Brown calls NO a "war zone"; Honore claims people chose to stay in Dome

[Carolab]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-katrina4sep04,0,1107634.story?coll=la-home-headlines

{snip}

The head of FEMA, Michael D. Brown, said he understood the frustration of those still stranded and hungry. "I'm frustrated, sure; everybody's frustrated," Brown said. "This is a war zone we're working in now, and we'll continue to make progress day by day."

The top military commander in the disaster zone, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, also expressed his sorrow but added that given the challenges, the military had responded in "record time."

Honore said the mood at the Superdome "has been tense. But guess what? There has been more talk of riots and disorder than there actually has been."

The general said evacuees would have left if the shelter had truly become intolerable.

"If there was a fire under your feet, would you stand there? Hell, no," said Honore, a Louisiana native. "There was an acceptable amount of risk. They would have come out of that place. It was better for them to stay."

{snip}

[Be Brave]

1. "Chose to stay"?????

They were sitting on human waste, surrounded by water full of sewage and death, for crying out loud! It's not as if they had a choice. Sheesh!

[NYC]

13. They chose to stay instead of stepping out into that lake of sewage

and death and chemical contaminants and oil spills. So, yes, I guess you could say they chose to stay. Honore was the man Nagin thought could do a good job.

And Michael Brown is frustrated? He should tell that to some of the frustrated victims.

[freeplessinseattle]

2. what the hell? every single one of those in higher ranks

of being in charge has a total disconnect. I am astounded.

[wli]

3. New Zealand media is reporting 60K in Superdome, not 20K

Which is vastly overstuffed. The Superdome was a death camp. No bones about it.

[Matariki]

4. failing in Iraq, Bush has decided to play army at home.

[oasis]

5. Honore is a Bush kiss ass.

[FormerRepublican]

6. I liked Honore until he said that.

But he's just a Republican shill like the rest of them.

[ecoflame]

7. Jesus-fucking-Christ

What is it? THESE PEOPLE HAD NO WHERE TO GO! Where were they going to go that was more TOLERABLE in a flooded city (remember at least 80%) torn to pieces by a hurricane - and with no personal belongings other than what they had on their backs & person?

[applegrove]

8. And go outside with the people who had gotten kicked out? At night?

Whent he police had stood down for the night because it wasn't safe enough on the street?

Hm..

[Kagemusha]

9. I thought it was common knowledge they weren't ALLOWED to go

and they claimed that it'd be different at the Astrodome but it wasn't, because all there were was cops and no one to administer any kind of pass system.

[koopie57]

11. That is my understanding too

they couldn't go and I read something about a group walking away and having food dropped off for them at intervals, but FEMA made them go back. I don't know. There is so much out there I find it hard to keep it straight.

[aquart]

14. I thought they were handing out plastic bracelets as passes.

[Trillo]

10. Is HONORe another LIAR?

"NEW ORLEANS (AP) - National Guard members halted the evacuation of the Superdome early Saturday after buses transporting the refugees of Hurricane Katrina stopped rolling."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5252892,00.html

[aquart]

12. I knew something was off about Honore.

Nagin likes him, but he thinks he's John Wayne. John Wayne was a right wing pig.

There are days I feel Nagin is way too young and inexperienced to be running a city.

[NYC]

15. I wonder if Nagin still likes him.

Nagin's initial impression was that Honore could get the job done.

[girl gone mad]

16. A war between whom?

The government and its people?

[bring_em_home_bush]

17. THEY WERE HELD AT GUNPOINT AND NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE

Shame to anyone who praises this Bush-kissing traitor.

[Garbo 2004]

18. They went to where they were told to go and stayed where they were told to

stay. They followed instructions and trusted in the authorities. They did not imagine they would be left there to rot for days or prevented from leaving.

And I 'spose the elderly and infirm who were sent to the shelters could have just called a taxi and left at any time.

These guys are just sick fucks peddling this crap.