New Orleans: "deliberate act of sabotage was the opening of floodgates"

[RBHam]

New Orleans: "deliberate act of sabotage was the opening of floodgates"
Commentary

by Cameron McLaughlin

September 11, 2005
GlobalResearch.ca

My neighbors are lifelong New Orleanians. Most of their family has evacuated to here, but one nephew who had a broken leg was trapped in New Orleans and was only able to leave a few days ago. I talked to his uncle today about these allegations that the levee was deliberately blown. His nephew was nearby and confirms that residents heard a series of explosions before the levee "failed".

Another deliberate act of sabotage was the opening of floodgates in another location that was announced in advance by radio. Such an act to sacrifice a poor neighborhood in order to spare an expensive one is not unprecedented in New Orleans history.

I spent most of my teenage years in New Orleans and have spent much time there since. The rest of the world really can't comprehend the depth of racism and class disparity in New Orleans. I have no doubt that Rep. Baker's recent remark that the public housing problem has been solved by God when it couldn't be accomplished legally any other way is entirely reflective of the rapacious developer mentality in the region.

They have wanted to rid NO of its poor for years in order to snap up desirable real estate. As with everything else in America, it's about depopulating the unwanted so that the rich-boy powermongers can do what they want. Such is the South. Such is the US.

more...
http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=MCL20050911&articleId=930

[shance]

1. This keeps being brought to light.

n/t

[stevietheman]

2. It could have been transformers exploding. That would not be...

unusual.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. or the levee's cracking?

Good lord. This had better not be true!
:mad: :cry:

[RaleighNCDUer]

4. I had the same thought.

Then it occurred to me that they could have blown the levees and later claimed that the explosions were transformers going.

So question -- were the explosions heard before or after NOLA lost power?

[NorthernSpy]

8. that's a possibility; people can misinterpret what they see or hear

That's one reason why even a witness who is not trying to deceive can give an unreliable account.

Whether that happened in this case, I have no way of knowing. But I do know that the claim that someone deliberately blew up a levee is a very serious allegation, and requires solid evidence to substantiate it.

[stevietheman]

10. It definitely requires more substantiation, such as two different...

people seeing it take place (and if it happened at night, they would have needed to record using a camera having night vision capability).

[RBHam]

12. Don't expect a proper forensic investigation...

Just like after 9-11, when "America's Mayor" oversaw the selling off of the WTC rubble to Chinese construction companies.

Oh, right.

Just another "coincidence", another "anomaly"...

[NorthernSpy]

5. of course, it's wise to approach stories like this with caution...

Because right now, there a LOT of unsubstantiated reports alleging just about anything you might imagine. A lot of people have claimed to have witnessed all kinds of things, but we haven't seen much in the way of solid evidence yet.

That said, I am collecting these kinds of stories, and will be sure to add this account to the collection. Thank you for pointing this one out, RBHam!


:)

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Zynx]

16. See my other post - 17th Street Canal theories are crap.

As far as trying to repair the levee when water is pouring through, that's completely impossible and the author of that article is as big a moron for bringing it up as the Mayor of NO was for demanding that it be attempted.

[KamaAina]

18. La Voz de Aztlan is a hate site

not a suitable source for DU.

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=186

La Voz de Aztlan's articles go way, way past mainstream Latino concerns, railing against "Nazi" Jews, "demonic" lesbians and "the Jew/Gay Democratic Party." The site approvingly quotes ancient Aztec law, requiring disembowelment for homosexuals.

It blames Jews for political problems in Los Angeles and even provides the entire text of the infamous anti-Semitic forgery, Protocols of the Elders of Zion....

Be advised.

[demodewd]

19. re: anti-semitism and looking for the truth

Does being anti-semitic mean that everything that La Voz de Aztlan publishes has no validity? And what about main stream networks who never suggest the possibility of extreme zionist influence on American and Israeli foreign policy? Are they reflecting reality or their own government speak dictated agenda?

What mainstream media organization would attempt to rail against government policy by proving or insinuating criminal neo-con and zionist involvement in 9-11 or New Orleans? Answer...None..Never.
And so we read Jeff Rense AFP etc combing through their sites to find reporting beyond the mainstream about NO and 9-11 because mainstream media has shut down legitimate investigation into the matter. So I hold my nose and ignore the revisionist bullshit to read the other stories which THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA WILL NOT PUBLISH! The mainstream media leaves no other course. Where else will I learn that Israel has at least 200 nuclear warheads.Does the mainstream media report on this fact?????? Fuck no. Never.

[LARED]

20. Does holding your nose

provide you with the ability to determine what is revisionist BS and what is not. Or do you really just like to pretend your view of an extreme Zionist influence in American and your obvious disdain for Israel does not prejudice your objectivity?

Or how about this for an analogy. Your doctor hates Muslims and prescribes the incorrect medication for them, but is a skillful and caring doc when treating people he knows are Christian.

You happen to be an Arab Christian, and he does not know that; are you going to use this doctor?

[Informed Citizen]

23. Good analogy!!! (n/t)

[Lithos]

21. demodewd (and others)

Many of the sites mentioned above promulgate as fact known forgeries (Protocols) and attempt to create a false history (Revisionism) to promote a hateful agenda tells me this site is not only far from credible in any sense of the word, but that it is offensive to ask people to even consider anything written on it.

[BiggJawn]

7. Twas the WJB's that did it!

Aided by their buds the Bilderburgers.

Maybe they stopped off on their way to Bohemian Grove and touched off those charges I read that were built into the levees by the Ku Klux Klan back when they were built...

[NorthernSpy]

11. what's the shelf life of dynamite?

Maybe they stopped off on their way to Bohemian Grove and touched off those charges I read that were built into the levees by the Ku Klux Klan back when they were built...

You jest! But seriously, the levees were built quite a while ago, no?

Would the dynamite still be reliable after all that time?

:think:

[BiggJawn]

14. Yes, I jest.

I got the idea from another thread like this one where it was stated that dynamite was buried in the levees when they were built just for this purpose.....:tinfoilhat:

[RBHam]

13. You could TRY and blow up Bohemian grove.

You wouldn't get far.

http://www.thedossier.ukonline.co.uk/video_elitesecretsocieties.htm

[beam me up scottie]

17. What a website !

:rofl:

LOVE the links, by the way!

fromthewilderness.com
guerrillanews.com
john-loftus.com
globalresearch.ca
pilger.carlton.com
informationclearinghouse.info
infowars.com
skolnicksreport.com
bilderberg.org
monbiot.com
larouchepub.com

[JackRiddler]

28. cheap generalized smear

I see a mix.

What's wrong with informationclearinghouse? FTW? Guerilla News? Monbiot?

[RBHam]

9. FEMA wasn't incompetent in BLOCKING relief efforts...

FEMA Blocking Relief Efforts - A compilation...

Compilation of Mainstream and Alternative Press reports

FEMA won't accept Amtrak's help in evacuations
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/84aa35cc-1da8-11da-b40b-00000e

FEMA turns away experienced firefighters
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/5/105538/7048

FEMA turns back Wal-Mart supply trucks
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspec ..

FEMA prevents Coast Guard from delivering diesel fuel
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspec ..

FEMA won't let Red Cross deliver food
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm

there are no coincidences...

http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&...

[philb]

22. Some of your links don't work

[philb]

24. Bigger list of evacuation help and aid FEMA blocked

FEMA Blocking Relief Efforts - Compilation of Mainstream and Alternative Press reports
FEMA Blocks Katrina Aid from Chicago
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/09/07/fema/index_np.html
Homeland Security won't let Red Cross deliver food
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm

FEMA won't accept Amtrak's help in evacuations
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/84aa35cc-1da8-11da-b40b-00000e

FEMA turns away experienced firefighters
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/5/105538/7048

FEMA turns back Wal-Mart supply trucks http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspec?ex=1126756800&en=2d6681009be0e63e&ei=5070
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/ruthgroup/112613655425497902/

FEMA prevents Coast Guard from delivering diesel fuel http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/05/national/nationalspec?ex=1126756800&en=2d6681009be0e63e&ei=5070


FEMA blocks 500-boat citizen flotilla from delivering aid
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/3/171718/0826

FEMA fails to utilize Navy ship with 600-bed hospital on board
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509..

FEMA bars morticians from entering New Orleans
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15147862&BRD=

FEMA turns away generators
http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html

FEMA: "First Responders Urged Not To Respond"
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18470
FEMA Blocks Journalists From Photographing Katrina's Victims
Journalist Groups Protest FEMA Ban on Photos of Dead

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001055768

FEMA blocks volunteer firefighters from helping Katrina victims Friday, Sep. 2, 2005
http://www.gazette.net/stories/090205/montcou165700_31903.shtml


FEMA blocks dead body examination in NOLA
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/012192.html



FEMA locks Mac users from hurricane relief http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?NewsID=12557

[Zynx]

15. Once AGAIN, breeching the 17th Street Canal makes no sense for this.

17th Street floods the entire city, not just the "poor" parts.

[philb]

26. actually not, but this isn't an issue I'm researching

some of the richer areas of the city like French Quarter and Garden Area, etc. were built up and had special construction, so they didn't get much damage.

But large parts of the city obviously were affected. The areas of the poorest were affected the most, and they don't have the resources to work with in recovery.

[philb]

25. Here are the stories on a couple of links given here that don't work

Aaron Broussard, President of Jefferson Parrish, appeared this Sunday on Meet the Press. He made some extremely serious charges that officials at FEMA had actively interfered in assistance efforts in his Parrish. Responding to host Tim Russert’s questions on local and state-level accountability, he said:
Let me give you just three quick examples. We had Wal-Mart deliver three trucks of water, trailer trucks of water. FEMA turned them back. They said we didn't need them. This was a week ago. FEMA--we had 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel on a Coast Guard vessel docked in my parish. The Coast Guard said, "Come get the fuel right away." When we got there with our trucks, they got a word. "FEMA says don't give you the fuel." Yesterday--yesterday--FEMA comes in and cuts all of our emergency communication lines. They cut them without notice. Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in, he reconnects the line. He posts armed guards on our line and says, "No one is getting near these lines." Sheriff Harry Lee said that if America--American government would have responded like Wal-Mart has responded, we wouldn't be in this crisis
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9179790/

FEMA cut the communication lines in Jefferson Parish 1 day before the Hurricane hit and the sherriff had to reconnect them and put armed guards to prevent FEMA from trying to cut the lines again. Wal-Mart had food and water ready to take to the victims before the aftermath and FEMA stopped them before they reached Jefferson Parish. http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35819


WASHINGTON -- The government's disaster chief waited until hours after Hurricane Katrina already had struck the Gulf Coast before asking his boss to dispatch 1,000 Homeland Security employees to the region -- and gave them two days to arrive, according to internal documents.

Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sought the approval from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff roughly five hours after Katrina made landfall on the morning of Aug. 29. Brown said that among duties of these employees was to "convey a positive image" about the government's response for victims.

The same day he wrote Chertoff, Brown also urged local fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi not to send trucks or emergency workers into disaster areas without an explicit request for help from state or local governments. Brown said it was vital to coordinate fire and rescue efforts.

Meanwhile, the airline industry said the government's request for help evacuating storm victims didn't come until late Thursday afternoon. The president of the Air Transport Association, James May, said the Homeland Security Department called then to ask if the group could participate in an airlift for refugees. Wednesday, September 07, 2005 BY TED BRIDIS Associated Press

[philb]

27. FEMA failures and media manipulation instead of relief in N.O.

New Orleans Evacuees prevented from leaving New Orleans. Suburban cops closed off N.O. escape route
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/media/2005/media0916.html
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/09/09/BAGL1EL1KH1.DTL

Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, is overheard telling lobbyists: "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." http://www.populist.com/index.html#bridge0909

Navy Pilots Who Rescued Victims Are Reprimanded http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20F13FF39550C748CDDA00894DD404482

Evacuees dispersed randomly by authorities http://www.leftturn.org/Articles/Viewer.aspx?id=670&type=W

After billions spent on Homeland Security, U.S. now less prepared for disasters than before 9/11. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090301653.html

At least three babies died at the New Orleans Convention Center from heat exhaustion while federal officials dithered for five days about whether to send in the National Guard to help evacuate people stranded there without food or water. http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050904/D8CD42BO0.html

Three tons of food ready for delivery by air to refugees in St. Bernard Parish and on Algiers Point sat on the Crescent City Connection bridge Friday afternoon as air traffic was halted because of President Bush’s visit to New Orleans.
http://www.nola.com/weblogs/print.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/print076556.html

FEMA failed to follow up on offers of assistance such as the US Forest Service's water-tanker aircraft available to help douse the fires raging on our riverfront and Amtrak trains to evacuate victims, as well as offers of medicine, communications equipment and other desperately needed items. http://www.fromtheroots.org/story/2005/9/3/19542/97952

Media Manipulation by Bush Administration regarding Katrina:
Touring the breached 17th street levee site yesterday with the President, I saw what I believed to be a real and significant effort to get a handle on a major cause of this catastrophe. Flying over this critical spot again this morning, less than 24 hours later, it became apparent that yesterday we witnessed a hastily prepared stage set for a Presidential photo opportunity; and the desperately needed resources we saw were this morning reduced to a single, lonely piece of equipment. . http://www.fromtheroots.org/story/2005/9/3/19542/97952

the open-air food distribution point Bush visited in front of the cameras Friday was torn down immediately after the president and the herd of 'news people' had left and that others which were allegedly being set up were abandoned at the same time, according to German TV. http://www.warandpiece.com/blogdirs/002504.html

US won't let Canada urban search and rescue team help Gulf Coast rescue http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/8/31/235829/261

New Orleans levee protection needs lost out to Iraq funding
When flooding from a massive rainstorm in May 1995 killed six people, Congress authorized the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, or SELA. Over the next several years, the Army Corps of Engineers, tasked with carrying out SELA, spent $430 million on shoring up levees and building pumping stations, with $50 million in local aid. But at least $250 million in crucial projects remained, even as hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin increased dramatically and the levees surrounding New Orleans continued to subside. Yet after 2003, the flow of federal dollars toward SELA dropped to a trickle. The Corps never tried to hide the fact that the spending pressures of the war in Iraq, as well as homeland security -- coming at the same time as federal tax cuts -- was the reason for the strain. At least nine articles in the Times-Picayune from 2004 and 2005 specifically cite the cost of Iraq as a reason for the lack of hurricane- and flood-control dollars. ...In early 2004, as the cost of the conflict in Iraq soared, President Bush proposed spending less than 20 percent of what the Corps said was needed for Lake Pontchartrain ... http://www.pnionline.com/dnblog/attytood/archives/002331.html

[nomatrix]

29. The industry standard & reliable

Engineering News-Record
http://www.enr.com

This month investigating what happened in the Gulf.