Bush links Katrina to terrorists, sets stage for Katrina-profiteering

[Ian_rd]

You knew it was only a matter of time.

Bush Compares Responses to Hurricane, Terrorism
New York Times
By DAVID E. SANGER
Published: September 22, 2005

<snip>

Mr. Bush's speech, at a luncheon for the Republican Jewish Coalition, appeared to be part of a White House strategy to restore the luster of strong leadership that Mr. Bush enjoyed after the Sept. 11 attacks, and that administration officials fear he has lost in the faltering response to the hurricane.

<snip>

Until the speech on Wednesday, Mr. Bush had kept the issues of terrorism, Iraq and the hurricane separate. But the public has not: polls show declining approval of Mr. Bush's handling of both Iraq and Hurricane Katrina. By suggesting for the first time that America's enemies were pleased to see the devastation caused by the hurricane, he appeared to be linking the country's natural and human challengers.

Mr. Bush said he had been "thinking a lot" about the comparisons between the response to the attacks in New York and Washington, and the storm devastation. "We look at the destruction caused by Katrina, and our hearts break," he said. Turning the subject to terrorists, he said: "They're the kind of people who look at Katrina and wish they had caused it. We're in a war against these people."

In weaving the themes, Mr. Bush said that just as the United States would not let an act of nature blow the nation off course, it would not let the acts of terrorsts drive it out of Iraq. "No matter how many car bombs there are, these terrorists cannot stop the march of freedom in Iraq," he told the luncheon crowd, which include current and former members of his administration and some of his larger campaign donors.

<snip>

(Bush) reiterated proposals he made last Thursday from New Orleans, including the creation of a Gulf Opportunity Zone.

"Somebody said the other day, well, that's a tax break," Mr. Bush said. "That region is going to have zero income anyway. There's nothing there, in many parts of it. It makes sense to prove economic incentives for jobs to exist."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/22/national/nationalspecial/22bush.html

A "Gulf Opportunity Zone"? Everyone keep your eyes on this particular phrase. "Gulf Opportunity Zone" sounds curiously like "Free Trade Zone," a type of zone popular in Third World countries where conditions are made favorable to corporate profits in order to attract multi-national corporations.

And since Bush has already signaled his willingness to turn the Katrina devastation into a profit-maximizing opportunity for his buddies at the expense of the working class and the displaced by suspending Davis-Bacon wage requirements, we can certainly expect additional corporate ass-kissing and worker-screwing initiatives.

[Streetdoc270]

1. Thousand of volunteers

are being told 'we don't need your help, there are plenty of private sector workers here now'. They could get people to volunteer their time for body recovery and relief EMS/Rescue but they would rather turn it over to a cooperation and pay them to do it!

[aquart]

2. George is profligate with our money.

Republicans kill dogs.

[ClintonTyree]

3. He tried to tie Saddam in with Al Qaeda.......

now he's trying to tie terrorists in with Hurricanes. :eyes: And I imagine the sheeple will buy it, lock, stock and barrel.
Next we'll be invading Africa so we can "fight he hurricanes over there so we don't have to fight them here".
I can't wait.

[Ian_rd]

4. Forthcoming: The Fair Weather Fan Act ...

.. to weaken Constitutional protections of those suspected of taking an interest in the weather. Personal computers may be searched without a warrant for evidence of visiting weather-related websites.

One man in Texas already asked, "Hot enough for ya?" to an undercover federal agent and is now being detained without due process in an undisclosed location.

[NNN0LHI]

5. I knew this is what I heard yesterday n/t