[John Travolta is more important than an Australian Consul General according to the Red Cross?]

If you go back to the records of hurricane Camille in 1969 you will find that it was a more powerful storm and made a more direct hit on New Orleans than Katrina. Camille didn’t flood the city, like Katrina did, because it moved at an angle, west of north, and moved over the city. That meant it was pushing the water of Lake Pontchartrain away from the city.

Katrina came in traveling due north and passed to the east of the city. After the eye was northeast of the city, its winds were pushing the water of the Lake back into the city, which caused the levees to break. The path of Katrina also caused the more massive surge on the Mississippi coast and higher winds in Mississippi than Camille, because of the track it followed.

…It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces, the institution of our government most capable of massive logistical operations on a moment’s notice.

The authority was there, based on a declaration of emergency, all that was needed was someone to say GO!. That was his job, and he didn’t do it. His Dad did it. The Big Dog did it. But Karl forgot to tell the Shrubbery to order the military to assist.

The air-conditioned tents, “water buffalo” tankers, bridges, amphibious vehicles, field hospitals, field kitchens, dozens of aircraft types: all available, and all unused because the President didn’t issue an order.

The real restriction on the use of the military in the US is law enforcement, and that restriction doesn’t apply to the National Guard or the Coast Guard. There were more than enough law enforcement officers available, but they needed communications, vehicles, and other equipment that was under water.

If there had been food, water, portable toilets, and transportation out of the flooded area, the looting and civil disorder would never have gotten as bad as it did.

[™ Kevin Drum]

Hanging with Sox

Does she have be there?

[Editor: Ringo has decided that annoying Sox is a worthy goal.]

Friday Ark