[Captain Kirk]

What do you suppose? C'mon man....spin it so we can all hear how this is GWB's fault.

I don't have to "spin" anything. It is plain as day. The lack of enough helicopters to help repair the breached levees (because so many in Iraq) says it all, doesn't it? One could add, of course, that there is a shortage of enough National Guard troops for the same reason. This is about as obvious as it gets.

[TexanToTheCore]

There is no shortage of Helios or troops. It simply takes time to get everyone and everything into the damaged zone.

This has been true of every disaster I have seen.

For some reason (too much TV?), people seem to think that a whole flotila of ships and divisions of troops will materialize out of thin air.

It simply takes time. Not a lot, mind you, but some.

[Redbob]

"The lack of enough helicopters to help repair the breached levees (because so many in Iraq) says it all, doesn't it?"

Actually, no it doesn't say a damn thing.
Helicopters don't fix levees!

Not helicopter gunships, certainly.

If I were you, I might try sticking to subjects I knew some little teensy bit about.

[hiredhand]

I don't have to "spin" anything. It is plain as day. The lack of enough helicopters to help repair the breached levees (because so many in Iraq) says it all, doesn't it? One could add, of course, that there is a shortage of enough National Guard troops for the same reason. This is about as obvious as it gets.

You're the one that invoked the CINC's name and Iraq on this one. So be more specific. What is the current ANG troop strength and availability? Is there really a shortage? If you say there's a shortage, then prove it. Just because enough ANG troops and equipment aren't being sent down there to suit you doesn't mean there's a shortage.

The only thing that's obvious is that you'd be better suited posting your opinions on the DU.

[OSHA]

How have you lasted so long here?

[TexanToTheCore]

What isn't obvious to someone who hasn't worked with broken levees ( as I assume for you) that a failed attempt to block them would likely widen the breach dramatically.

The reason the Army Corps of Engineers didn't drop bags into the breach is quite clear to those of us who have. It would have done serious damage to the remaining levee and perhaps added 200 feet to the breach. Moving water is extremely difficult to plug up. It tends to go over and around anything you put in its way, digging as it goes.

The Army Corps of Engineers are quite expert. If they didn't do it because they didn't think it would work, it probably wouldn't have worked. They are the best at this type of operation.