Navy ship nearby underused (a must read)

[Lori Price CLG]

Navy ship nearby underused --Craft with food, water, doctors needed orders

ON THE USS BATAAN -- While federal and state emergency planners scramble to get more military relief to Gulf Coast communities stricken by Hurricane Katrina, a massive naval goodwill station has been cruising offshore, underused and waiting for a larger role in the effort.

The USS Bataan, a 844-foot ship designed to dispatch Marines in amphibious assaults, has helicopters, doctors, hospital beds, food and water. It also can make its own water, up to 100,000 gallons a day. And it just happened to be in the Gulf of Mexico when Katrina came roaring ashore.

The Bataan rode out the storm and then followed it toward shore, awaiting relief orders. Helicopter pilots flying from its deck were some of the first to begin plucking stranded New Orleans residents.

<snip>

Lori Price

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509040369sep04,1,4144825.story

[JoFerret]

1. Incredible

...more evidence of criminal incompetence, bungling, and negligence.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. One question:

WHY!!!!!!!!?????????

Why no orders to help?

As my husband says, whoever didn't issue orders should be hauled up on charges of murder by depraved indifference.

[KeepItReal]

6. Your husband is so right. Those orders are supposed to come from FEMA

<eom>

[MADem]

26. Why? Three words: FAILURE TO LEAD

It was more important to be eating cake and strumming gift guitars.

Why Bataan was pulled out of NOLA ops to support MS, where travel over land is less problematic, I cannot fathom.

I wager the skipper cannot fathom it either--she is said to be extremely frustrated.

[MissMarple]

41. Northcom had been preparing for the storm aftermath days before it hit.

They were ready to go, to send in military and humanitarian aid, but George didn't tell them to ( they needed his permission) until sometime Thursday.

I think the military knows George is lying.

[notadmblnd]

42. I read here several days ago

that that ship is for the oil companies and it is going to be used to house the workers getting the oil rigs back up and running.

[rzemanfl]

3. "Just happened to be?" I thought it was "following close behind

the storm." Were they trying to portray a coincidence as a plan?

[expatriot]

4. This is the mayor's fault!!!!!!! (super super, bitter sarcasm)

:sarcasm:

[KeepItReal]

5. "role...was not up to the Navy, but to FEMA officials directing"

*ANOTHER* FEMA f*ck-up in action.

[kurtyboy]

15. I worked for FEMA for years, and my wife still does.

She's in the disaster area, doing her level best to make things happen.

But there have been other governmental forces at work, undercutting everything FEMA attempts. Please, stop saying FEMA when you complain about the government response.

Start the more important meme--

The Department of Homeland Security is the failure here!

Bush wants us all to kill FEMA, and this is just how he's doing it. If he has his way, the whole cadre of experienced, toughened emergency managers will be gone, and in their stead, only the Department of Homeland Security and the Northern Command. If that don't send shivers up and down your spine and you dog's spine, you're on heavy narcotics.

[peaches2003]

18. Yes it does

Just the words HOMELAND SECURITY sent shivers down my spine when he named it. Waaay to close to Fatherland, which I think is the entire plan.

If not, why is * putting everything which controls the public under HS and why is he gutting FEMA?

[goclark]

20. Brown at FEMA is there for a reason

since he was a no good son of a bitch and placed there by Bush,he is doing his Masters bidding.

I believe you about Homeland Security wanting to be in charge.
That would make Bush/Hitler's dream complete.
His own completely controlled army.

Just my opinion.

BUSH GOTTA GO!

[54anickel]

34. GACK!!! Well that certainly makes sense. But would they be this

brazen and transparent? Saw a post somewhere regarding SwampRat and a rumor of FEMA cutting phone lines. I blew it off at first, but now I dunno....:tinfoilhat: :scared:

[54anickel]

35. timeline that outlines the fate of both FEMA and flood control projects

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_09/007023.php

CHRONOLOGY....Here's a timeline that outlines the fate of both FEMA and flood control projects in New Orleans under the Bush administration. Read it and weep:


big snip about cuts, privatization plans, rolling into DHS, etc.>

So: A crony with no relevant experience was installed as head of FEMA. Mitigation budgets for New Orleans were slashed even though it was known to be one of the top three risks in the country. FEMA was deliberately downsized as part of the Bush administration's conservative agenda to reduce the role of government. After DHS was created, FEMA's preparation and planning functions were taken away.

Actions have consequences. No one could predict that a hurricane the size of Katrina would hit this year, but the slow federal response when it did happen was no accident. It was the result of four years of deliberate Republican policy and budget choices that favor ideology and partisan loyalty at the expense of operational competence. It's the Bush administration in a nutshell.

[MADem]

27. FEMA gets their orders from Homeland Security, who gets theirs from the

Dunce in Chief.

Again I say, FAILURE TO LEAD.

[Lori Price CLG]

7. Let the treason trials begin... n/t

[MindPilot]

8. the Bataan was the ship pre-positioned by NorCom

as soon as Katrina headed for FL. This is the ship Lt Kelly refered to in the BBC interview where he said they were just waiting for orders.

[Porcupine]

9. It had HUGE hovercraft on board. Water tankers etc. Unused.

Thanks for the help George.

This boat was sitting offshore with the capability of delivering huge amounts of fresh water to the people of NOLA from Tuesday night. Hovercraft, amphibious vehicles, landing craft, and water tankers along with the largest medical facilities short of a hospital ship.

It's mission statement clearly states that noncombat disaster relief is part of it's designed operations.

Unused. see for yourself: http://www.bataan.navy.mil/tech.htm


Genocide.

[Lori Price CLG]

12. Right, genocide. It's becoming obvious. n/t

[peaches2003]

19. Just landed

FoxNews just showed pictures of the Hovercraft landing- Sunday at 1 PM.

[Pepperbelly]

33. A crew itching to help. All they needed was permission.

That alone should be grounds for impeachment.

[SaveAmerica]

40. Read this about that life-saver LCAC pictured in your post

How many lives could have been saved?

"The development of Air Cusion Landing Craft technology, as embodied in the LCAC, introduces high speed and long range capabilities into surface amphibious assault, significantly enhancing the match between the helicopter and surface borne assault. The LCAC is a high-speed, heavy-lift craft, capable of carrying a 60-ton cargo ship from ship-to-shore at speeds in excess of 30 knots. The new craft operates on a cushion of pressurized air and can deliver its cargo well ashore - unaffected by shallow obstacles and surf conditions. LCAC's can clean obstacles as high as four feet."

[Porcupine]

10. dupe delete

dupe delete

[Porcupine]

11. dupe delete

dupe delete

[Porcupine]

13. dupe delete please

dupe delete please

[Gregorian]

14. The inaction was done on purpose.

This was like an airlines crashing because the pilot died, and the copilot refused to grab the controls.

Where was Cheney? Bush did nothing.

This was not an accident. Dark skinned Democrats. That's what happened.



We spend $200 billion (?) per year on defense, but we can't even pluck people from their attics! It's bullshit!

Our country has the highest tech stuff available. We didn't use it!

Criminal negligence.

[jwirr]

17. Now Now! Don't you see - they are clearing the welfare

rolls! :sarcasm:

[sam sarrha]

22. CLEARING the poor for a Coastal Casino Worldmart..!! that will make Las

Vegas look like an OLD STRIP MALL..

the supreme court just did the Public domain ruling.. so how much are the poor black people, without even shoes (1 in 5 refugees have shoes), going to get for a lot, with a bunch of their neighbors Debee covering it,...

and the Casinos will get a BIG TAX BREAK for supplying JOBS, to pimps, hookers and drug dealers.. and some poor Mexicans working for minimum wage living in Company housing and buying from the company store..

Blacks wouldn't do that, it sounds too much like SLAVERY.. so they shipped them out.

[Sgent]

16. I was wondering

what the HELL happened to this.

The Battan is an LDP. An LDP readiness group -- also known as a MEU, is a self contained projection of force for both hummanitarian and offensive needs.

4,000 marines capable of being deployed in less than 12 hours with tanks, 1/2 ton trucks, and the full infrastucture to support them for 90 days.

With the exception of a Nimitz class carrier group, a Wasp Class Carrier Group (they have landing facilities and use VTOL Aircraft) is the largest projection of naval force in the history of the world.

We had a goddamn aircraft carrier offshore, with an onboard hospital, watermakers, and marines, and some dumbass in washington didn't pass the order.

[sam sarrha]

21. BUT, they have CONTRACTED a whole fleet of CORPORATE cruse ships..??

:wtf: and Fascism is again LOOTING the dwindling coffers of our nation.

[notadmblnd]

23. I read here yesterday that it is going to be used as a hotel

for the robber baron coming into town to secure their assets (oilrigs).

[kath]

36. why am I not surprised?

:cry:

[DELUSIONAL]

24. This is beyond disgusting

WHO in the chain of command of HOMELAND SECURITY in on ground in New Orleans -- and the region?

Who is the person (or persons) who is directing the FED response?

Gore had to wait for FEMA clearance -- well who the hell did he go to for permission to make the mercy flights.

We need to know the command structure of the FEDS who are empowered to direct the FEDERAL response -- which includes the Navy.

We need to get the names of these people -- or demand that someone find out what exactly happened.

This is a massive coordination effort and someone who is supposed to be in charge apparently has no idea about how to allocate resources -- or even WHAT the resources are.

Is the FED effort being run from DC -- or is there someone on the ground with MAPS -- and a master list of EVERY SINGLE AVAILABLE RESOURCE that can be used to find people who are giving their EXACT location??

Does bushie want to Federalize New Orleans? Sort of like another DC?

Something is horribly wrong.

AND I hold bushie 100% responsible -- these are HIS people running the show -- who should be coordinating the efforts -- and WHOEVER is in control should be tried, convicted and hung.

[texpatriot2004]

25. Incompetence, Colossal Failure of Leadership! n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

28. The Chimpster would be cuddly if he wasn't such an asshole.

:rofl:

[seafan]

29. So will *'s Labor Day photo op *order * the USS Bataan to *assist*??

What do y'all want to bet? Maybe he can even land on deck to do it in one of his costumes.

[tanyev]

30. Somebody call Baghdad Brown and tell him that ship is out there.

He probably has no clue.

[Lori Price CLG]

31. Right, but he would have stop laughing (as he briefed reporters) in order

...to hear her about it.

Lori Price

[earthboundmisfit]

32. See drm604's post-Bataan + other help was in place, awaiting OK from SHRUB

Check out this excellent post by drm604 (thanks, drm604!) about this, from BBC World News (PBS) -interview with NORTHCOM Lieutenant Commander Sean Kelly, who states to the BBC reporter:

"NorthCom started planning before the storm even hit. We were ready for the storm when it hit Florida because, as you remember, it crossed the bottom part of Florida, and then we were plaining, you know, once it was pointed towards the Gulf Coast. So what we did was we activated what we call defense coordinating officers to work with the state to say okay, what do you think you'll need, and we set up staging bases that could be started. We had the USS Baton sailing almost behind the hurricane so that after the hurricane made landfall it's search and rescue helicopters would 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."

more at post:
"On BBC: Northern Command was in position, waiting for Presidential orders"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4605183

[Carolab]

37. OMG. It really IS Bush's fault. n/t

[hayu_lol]

38. The Bataan, a NAVY ship, is under Rummy's control...

Rummy took over all military control prior to 9-11. Instead of making decisions, he went outside the Pentagon to 'see if he could help.' Looks like a battle for power still going on in DC...no one able to take charge.

Guess its ok though...KindaSleezy did make it to Alabama--wonder if she wore some of her new shoes.

[amandabeech]

39. There is a report in GD that * declared a suspension of Posse Comitatus

at 6 AM Sunday. Posse Comitatus act prevents the use of U.S. regular military, not the national guard which is under state control, to enforce laws. It limits the military to a support role only. Perhaps this is why the GD scanner threads have occasional references to martial law being declared.

If Posse was suspended, probably illegally, that means that the army, aka Northern Command, can come in and take over.

There is also a Knight Ridder story, with a link by me, stating that as of tonight, all NO police, firefighers, EMS and other first responders would be withdrawn from NO to Baton Rouge for R&R, counseling, etc.

A military entry into NO would also explain the reports that FEMA has tried to cut communications lines in Jefferson Parish and elsewhere, and that there have been reports of jamming cell phone frequencies.

It also would explain why the Bataan's hospital facilities were not being used. They are being held in anticipation of military casualties from the takeover of NO.

Here's the link as best as I know how to do. Anyone is welcome to attach a spiffed up link.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4624810