"Destroying FEMA" WP - Aug. 30, 2005

[barbaraann]

By Eric Holdeman
Tuesday, August 30, 2005; Page A17

SEATTLE -- In the days to come, as the nation and the people along the Gulf Coast work to cope with the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, we will be reminded anew, how important it is to have a federal agency capable of dealing with natural catastrophes of this sort. This is an immense human tragedy, one that will work hardship on millions of people. It is beyond the capabilities of state and local government to deal with. It requires a national response.

Which makes it all the more difficult to understand why, at this moment, the country's premier agency for dealing with such events -- FEMA -- is being, in effect, systematically downgraded and all but dismantled by the Department of Homeland Security.
...
Indeed, the advent of the Bush administration in January 2001 signaled the beginning of the end for FEMA. The newly appointed leadership of the agency showed little interest in its work or in the missions pursued by the departed Witt. Then came the Sept. 11 attacks and the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. Soon FEMA was being absorbed into the "homeland security borg."
...
To be sure, America may well be hit by another major terrorist attack, and we must be prepared for such an event. But I can guarantee you that hurricanes like the one that ripped into Louisiana and Mississippi yesterday, along with tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, floods, windstorms, mudslides, power outages, fires and perhaps a pandemic flu will have to be dealt with on a weekly and daily basis throughout this country. They are coming for sure, sooner or later, even as we are, to an unconscionable degree, weakening our ability to respond to them.

The writer is director of the King County, Wash., Office of Emergency Management.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/29/AR2005082901445.html

[barbaraann]

1. Kick.

I just want to give a few more people a chance to see this.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Double-kick!

This is what happens when Social-Darwinists are in charge.:grr:

:kick::kick:

[indepat]

2. With terra' to be fought, one must keep one's priorities in order by

assuring our precious financial and human resources are allocated where most needed.

[enough]

3. nominating (nt)

[Rainbowreflect]

5. Kicking & nominating!

[seemslikeadream]

6. AND WHERE IS THE HEAD OF HOMELAND SECURITY?

[tech3149]

7. Many people didn't trust FEMA

When they started, there were many who thought that it was the beginning of a federal police force. I used to work for a company that did a lot of work for 911 communication centers. All the people that I met who worked with FEMA were dedicated to do the best job they could do.

[EVDebs]

10. It's when they get around to declaring martial law thru FEMA that's bad

Any time you suspend civil rights it's illegal in my book and an abridgement of the Constitution. You can't suspend the Constitution in order to uphold it...

'Foundations are in place for martial law in the US'
www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/07/27/1027497418339.html

"FEMA, whose main role is disaster response, is also responsible for handling US domestic unrest.

From 1982-84 Colonel Oliver North assisted FEMA in drafting its civil defence preparations. Details of these plans emerged during the 1987 Iran-Contra scandal.

They included executive orders providing for suspension of the constitution, the imposition of martial law, internment camps, and the turning over of government to the president and FEMA."

Yeah, suspending the Constitution is a GOOD THING ?

[onecent]

8. My neighbor has a father and son that work for FEMA during

times of disaster and are going to Mississippi (the father is there already in Florida). They get paid over $200.00 per day and their housing is paid (hotels in Florida, tents in Mississippi, and campers). They eat lavishly and drink lavishly. I love these people so I am glad they have such an opportunity to make money, but the waste I hear in some of the spending is horrendous.

Also the ones who hold CDL licenses can make up to $500 per day driving the trucks, as they get commission on the loads.
Lots of money being spent.

[demgrrrll]

9. Kick

. I forgot to nominate.

[lostnfound]

11. Another great article buried on page 17 that should be on 1A. nt

[raysr]

12. IMPEACH IMPEACH IMPEACH