Military is mad...Bush was on vacation & should have been giving orders!!!

[pbartch]

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/5167.html

Northern Command isn't happy
Posted 12:14 pm | Printer Friendly

Because Northern Command oversees all active-duty military operations inside the United States, it's also responsible for organizing the relief operations on the Gulf Coast. There are early indications, however, that NorthCom officials aren't entirely pleased with the orders they've received of late from the president.

There's an interesting BBC World News report (brought to my attention by my friend Darrell) in which NorthCom Lt. Commander Sean Kelly explained the military's efforts which, in addition to military support, include distribution of medical supplies, search and rescue operations, distributing food and water, and meeting transportation needs. (Note: the server hosting the video seems to be overwhelmed. This is a direct .mpg link, which is also slow right now, but keep trying.)

When the BBC noted the criticism of the government's slow response, Lt. Commander Kelly explained that NorthCom was ready to go well in advance of Katrina making landfall, but suggested the president didn't make the right call at the right time.

"Northcom started planning before the storm even hit. We were ready when it hit Florida, because, as you remember, it hit the bottom part of Florida, and then we were planning once it was pointed towards the Gulf Coast.

"So, what we did, we activated what we call 'defense coordinating officers' to work with the states to say, 'OK, what do you think you will need?' And we set up staging bases that could be started.

"We had the USS Bataan sailing almost behind the hurricane so once the hurricane made landfall, its search and rescue helicopters could be available almost immediately So, we had things ready.

"The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so. The laws of the United States say that the military can't just act in this fashion; we have to wait for the president to give us permission."

Apparently, that permission could have been given right away, but it wasn't. Bush was on vacation, sharing some cake with John McCain, and pretending to play some guitar.

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read the rest of the article and the comments!!!!!!!

[bushisanidiot]

1. More proof that the "commander in chief" was asleep at the wheel

just like on 9/11/01.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. He Failed to Lead On Purpose

He's a FLOP

That's what he always does.

He loves chaos, death and destruction.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Well, if he's going to criticize the LA Dems for not dotting their

i's and crossing their t's, then he would be guilty of committing the same bureaucratic error, now wouldn't he?

[FourStarDemocrat]

12. Wanted: Military Coup Now!! Pretty please....

I never thought I'd be asking for that, but at this point anything is better than our country run by the Bushco depraved criminals.

[sarcasmo]

13. They are trying to get rid of FEMA. The sad thing is it's going to end up

Killing ten thousand people.

[pbartch]

20. Hillary is calling for an INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

Good for her. People want the truth about this tragedy....too much is starting to get on TV and folks are seeing chaos everywhere.

[marions ghost]

18. LOL FLOP good one dyew

:rofl:

FLOP = Failed to Lead on Purpose

[peekaloo]

8. I've seen the phrase Commander in Sleep recently. It fits.

:mad:

[Bernardo de La Paz]

17. He guesses Vacation is over

[UrbScotty]

11. But he is a stout and brave leader.

:sarcasm:

[riverwalker]

2. Rumsfeld at baseball game in San Diego

during Katrina, instead of doing his job.

[jody]

5. USS BATAAN (LHD 5) Official Website

USS BATAAN (LHD 5) Official Website

[pbartch]

6. I think this needs FORWARDING to media and LOTS of Recommendations

Get the news out......Military is Mad at their Chimp in Chief.

[berni_mccoy]

7. Recommended!

:kick:

[bpilgrim]

9. Here is the BBC Video --------------- ------------- ------ > LINK

http://news.globalfreepress.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=1

download link...
http://news.globalfreepress.com/movs/katrina/BBC_Katrina.mpg


psst... pass the word ;->
peace

[drm604]

23. For people on dialup here's a smaller version of the same video.

It's of slightly lower quality but the file is much smaller.

Video
http://www.nitrogen.no/files/video/bbc_interview.wmv
(app. 2 megs)

Audio Only
http://www.nitrogen.no/files/video/bbc_interview.wma
(app. 700kb)

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Tens of thousands dead because Pinhead** couldn't be bothered

to take charge and lead. He had other priorities like eating cake and strumming on a guitar. Feeling safer yet FReepers? Just keep supporting (p)Resident Death, he'll get around to killing you too.

[Skittles]

15. it kills me the policies we support protect their sorry asses too

but that's what it means to be a Democrat

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. I hear ya.

:hug:

[SeanQ]

14. Just frelling unbelievable!

[progressoid]

16. Commander Kelly may be facing an early retirement by making statements

like that!

The Rove is already making calls to get him "reassigned".

[TorchTheWitch]

19. Lt. Com. Kelly retracted that statement

I read it in a thread here in the very early morning hours today... I believe the link with the thread was the BBC.

Off the top of my head, Kelly said in the retraction that they got the "order" in such a way as "go when you're ready" and blamed themselves for not being ready more timely.

Somebody got to Kelly.

:mad:

[MADem]

21. They may have, but the poor kid is screwed anyway

If he is in Public Affairs, and has no prior enlisted service, odds are good he will get "culled" at the next selection board and have to pack and leave within three years, with no retirement.

The PAO crowd is rather insular, one fuck up and you are toast.

If he is line, he might have a shot at hanging on, but he would have to have a very powerful mentor, and that mentor would have to chair his selection board. In any event, if he does make it to Commander, that will likely be his terminal rank.

[Nikki Stone 1]

24. Looks like they threatened the guy

....business as usual

[drm604]

25. Retraction

I posted about his retraction here:

Lt. Commander Sean Kelly Responds to the BBC interview flap.

The gist of his retraction is "Yes, we have to wait for authorization, but it was given in a timely manner."
I guess this is believable, but the way he phrased the original statement, as a "caveat" sure sounded like he was trying to explain why they didn't act sooner.
Here's my original thread on this subject: On BBC: Northern Command was in position, waiting for Presidential orders. It has a transcript (with some misspellings) of the original interview.