]

2. Amazing. This is just amazing.

Our incompetent government can't even cope with a response to this disaster- let alone prevention. I'm just in awe at the incompetence.

[EastofEdon]

3. "why hasn't every able-bodied member of the armed forces in

South Mississippi been pressed into service?"

good question

[G_j]

8. one that remains to be answered n/t

[MidnightWind]

4. I sure would love to know who they endorsed for President last year

I bet it was Bush. Now they see what the rest of us have known all along: it was all smoke and mirrors and this man is useless in a crisis. He does not care about anyone or anything other than trying to make his rich buddies even richer. Well Mission Accomplished there King George--Gas prices have skyrocketed nearly a $1 overnight in my area and some gas stations are now out of gas. Meanwhile, thousands are dying or are already dead thanks to NO Help from the federal government.

[G_j]

10. they probably did

that is history it seems.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. What?!?

[Just Me]

6. What a painful read.

:cry: Our people are suffering and dying!!!

[G_j]

7. I agree :-( n/t

[G_j]

9. take a chill pill, Chertoff says "We're doing an exceptional job."

(at today's news conference)

[Just Me]

11. FEMA guy says they have food & water. He lies!!!

:mad:

[johnnie]

12. It seems the country is focused on NO right now

I keep wondering about all of the other areas in need right now. Obviously because of the situation in New Orleans, they will be the ones that are the main focus, but there are many many more areas that were wiped out. This is all just too big to comprehend.