Homeland Security did not and will not allow Red Cross in to NOLA

[magellan]

For anyone who missed it:

Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

# Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

# The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

I demand to know why the people at the convention center were forced by FEMA/HSD to go for days in 95+ temps without adequate food & water and without medical attention. I demand to know why the Federal Government corraled those people, not permitting them to leave and not permitting aid in to them as they grew weaker and more desperate. I demand to know why supplies couldn't be brought to them much sooner than happened if FEMA/HSD weren't going to permit anyone else to do it.

I demand to know why people continue to die at the convention center through today for lack of medical care while FEMA/HSD congratulates itself and is congratulated by this President.

Yes, many people have died as a result of Katrina. But others are losing their lives through the criminal incompetence of FEMA/HSD. This is a horror being perpetrated by our own government before our very eyes. The lies are only just beginning, but I for one will never, ever forget the simple truths exposed this week.

After seeing how BushCo handle this -- in our own country, with our own people's lives at stake -- can there be any doubt as to what happened in Iraq?

[enid602]

1. Red Cross

But Red Cross is secular. We can't have secular people distributing aid.

[SoCalDemocrat]

4. Preventing photos from getting out

I believe they want to control access until they can remove the visible dead bodies. They're doing damage control.

Once they have the PR image cleaned up, they will no doubt start allowing other agencies more access.

[WePurrsevere]

2. Yeah the Red Cross would keep more people from evacuating in body bags.

We can't have that now can we? :sarcasm:

[mirandapriestly]

3. I've read that they don't want to prevent people from evacuating

and if the RC went in , people would be encouraged to stay and others would be encouraged to come in

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/3/02454/07418

[magellan]

6. That's no excuse for keeping aid from those at the convention center

They had been told to wait for buses for THREE DAYS. If they wanted to stay in the city do you think there would have been such a crowd still waiting when the NG showed up and refused to allow them to march out on their own?

Please be logical.

[magellan]

5. Kick in the names of those who are enduring this monstrous cruelty (nt)

[Liberty Belle]

7. Nominating & kicking. Also demand to know how many died

in the Convention Center and the Superdome--all of those deaths are on Bush's hands.

[enid602]

8. count

** will get Diebold on it right now.