The headline is a little extreme, but that's what must be seen overseas, especially by the media in countries not so friendly. However, we'll have to see if that's true. As of this writing, only sporadic US press has picked up the story. Reuters reported that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin:
has hosted a steady stream of foreign dignitaries since Hurricane Katrina hit in late August, says he may seek international assistance because U.S. aid has not been sufficient to get the city back on its feet.
The foreign visitors included the king of a Middle East country bordered by Israel, Iraq, Syria and Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah of Jordan, and the French Transport Minister. The King visited Friday 3 Feb 05 and referred to aid that was ready faster than the FEMA could reject aid from the Department of Interior:
"Jordan government had prepared two field hospitals with about 400 or 500 people," Abdullah recalled. "They were on standby within 12 to 18 hours when we knew this was an emergency. For some technical reason we weren't able to reach you."
The King apparently asked about housing needs and his brother asked about education while wondering "whether the federal government is going to give [New Orleans] the resources" needed.
Remember that the Bush Administration pledged billions of dollars to Katrina victims, but now Nagin is giving tours to the French and Jordianis looking for handouts. From the images of the Superdome to this, the countries comfort level with homeland security should low. The President pledged back on 15 September 05 that "we will do what it takes, we will stay as long as it takes" to rebuild. The latest budget, however, offers little additional hope for devastated Gulf Regions despite Press Secretary Scott McClellan's briefing on 6 Feb 05 when he said:
This is a budget that continues to keep our economy growing and that builds upon the spending restraint that Congress has moved forward on at our urging, and makes sure that our national priorities are fully funded, like protecting the American people and winning the war on terrorism, helping the people of the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives and their communities, moving forward on key domestic priorities that will keep America the most competitive and innovative economy in the world. And so I think you have to look at the budget.
Where are the President's priorities? Is he really protecting America when his incompetent political cronies hold key positions in federal government? His State of the Union, besides seeking to prohibit "creating human-animal hybrids", largely ignored the Gulf. As the Washington Post reported:
Bush's perfunctory treatment of reconstruction efforts for New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas hit by Hurricane Katrina. It was a curiously missed opportunity for a president usually eager to spotlight stories of human valor and to promise disadvantaged citizens better tomorrows. Speeding past New Orleans verbally is unlikely to have been an accident.
Why do we care? Because the image of the United States is further reduced into a nightmare of hypocrisy. This, more than the exposure of secret and possibly illegal wiretapping programs, degrades our national security. Besides the obvious that the government was completely incapable of responding, which in hindsight isn't entirely true. The Bush Administration's officials were apparently very effective in preventing an actual response through bureaucracy, slowed responses, fashion concerns, false pride, and sheer ineptitude.
This further degrades our security by highlighting a failure of our President to keep his word and help our citizens. The present war is one of hearts and minds which is won through trust, respect, and confidence. We are seeking to build communication and trust with other countries, including allies and battlegrounds. The President's actions, and those of his Administration, further empower the likes of Chavez and give ammunition to those spewing hatred against the West. We are not seen as the better alternative. The enemy, as fractured and splintered as he is (we are not against a monolithic foe), does not need to propagandize but merely reflect the truth right back at us. During World War II and the Cold War our propaganda machines did just that to the peoples of our enemies: reflected the truth. We continue to slide off the moral high ground and the President continues to pull us down the hill. Unfortunately, Katrina is not the first nor the last weight we bear in this fall.
Technorati Tags: New Orleans, Katrina, Bush, Current Affairs, Security, Terrorism, Security, Homeland Security, Public Diplomacy
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I'm under the impression that New Orleans and Louisiana in general is Democrat country.
So the Feds, that is the Republican Administration, would see Federal money or attention paid to this area as a "waste".
Few politicians or officials can make a "career" out of helping poor needy cities.
Pete