Parallels between the Katrina response and the Evacuation of Americans

[maxrandb]

from Lebanon.

Just read this, and tell me if this could be coming from New Orleans residents.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/mideast_evacuation

"Jonathan Chakhtoura, a 19-year-old Lebanese-American student in Boston, said he registered with the U.S. Embassy electronically to be evacuated three days earlier, but he has not heard from the embassy except for an e-mail acknowledging his registration.

Chakhtoura, who would like to be back in the U.S. before school resumes Sept. 6, said he was disappointed with the way the embassy has handled the evacuation.

"Every time I call to see what's going on the lines are busy. When they answer, they say they don't know," he said. "I am extremely disappointed. A lot of people don't know what is going on. There is so much confusion. If it's security they are worried about, then I think we will be more secure if we know what is going on."

A Pennsylvania man and his wife boarding a Swedish-chartered ship expressed anger at how long the evacuation was taking. "I can't wait any more. I'm sorry it's taking them too long," said the man, who declined to give his name."
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It's not the arrogance, or the hubris, or the swagger that is going to bring this mis-administration crashing down...IT'S THE BLATANT INCOMPETENCE.

Even after 9/11.
Even after Anthrax
Even after Afghanistan
Even after Iraq
Even after Hurricane Rita
Even after Hurricane Katrina
Even after BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS, of our tax dollars being spent to plan for contingencies

THEY CAN'T EVEN GET OUR PEOPLE OUT OF A FRICKIN' WAR ZONE

The most powerful country, with the sharpest minds, with the best technology, with the strongest military...THEY CAN'T GET OUR PEOPLE TO SAFETY PROMPTLY

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the Freakers and the 29% that still think Bush and the Repukes are God's choice I ask you. Aren't you embarrassed that the French and the Greeks are 1000 times more competent than your Dear Leader? Don't you think God would pick someone that could at least make the trains run on time??

Thanks God they've improved their emergency response plans since Katrina :sarcasm:

[jobycom]

1. Katrina was worse.

No power, no water, no shelter, little food... the basics of life weren't even there, and this was a city less than an hour's drive from another major city, and four hours from a very large city. At least in Lebanon if you don't have a bomb land on you you can eat, drink, and live. What's the death toll from Katrina now, around 1600 still?

Yes, it's another failure, and it shows not only incompetence but complete indifference from our current leaders. They don't care. Maybe that should be our slogan. They just don't care.

[maxrandb]

5. I know Katrina was much worse

but weren't they supposed to improve their ability to respond to emergencies? Or when they told us they were going to do a better job, did that just mean that instead of the President strumming a guitar while Americans suffered, he'd be assaulting world leaders.

Everything this mis-administration touches turns to shit. It's like having Pretzledent Schlepprock.

Wasn't he supposed to be the CEO Pretzledent?
Wasn't he supposed to surround himself with bright, competent people?
Weren't the adults supposed to be in charge?

All he's done is bring death, misery, destruction and despair to every American with the exception of those in the top 10% tax bracket.

[jobycom]

7. Wow. Perfect summary! nt.

[Crankie Avalon]

2. Another heckuva job. Someone had to say it. nt

[blm]

3. Remember when RW was attacking France as cowards in 2002-3? Who do you

think was evacuating Americans in Africa then because our military was too involved in Bush's troop buildup around Iraq?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2283650.stm

French begin Ivory Coast evacuation

The French have secured the main roads

French soldiers deployed in Ivory Coast have begun evacuating about 800 foreign citizens from the city of Bouake, the scene of heavy fighting between government and rebel forces.


The rebels, who seized Bouake as part of an uprising last week, said they would allow the evacuation to proceed and have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire while it is carried out.

A group of schoolchildren, mainly Americans, who were allowed to leave the city yesterday have now started arrived in the neighbouring country of Ghana.
>>>>>>>>

[izzie]

4. I believe the D. of State is run by the GOP now.

Didn't they take most of their power and give it to the DOD plus got rid of any one that knew how to run things and put in political hacks.

[Ganja Ninja]

6. Norway & France are getting their people out.

Why is it that this country's leadership is always behind the curve? We have more resources than any country in the world and our citizens have to fend for themselves.

If they're not going to provide any service to the American people then where do they get off tapping our phones and monitoring our bank transactions? It's as if the people were the enemy. We're nothing but a revenue source, someone to tax, but if we want something back from them piss on us.

[AspenRose]

8. They hate government and want to cripple it

...except for their own personal projects. People who hate government, shouldn't be allowed to govern.

[maxrandb]

19. my sig-line says it best

[maxrandb]

16. Norway and France

actually give a shit about their citizens. We're nothing but "mules" to the Repukes. They take our money, but you better not ask for any competent services in return.

Sometimes I feel like America is suffering from "battered spouse" or Stockholm syndrome.

Like I said before. With all the taxes I've paid to these "blankers" you'd think they might be able to get the trains to run on time.

America, this is what happens when you elect incompetent fools.

[RB TexLa]

9. It is NOT the government's responsibility to help you remove yourself

from a foreign country you chose to be in.

[maxrandb]

13. It's Not? Then what the hell do we have an embassy for?

Are we all on our own, or do you think that maybe we should get some services for the tax dollars we pay?

I'd like to think that if I was visiting Israel, and all hell broke lose, I could go to the embassy staff, who happen to be paid by my tax dollars and get some help. I'd like to think my government, who spends a rediculous amount of money, and gives tax breaks to the wealthy, might still be able to have a plan to protect it's citizens no matter where they are.

Just curious, do you feel the same way about the victims of hurricane Katrina? I mean, they chose to be in New Orleans. Guess in your opinion, they got what they deserved.

You and I are paying for this government. I'd like for them to at least be competent.

[The Deacon]

10. This is especially personal to me.

When I was a kid my father was stationed in Guatemala with USAID. While there we were "between" ambassadors (Nixon had just resigned & Ford was still trying to learn the job.) For a little over a year the American Ambassador was an "Acting" Ambassador, the Deputy Charge of Mission, a really nice guy by the name of Malloy. A career diplomat. He made it a policy to visit ALL the Friday cocktail parties given by members of the American Mission (it was pro-forma to send an invitation to the Ambassador, just as pro-forma to expect a formal "Regrets") for a minute or two, say hello to the host, chat a bit. Even very low ranking members of the Mission such as my father. We, of course, loved him because he had time to treat us as colleagues, not just flunkies.
Somebody in the State Department screwed up and decided to reward this effective leader with an Ambassadorship of his own. At the time Beruit, Lebanon was known as the "Paris of the East." It was considered such a plum assignment that the Ambassadorship typically went only to donors of at least $100,000 to the President's campaign. Malloy received this plum assignment.
Why am I mentioning this? Because Ambassador Malloy was the first American, and his driver the first Lebanese working for America, to die in the Civil War. The Republican Administration was so clueless about threats in the Mideast that the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon wasn't even authorised to have a bulletproof car for the Ambassador. There was no plan for evacuating U.S. citizens from the country (okay, sort of a plan - dependent on Washington being smart enough to move a helicopter carrier to just offshore when the Ambassador called for it.)
That was 1976, folks - and in the last thirty years we haven't improved a bit.

[stepnw1f]

11. I Thought So Too

A few days ago...:mad:

still. nothing.

[laylah]

12. ..

brilliant! May I pass this on?

"It's not the arrogance, or the hubris, or the swagger that is going to bring this mis-administration crashing down...IT'S THE BLATANT INCOMPETENCE.

Even after 9/11.
Even after Anthrax
Even after Afghanistan
Even after Iraq
Even after Hurricane Rita
Even after Hurricane Katrina
Even after BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS AND BILLIONS, of our tax dollars being spent to plan for contingencies

THEY CAN'T EVEN GET OUR PEOPLE OUT OF A FRICKIN' WAR ZONE

The most powerful country, with the sharpest minds, with the best technology, with the strongest military...THEY CAN'T GET OUR PEOPLE TO SAFETY PROMPTLY"

Laylah

[maxrandb]

14. Absolutely

May want to make the point that since they are using our tax dollars to pay for embassy staff and the like, that we should at least expect them to be competent.

[laylah]

15. Thanks! I'll do that! n/t

[Minnesota_Lib]

17. Unlike most governments, the U.S. charges its citizens fees...

...for evacuation.
_______________________________

Frontpage Headline
Lebanon Situation Update - July 15, 2006
July 15, 2006

This information is current as of today, Sat Jul 15 12:20:12 2006.

A message to the American citizens in Lebanon:

The Department of State continues to work with the Department of Defense on a plan to help American citizens depart Lebanon. As of the morning of July 15, we are looking at how we might transport Americans to Cyprus. Once in Cyprus, Americans can then board commercial aircraft for onward travel. Commercial airlines provide the safest and most efficient repatriation options to final destinations.

The Department of State reminds American citizens that the U.S. government does not provide no-cost transportation but does have the authority to provide repatriation loans to those in financial need. For the portion of your trip directly handled by the U.S. Government we will ask you to sign a promissory note and we will bill you at a later date. In a subsequent message, when we have specific details about the transporation arrangments, we will inform you about the costs you will incur. We will also work with commercial aircraft to ensure that they have adequate flights to help you depart Cyprus and connect to your final destination.

The Department of State continues to work around the clock and will continue to send updates as appropriate.
_____________________

Will that be first class or steerage?


http://lebanon.usembassy.gov/lebanon/Lebanon_Situation_Update.html

[maxrandb]

20. Well Somebody has to pay for those tax-cuts for the wealthy!

Surely, the rest of us common serfs can't expect anything in return for our tax dollars, like...say "competent, responsive government".

Funny, I heard the wing-nut talking heads the other day talking about how you couldn't blame Bush because this is run by the State Department. Apparently to Rush Limpballs and Sean Insanity, Condi is just another "liberal State Department hack".

Makes you wonder if the "boy king" is responsible for anything?

His momma raised him as a spoiled brat, and he governs like a spoiled brat.

Wonder how long it will be until they blame Clinton for this. I can hear it now.

- "Clinton helped bring peace and stability to the region. If it hadn't been for him, Americans would have never traveled to Lebanon, therefore, it's Clinton's fault."

[maxrandb]

18. CNN Stoled my idea

Just heard Lou Dobbs compare the level of competency of the Lebanon evacuation to the response to Katrina.

The "I" word is not impeachment, it's INCOMPETENT