"We had troops ready before the storm"

[themusk]

If the Chinese had invaded New Orleans AND blew up the levy, I guarantee you within the day there would be troops flying there. Within the day.

Uh yeh you are right because that would be a foreign power invading our soil. HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!

I'm not sure a foreign power could have done more damage to our nation, including to our national security and to the respect we have in the world, than that hurricane did. We've lost a large part of our oil infrastructure, making us much more vulnerable to some of the very nations that are our enemies, and much of the world right now sees us as weakened, vulnerable, and, justifiably or not, verging on genocidal towards our own people.

The last thing on earth you want to look like in a world jostling for every advantage is both weak and potentially dangerous. In the months and years ahead, I think we'll find that there will be geopolitical fallout from this, and it won't be good.

[Persepone]

...

The responsibility for initial response in the local and state government's responsibility pure and simple. Where were the National Guard helicopters flying in food and water? Where were the LA National Guard troops to maintain order? Without security how do you expect life saving and emergency responders to work. Read the stories, and there plenty of them, about efforts being halted or not even started out of safety concerns for the responders.

In Iraq, I believe.

[MBismyPlayground]

If the Chinese had invaded New Orleans AND blew up the levy, I guarantee you within the day there would be troops flying there. Within the day.

Uh yeh you are right because that would be a foreign power invading our soil. HUGE DIFFERENCE!!!

I'm not sure a foreign power could have done more damage to our nation, including to our national security and to the respect we have in the world, than that hurricane did. We've lost a large part of our oil infrastructure, making us much more vulnerable to some of the very nations that are our enemies, and much of the world right now sees us as weakened, vulnerable, and, justifiably or not, verging on genocidal towards our own people.

The last thing on earth you want to look like in a world jostling for every advantage is both weak and potentially dangerous. In the months and years ahead, I think we'll find that there will be geopolitical fallout from this, and it won't be good.

I am so glad that someone said this. And so eloquently I must say.
Just the fact that we have turned to the UN for aid says so much. This is something that 3rd world countries do, not "super powers" such as the US.
The loss of respect that the US is recieving is huge. Deserved?? That will be debated for years to come.
If any one of the "evil doers" are paying attention to this fiasco, they will assume, and rightly so, that the US is vulnerable in the South. No matter who or which "power that be" is responsible, the lack of response will be remembered. The lack of communication between all will not be forgotten, and may be taken advantage of. There are some countries rejoicing over this tragedy.

[x-y-no]

...

The responsibility for initial response in the local and state government's responsibility pure and simple. Where were the National Guard helicopters flying in food and water? Where were the LA National Guard troops to maintain order? Without security how do you expect life saving and emergency responders to work. Read the stories, and there plenty of them, about efforts being halted or not even started out of safety concerns for the responders.

In Iraq, I believe.

Ugh ... I wish everyone would stop reaching for the easy deflection. It may score a quick point and engender some self-satisfaction, but it damages our chances of really getting to the bottom of this whole issue, which if you ask me appears to involve serious failures at all levels.

[mf_dolphin]

...

The responsibility for initial response in the local and state government's responsibility pure and simple. Where were the National Guard helicopters flying in food and water? Where were the LA National Guard troops to maintain order? Without security how do you expect life saving and emergency responders to work. Read the stories, and there plenty of them, about efforts being halted or not even started out of safety concerns for the responders.

In Iraq, I believe.

This type of response will get you banned from this site. If you want to debate the point, as I understand it approximately 35% of LA National Guard troops are deployed overseas. That leaves 65% as an available pool. The question remains where were they?