Posted on 09/10/2005 11:00:06 AM PDT by PhilipFreneau
I just saw a news conference on Fox News. Coast Guard Vice-Admiral Thad Allen is the new head of relief and rescue in New Orleans. I don't know what his new title is--I was hoping someone would post a new thread; I don't have enough information to do that. So Michael Chertoff hasn't sat by quietly--appointed a can-do man.
Admiral Allen said that there are so many organizations trying to help in New Orleans, from the military--National Guard, Coast Guard, Marines, etc. to the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and many others. That it's important that they not duplicate each other's efforts, that the most benefit is derived from each, and that the massive resources of the Navy and Coast Guard--boats--be put to use on the Mississippi to fight fires, etc. That much more can be done to speed up the recovery.
Looks like we finally have a manager to coordinate everything--leave it to our military!! :)
I'm hoping the President appoints General Gus Pagonis to be the master planner for disaster relief. He did a phenomenal job during the first Gulf War.
>>> Looks like we finally have a manager to coordinate everything--leave it to our military!! <<<
So, Allen arrives and finds more than enough assets to do the job. Brown did his job well.
If he didn't my ears are lying when I heard him say it.
If he did, all he had to do was turn on the freaking T.V. to see it was total anarchy in the city.
If the guy is that tone deaf to what was happening on the ground, it would seem he was not in the loop.
That is not leadership.
As for FEMA turning the "2500 employees turned 90,000 square miles of disaster area, including a major city that is approximately 80% under water, into a manageable project".
I would say the military played a major role which Mike Brown had very little to do with.
Are you implying Bush made a mistake in removing him from the operational aspect of it.
To quote you:
"Of course, I am certain you or someone you know could have made a better decision, right?"
>>> Is it or is it not true that on Thursday when asked about N.O. he basically said everything was O.K.??? <<<
Personally, I think you heard what you wanted to hear. To a planner, "everything going Okay" would mean something entirely different to someone looking for a soundbite. Brown was baited by the Bush-Haters in the MSM, and you bought into it. Unbelievable.
>>> I would say the military played a major role which Mike Brown had very little to do with. <<<
A DOD press conference that discusses the relationship between the military response and FEMA, dated Wednesday, August 31, 2 days after the hurricane hit, states (excerted):
"We in DOD understand that commander's intent. Secretary Rumsfeld, Department Secretary -- Acting Deputy Secretary England have communicated to our Department at all levels a requirement that we pro-actively lean into the mission, and that we be fully prepared to assist DHS, FEMA, and our interagency partners in supporting their lead efforts in responding to this natural disaster." . . .
"Lieutenant General Honore has for the past several days been at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, where he is closely coordinating with his FEMA counterparts." . . .
"We ultimately expect that we will make available a fleet of approximately 50 helicopters to support FEMA's operations. That would include aerial assessment of damage, movement of FEMA personnel and other interagency partners who, for reasons that are obvious, had difficulty achieving ground transportation." . . .
"Some of you may have seen media broadcasts that relate to the movement of United States Naval Forces. That reflected again the proactive, very aggressive message given to us by the Secretary of Defense that we are not to merely be passive in our response to FEMA requests for assistance, but as a fully cooperating partner to anticipate the kinds of needs that FEMA may bring to our attention, and to put in place in a forward-deployed status those kinds of DOD capabilities that will likely be called upon." . . .
"For that reason, we are moving to the area approximately eight ships that have various competencies in terms of medical support, humanitarian relief, transportation in a maritime environment. We are forward-deploying everything that we think might be required by FEMA. And we'll be fully prepared to respond to FEMA's request for assistance when they inevitably are forthcoming. " . . .
"We're looking toward the possibility of medical surge capabilities. We've had to provide that kind of support in the past, for instance, during the hurricanes last year in Florida. We are identifying medical specialties that FEMA may call upon us to present. We've also been working very closely with HHS on those issues."...
"GENERAL SCHERLING: Yes, the National Guard would be able to assist the states at the Governor's request. I would also add that the active duty military and the National Guard provide a deep bench for any of the missions that are requested by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. And so we are prepared to anticipate those requests."
....
From http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/2005/tr20050831-3842.html
>>> Mike Brown at his previous job as"Judges and Stewards Commissioner" for the International Arabian Horses Association was fired for cause. <<<
You have been deceived. Brown was asked to leave the IAHA after eleven (11) years as its commissioner because he did his job as rules enforcer too well. As it turned out, some of those he sighted for rules and ethics violations had deep pockets with which to sue the IAHA, causing the organization financial hardship. [sarcasm] Brown should have known that as a rules enforcer the last thing he should have done is enforce the rules [/sarcasm].
Further, that job was over 4 years ago. Brown's first job at FEMA in 2001 was not as its director. He held several subordinate positions before he was appointed to the head of FEMA in January 2003. Since being appointed director he has successfully organized 165 federally-declared disasters; and he has the more experience than anyone on the planet in organizing hurricane and tropical storm relief efforts. See:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1481839/posts
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