editorial cartoons....bush* at the pig farm and more....

[diamond14]

Why did it take four days for Bush to publicly comment on one of the largest disasters in our lifetime? Must have been the hangovers.

[NV Whino]

1. The last one is too true to be funny n/t

[AllegroRondo]

3. Reminds me of a famous quote

I think it was Arthur C Clarke

"It is a sad statement about the human race that our greatest technological advancements come about because of two primary reasons: entertainment and warfare."

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. Good one, I'm adding it to my collection. Here's one for you.

War is God's way of teaching Americans geography. -Ambrose Bierce, writer (1842-1914)

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. Re the 3rd cartoon - the tsunamis WERE detected...

...but the officials didn't warn their citizens. For something that will outrage you to your toes, read today's Olbermann blog entry on this at
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240

[BrklynLiberal]

6. Another case of the bottom line taking precedence over human life.

[Nothing Without Hope]

10. True. But I really don't think they thought it would be so huge

The last time there were huge quake-induced killer waves in this area was after the explosion of Krakatoa in the 1890's, long before their own experience. And there was a precedent in Hawaii of an evacuation ordered because of a false-positive tsunami warning -- this cost millions of dollars. I would think no wise person would have suggested the Hawaiian warning should have been ignored in case it was wrong -- but this incorrect forecast incident was widely known and probably influenced the Indonesian officials making the decision.

Yes, their decision was truly awful. A gigantic, deadly mistake. But I do think they were totally taken by surprise by the seriousness of the disaster. There was not time for wiser heads to prevail, and thousands upon thousands died while they dithered during those precious minutes between the quake and the tsunami strikes.

This is why there is no subsitute for a true, international, "Ultra-urgent, Overriding Disaster Alert" protocol that launches a warning and evacuation sequence (set up and practiced locally) without having to be deliberated by minor officials. Every minute wasted meant more lives lost.

[diamond14]

8. it took about 4 hours from the earthwake to the impact of the tsunami

and this screw-up is a HUGE reflection on bush* "Homeland Security"....


for OUR homeland security, bush* has ramped up all kinds of spending on POLICE and MILITARY....while CUTTING budgets from the Federal Agencies who could make a difference: U.S Geological Survey and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency.....these are tiny agencies...their whole annual budgets are less than 60 SECONDS of the pentagoons budget for WAR...

[Nothing Without Hope]

11. Actually, most areas had less than an hour before waves hit

Varies with location, but one of the big challenges is how -- even with vastly improved local warning systems in place -- to get people to safety in a short time. In some areas, going to higher ground would be possible, but in other low-lying areas, that might take too long. Creative engineers need to look into this. (Someone has suggested some kind of water-tight storm shelters.) In any case, there must be drills and plans so that people know exactly what to do to keep their families safe from the waves. Re the time, here's what this article said:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=5&u=/usatoday/20041228/ts_usatoday/scientistsinusasawtsunamicoming
(snip)
LaDouce notes that warnings are of little use without evacuation plans, given how quickly a tsunami can travel. Tsunami waves struck Sumatra minutes after the quake and hit Thailand within an hour.

"Even if you give the tourist resorts in Thailand a half-hour's notice, it is no easy matter to evacuate vast swaths of coastland," he says. "You have to plan and train people. And then do it all over again."

[gatorboy]

5. Didn't it take him 4 days to come out of hiding after 9/11?

force of habit, I suppose....

[RedSock]

7. just like jesus!!!!!!

he ascended from the pig farm after 3 days ...

or something.

[NV Whino]

9. And on *'s little green jacket?

Is that a Junior Woodchuck badge?