Today's new revolutionaries are but pretenders to the throne. They protest in a world about a world that no longer exists. They can only dream of creating the social change that their forebearers were able to precipitate. "Social Justice" no longer inspires masses of people or catches the attention of the general populace in the free world, particularly the United States. If you ask the protesters they may say it's because the masses have become somnolent, disinterested (or self interested) and complacent. They may lament the demise of social activism and propagate amongst themselves the idea that the world is slipping backwards from "liberal" ideas under a general conspiracy meant to "keep the people" in an over indulged "zombie" state.
In every word of propaganda, there is always somebody's "truth". The fact of the matter is, poverty in "first world" countries does not equal the poverty of other nations. Particularly in a nation with 5.4% unemployment and 12.7% "below the poverty line" when that poverty line seems like the epitome of comfortable wealth to someone who lives in Somalia or Afghanistan. When the impoverished have access to social services that such countries and people can only dream of, satisfaction (ie, complacency to the left) can permeate the culture. Even more so when access to information and images from around the globe re-enforces this very concept. It may not look that way looking out from an improvished inner city at suburbia, but it is an undeniable fact. Things that were once luxuries and the domain of upper middle or uppper socio-econimic classes are now common items in most households. Cars, televisions, cell phones, video games, dish washers, electric washers and dryers have become affordable and available. Starvation is not a concept that the poor contend with on a regular basis. Medical treatment is available in clinics that are wide spread and, while underfunded in many cases, are still capable of rendering treatment unheard of fifty years ago. Infant mortality is significantly decreased while childhood diseases no longer render minority populations in half.
It may also be a product of a middle class that, while many say is shrinking these days, expanded wildly from the middle 80's until early 2000 and is more likely to be thought of as "stagnated" than shrinking. This expansion was across all racial lines, if not completely equal for all minorities.
Further, racism, while still existing, is no longer institutionalized. Social Justice activists will disagree, but the overt practices of literacy tests, poll taxes, gangs standing at the ballot box to intimidate or simply not opening polls in poor districts does not exist. Current disenfranchisement claims now circle around partisan redistricting, ballot counting techniques and the claims that, while poll taxes no longer exist to exclude the poor (particularly black or other minority), activists now claim that the lack of transportation to polls for the poor is an institutional attempt at disenfranchisement.
In the main, this argument does not gain traction like the once overt discriminatory activities. The concept of "complacency" over this issue may be more related to the general publics' idea that voting is a "right" for all, but the public does not feel obligated to insure transportation. That is not a right. Further complacency may also be associated with the idea that only 60% (in the last election) even felt motivated to vote. The lack of civic duty among the populace is no more or less apparent across races. I use the word "apparent" because the statistics may be physically different, but the perception is missing to your average citizen and does not spark an outrage.
Appearances would say that racism and sexism are no longer ingrained or concsiously acceptable when middle class schools have black, Hispanic and Asian students. Communities and school make up are largely less about race and more about socio-economic status. Again, activists may disagree and insist that the number of minority poor communities prove inherent racism. It just doesn't strike true to the average citizen. Another concept that has not continued to prick at the consciousness of the average citizen is discrimination at work. It still exists, but it is not the descrimination of the fifties, sixties and seventies. In any office, hospital or organization, people of every race, gender, political or religious creed and even sexual orientation can be found. This does not mean that individual bigotry does not exist, but this is now an issue of social evolution, social pressure continuing to change individuals, particularly when laws now support, unequivocably, equal employment opportunities and non-discrimination. Not to mention the ingrained concept of "affirmative action" that is in place in federal organizations and institutions of higher learning.
Another issue that keeps the average middle class citizen from seeing their country as "socially unjust" may indeed be a form of jadedness after years of expanding social programs under the "great society" that, while touted as a significant tool in the fight against poverty and ignorance, has not effectively "wiped out" poverty or illiteracy. The "old/new" idea of "individual responsibility" is again raising it's head across a wide spectrum of citizenship. This is most likely the effect of the expanded middle class over the last two and a half decades, but can also be related to the expansion of information and images that seem to show a wide percentage of those that currently live in poverty is the result of individuals making "bad choices" regarding drugs, pregnancy, education, prostitution, gangs and general life style choices. True or not, appearances are, as they say, everything.
Social Justice activists posit this issue as poverty forcing people to make these bad choices, particularly since businesses and the populace generally avoid these areas and provide less opportunities to avoid the "bad choices", but average citizens again see this as self perpetualization where it seems reasonable that businesses and people do not want to live where crime is rampant and morality and pride of self and community is not related to money and social status, however insistent sociologists and psychiatrists may attempt to convince otherwise. In otherwords, they just don't buy it anymore.
Then there is the commercialization or industrialization of "victimhood". Just looking at legal procedures regarding civil suits for discrimination, average citizens now see laws and judicial proceedings as giving the agrieved a real opportunity to address their concerns, yet, at the same time, certain suits, claims and remunerations seem extraordinary ridiculous and sometimes false, leaving a bad taste in the mouths of those that feel they must still struggle for their own survival and, because they are not a member of a specific minority race, religious creed, gender or sexual orientation, do not have the same ability to sue for better treatment or conditions. The commercialization of these suits has also lent to the drowning out of significant cases that might very well be harbingers of social change if they were singular and focused. Instead, the sheer number of claims, true or false, have numbed society.
Organizations abound that seem to proclaim every Jack or Jill the victim of one social or economic ill or another. Couple that with real scams that have ridden into town on the coattails of real social issues and you get a society that now looks askance at every claim. Social differences no longer seem extraordinarily apparent and citizens must sort through a morass of ideas, information and claims to try to determine what is a significant issue and where they should stand for the cause of "right" and "liberty". Further, these organizations no longer appear "grass root" but have significant funding and assetts that indicate a commercial entity, not a social movement.
Those who lived through the civil rights movements and social revolutions of the fifties and sixties, those that grew up reading about those movements and now live in the "new" world, cannot help but notice the difference of those movements of long ago and the ones that exist today. Modern movements appear as pretenders or cast off children of the "real revolution".
Even these movements eventually led to the maxim of "unintended consequences". In every revolution, there is inevitably a moment or group that leads to excesses. Like the French Revolution that began as "liberte, egalite, fraternite" and eventually turned to an excess of terror and bloodshed, the social revolution of the sixties eventually turned into an excess of drugs, alcohol, sex and violence. By the seventies, once peaceful movements had spawned armed and violent organizations that created riots, destruction and even deadly terror. Most societies will eventually tier of the excesses and move towards a more centered and calm community. Modern American society can look back and see both the excellence of Martin Luther King, Jr's march, the quiet and oddly dignified defiance of attack dogs, water hoses and baton wielding police and the final excessive orgy and know that the excess is not something they wish to experience again.
Modern movements that get the most exposure have more in common with these last excessive activities than they do with the civil rights movements of the fifties largely because their causes do not resonate and their protests have the earmarks of excess for the sake of excess instead of for real social change. While there may be the occasional nostalgic yearning for the early days of civil rights activism and the few years of JFK, there is really very little desire to see race riots in Detroit or Los Angeles, even among those that may have a legitimate complaint. This then is the "unintended consequence". While the youth of the sixties may have wanted to push the boundaries even further and perpetuate the eternal revolution, society seems to have been innoculated against it for many more years to come by the very excesses and extremity of these movements.
Other contributions to the leary and the weary included world politics and consequences of "disengagement". Except for the extremely devoted, there can be no denying the outcome of leaving South East Asia to the Communists. Not simply due to the spread of Communism, but in the bloody aftermath. Whomever one will blame for that outcome, it is a fact that millions died there while millions more here patted themselves on the back, self congratulatory and self satisfied that they had "ended a war". It's still a matter of debate of whether interference was right or wrong, but the death of entire tribes, communities and peoples are a matter of record. Whether watched live on TV or seen in a history program, the image of indegenous people scrambling to leave Vietnam, begging Americans to take them away, the thousands of "boat people" that came after and the killing fields of Cambodia have left an indelible mark on our social conscious.
Finally, the illusion that Communism and Socialism are acceptable political vehicles for real freedom and social change was crushed beneath the Berlin Wall, when the Soviet Empire collapsed, the free flow of information and the real images of "social justice" came out. Gulags, secret police, extra judicial execution and torture chambers, all in the name of maintaining the illusion of "social justice". One look inside the misery was enough to convince most Americans that they would not want to live that way. In the sixties, claims about the Communist regime could be shrugged off as "capitalist propaganda". Today, anyone that does so can be easily shrugged off as delusionary. Thus, any organization or cause that hitches their wagon to organizations like International Answer, the Socialist Workers Party or anything similar is dismissed by the average citizen more concerned about going to work, making their "capitalist pig" wages, paying their mortgages and sending their children to college.
Even once rabid "revolutionaries" have sold out their revolutionary causes and became a "cog in the wheel of the machine".
For several weeks now, Mother Sheehan and other organizers of the "anti-war" activities and march in Washington, DC have lamented the lack of attention to their cause due to the twin devestating hurricanes of Katrina and Rita. The truth must be much harder to swallow for these pretenders to the throne. That truth is, this is not 1970. Their causes do not resonate with middle America. They are not real revolutionaries. They do not face concerted efforts to suppress them. They are not harassed, assaulted and arrested. They do not face barking dogs, water cannons or brutal police assaults with batons.
Even more so, they do not resemble the revolutionary fore fathers. Men like Jefferson, Adams, Franklin or even Hancock who pledged their fortunes and lives to revolution against a real tyranny where their very lives and property would be forfeit should they lose. There are no gulags, secret police, torture chambers or extra judicial executions with a silent, unmarked grave at the end. They don't risk hanging much less a stiff prison sentence. They are unlikely to get much more than a few hours in jail and a flimsy fine for destroying property or refusing to obey lawful orders. They are pretenders who risk nothing and pledge nothing but destruction, false causes and false morality while pretending to be "oppressed" by pretend tyrrants.
After four years, the pretend revolutionaries in their pretentious prancing, choose to ignore one of the most important issues in their failing to achieve real wide spread support: the average American remembers the excesses of their fore bearer protestors against the military and what it did to our fathers and even our mothers who served.
Lastly, the pretenders fail to recall the fate of most pretenders to the throne, that is their eventual ignoble demise and fading to a footnote of history.
Friday, September 30, 2005
New Revolutionaries: Pretenders To the Throne
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Fighting the Last War
While the computer was down, I had time to catch up on some reading so I went to the local library. I was looking for "Thunder Run" and a few books like that. Unfortunately, that book and Steve Vincent's "In The Red Zone" were both out. While I was in that section, I noticed a book called "Medal of Honor". I thought it was the most recent book out by that young author with lots of stories, but when I got it home, I realized it was a slightly older book. Then I noted that there was a writer I never heard of and commentary by "Mike Wallace". Yes, that Mike Wallace from CBS.
Still, I didn't let that deter me since I had flipped through the book quickly at the library and it had some interesting background and after information about Medal of Honor winners.
By story number three I noticed an interesting trend that came apparent by story number five that it was going to continue. Every single story (there were twenty I believe) had either commentary from the CMH holder or some brief information about their activities AGAINST the Vietnam War if they were alive at the time to experience that phenomenom. I'm not kidding either. Out of the hundreds of CMH winners that they could have profiled, they chose anti-Vietnam folks.
Believe me when I say I was not expecting the whole damn book to have almost every story end that way (and that's where it was, as if the writer had asked at the end of the interview for the opinion or had looked up the information about these men's activities) to include. I'm also not one to look for "agendas" of books that are largely supposed to be historical accounts, but I really couldn't help but notice it. In between the stories, Mike Wallace had independent commentary and every damn one, including the commentary on the civil war, some how veered into a direct comment or comparison to the Vietnam War era. About 3/4 of the way through, I stopped and looked at the first page of the book to see the copy right and it was 2002.
2002. Mike Wallace was still trying to make his case about the fallacy of the Vietnam War. The very last story in the book regarding Colonel Kelley who won the CMH during WWII and went on to serve through Vietnam, was the only story where a CMH holder said that he believed in his mission in Vietnam, but added the caveat that politics had hindered the fighting and that was what he was most upset about. However, it seemed that either Wallace or the writer pressed the man further to try to get more negative commentary and the man said again, after much reading a reflection away from the war, that it was fought wrong and might not have been a good thing to become involved in.
Last year, during the elections, I noted that Vietnam had shaped Kerry's entire life thereafter. Vietnam had apparently done the same for Wallace. I think that may be true for a number of baby boomers and slightly older folks. It's not WWII that made them who they are, but a war that was basically a loss. Baby boomers are still a large part of our aging population, but I think that a problem here is that my generation was far too young or not quite born yet, to have their ideas about America, wars and particularly Vietnam, shaped by that one war. It did not and does not define us.
If I had to pick a single defining moment, I'd be hard pressed to do so. For me, memory and defining history begins about the time I became a cognizant adult that looked at the world beyond school, fast cars, music and my personal angst. Those defining moments became the fall of the Berlin Wall, the collapse of the USSR and Tianneman Square which signaled the new beginning for the spread of freedom and a hope for a future without nuclear holocaust; the Gulf War which seemed to signify that the UN was coming into it's expected role of uniting nations against evil and a new world where technology could make war quick and relatively bloodless (however false that premise really is); the massacre of the Shi'ites, Somalia, Rawanda and the Serbian genocides which made the idea of a functioning UN and the motto "never again" a hypocracy of the worse sort and proved once again that mankind truly could sink to a morality so low even a snake would be embarrassed; and, finally, September 11.
I realize that I did not list the first WTC bombing, Oklahoma, Waco, Ruby Ridge, Kenya, Nairobi, the USS Cole and any number of other activities that might be defining moments for others, but, too me, these were more like "Lee Harvey Oswald and the Magic Bullet". Lone acts of terrorism or insanity that I had not yet linked to our current conflict. I suppose the other thing that defines me or my generation is the incredible leap forward in personal technology that seemed to re-enforce the idea that the sky was the limit and we could not be held back by such mundane things as real politics.
These things define me more than any others. To me, this last decade and a half has said, "Freedom is grand and desired by all men, but we should remember the depravity of mankind and, finally, know that our own freedom and security is not guaranteed."
Maybe others would define themselves differently. I don't know, but I certainly do not believe that the Vietnam War defines me or my generation. The stories about the heroes were extremely interesting and I plan to write about some here. These are people and actions that should not be forgotten. They remind us that ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances are and always have been the real heroes. I am just disappointed that a book published in 2002 about heroism spent a large part of its time trying to fight the last war.
Catch Cassandra on a similar topic Dogs of War.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
A PETA Moment
Long ago, in a land far away called New Jersey, there was a weekly rodeo held at a place ubiquitously called "Cowtown", just southeast of Gibbsboro. Every year at the opening rodeo, the local PETA organization would show up to protest the rodeo as cruel and inhumane treatment of animals.
Being a farm girl from Kansas and having quite a bit of experience with the rodeo, I knew that these animals were probably better cared for than most of the PETA people's own pets. I also knew that the rowels on the cowboys' spurs were squared off, that cinches tied to the rear barrel of bucking horses and bulls were not used to "pinch parts", were not tied any tighter than the cinch on a saddle and that roping rules were specifically designed to prevent damage to the livestock since they were not only valuable assetts to any rodeo company, but usually belonged to animal lovers who considered it there responsibility to take care of these animals.
Most livestock used in rodeos were eventually bred to create more rodeo livestock and turned out to pasture to live very comfortable lives post rodeo career which is a lot more than can be said for the cowboys who dared to rope or ride them. Not to say that there weren't a few disreputable livestock companies around, but these usually supplied unsanctioned events and were deeply frowned on by most rodeo promoters since bad stock didn't perform well and bad looking cattle gave them a bad name. I recall that the rodeo in NJ had cancelled a contract with a livestock owner because it became known that the animals were not treated well. That was just bad for business all the way around.
Every year we ignored the PETA protestors. Of course, PETA wasn't the only interested folks who came down to the rodeo and didn't know anything about it. Many "city folks" from Philadelphia, Wilmington and other small and large urban places in the area would come down in their best "dude" out fits or just plain everyday wear (like Levis and loafers without socks) to take in this strange phenomenom. This rodeo was famous enough on the east coast that it would routinely get bus tours stopping by bringing tourists from Asia and Europe who wanted to experience "real America" or as close as their fantastical minds could get to the "wild west". As a regular afficianado, attendee and general hobnobber with the cowboys who passed through this rarified atmosphere, I and my friends found ourselves unofficial "information guides" since there was always one or two (or twenty) newbies sitting nearby exclaiming over each event.
One particular year, a friend of ours had recently received his PRCA bullfighter's card and was going to "clown" at his first professional rodeo right there at Cowtown. He was actually in the Navy and had been stationed there while his assigned carrier was in drydock for repairs. We had adopted him as our "brother" from Tennessee. To celebrate his official acceptance into this elite group of crazy bastards who wore face paint and baggy pants while confronting a pissed of 1500 lb slab of muscle and bones, his parents came to see him perform. They were extremely nice people whom I had met several times both down in Tennessee and on their visits to Philly to see their son.
I'm quite certain the PETA folks would have been really appalled to find out that our friend's dad raised a few cattle on his spread down in Tennessee for the explicit purpose of butchering them and having fresh meat. One of my memories of visiting them was being offered "Hamburger from Pork" or "steak from Chop" (two calves they had raised up and had been grazing in the pasture the last time I had visited; no effect on me, but it did turn our city friends off a bit).
On top of that, our friends dad was the spokesman for the PRCA circuit in Tennessee.
On this particular evening of PETA protesting, the news organizations were out in force. If I remember correctly, drive by shootings were down and Nicky Scarfo was in prison so there wasn't a lot to report that summer. The rodeo promoter had met our friend's dad much earlier in the day and, seeing that the press was getting an earful from PETA without any opposite views from the rodeo crowd, he asked our friend's dad to act as the unofficial spokesman for the rodeo. He agreed and we followed him out to stand nearby in case things got ugly. PETA had been in town that year throwing blood on people wearing fur coats and generally destroying furrier property along with a few other ignominious actions.
Most of the PETA crowd were across the street on a public easement, away from the rodeo. They were marching around with signs about animal cruelty. The one I remember the most clearly was the protestor dressed in a cow costume with some rather pornographic utters waggling around carrying an incredibly uninspired sign that said, "Make Milk Not Rodeo." This is where you should laugh since most bovines used in rodeos are bulls and steers, cattle of the male persuasion, which I do not recommend attempting to milk. Unless you count the occassional "wild cow milking contest" which I believe would meet their standards.
Another protester was giving an interview to the local TV news. He seemed like your typical urbanite. One of the cowboys with us walked over and told the assistant standing near the cameraman that a rodeo spokesman was prepared to give an interview. Shortly after, the camera crew and reporter came over to our side of the road and began a brief interview with our friend's dad. He was explaining the care and treatment of rodeo animals when the yuppy spokesman for PETA came over and jumped into the interview accusing our spokesman of being a liar and a hypocrit. After a few brief moments of the reporter trying to get control of the situation and our friend's dad reminding the gentleman that he did not interfere in his interview and being continously shouted down, our spokesman tapped the cameraman on the shoulder and pointed down at the PETA guy's feet.
The cameraman tilted the camera down and both the reporter and the PETA guy were momentarily thrown off pace, causing a loll in the shouting.
PETA Guy, "What?"
Our Guy, "Your boots." At which point, the reporter was looking down, too.
PETA Guy defensive now, "What about them?" The boots were the urban cowboy wannabe black and white fur side out boots that were useless accept to look good and cost money.
Our Guy, "Well, I couldn't help but notice they're cow hide. Did you eat the meat from the cow before you had those boots made?"
PETA Guy was insulted by such a thought, "I did not! I'm a vegan! I don't eat meat!"
Our Guy, "So, what you're saying is that some cow was killed senselessly just to make you those boots. Unless you think that cow died of old age somewhere before they took his hide?"
PETA GUY, "I bought these boots before I joined PETA!"
Our Guy, "Really? How about that belt? Looks like genuine leather to me. And your friends over there look like they have leather purses, belts and shoes as well. Just where do you all think that leather comes from?"
The TV Cameraman had panned over to the crowd on the other side of the street with his powerful camera spotlight shining on the PETA Hypocrits. The PETA Guy seemed momentarily speechless so our guy went on to explain briefly the PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association) rules on treatment of livestock and their involvement in the ASPCA and other humane societies. Ending briefly with an invite to come out and see what it was all about and learn about the "cowboy way of life".
We walked back into the rodeo to see the nights entertainment as the cameraman and reporter broke for the night. I honestly don't know if it made the news or how it was presented. However, about a quarter of the way through the rodeo, another friend came up where we were sitting and said that the protesters were gone.
The only thing left was a pair of black and white cow hide boots with a black leather belt at the curb.
"I didn't mean to make the guy go shoeless," our friend's dad said, a little sheepish now that the war of words had been over for awhile.
"Don't worry, sir," I replied, "I'm sure he has two or three other pair of cow hide shoes in his closet to replace them."
Friday, September 23, 2005
Bad News...
The computer died. Completely shot craps. Hard drive is gone and the cost to repair it is beyond current budget. I will once again have limited access to a computer. So, if you don't see anything, not only am I looking for a job, but I can't get on very often.
As a matter of fact, my 1 hour time limit is about up at the library, so, I'm out of here.
Ciao...
PS...considering my run of bad luck these days, I wouldn't mind a few prayers or burning incense to Buddha or positive energy waves..whatever floats your boat. Hate to solicit such things, but you gotta do whatya gotta do.
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Speaking of 1938...
...Blackfive reports that Simon Wiesenthal has died. He suggests that you read this entire article and so do I.
As I wrote the post "1938" late last night, I was thinking that the veterans are dying and the concentration camp survivors are dying, it becomes easier to forget. And, today, there are too many people who due to distance or ideological differences, want to mitigate the disaster that was the holocaust.
In England, Europe, the United States, Russia and especially the Middle East, people deny that it happened or that many people were murdered.
I shake my head over the number of people that believe this that get legitimate press time to air their denials or bizarre conspiracy theories.
David Hirsch addresses one such person. In Britain, the Muslim Council of Britain are not only holocaust deniers, but actively work to deligitimize Jews and Israel, insisting that the Palestinians are victims of "genocide" and the Israelis are the new "Nazis". As I said in "1938", these ideas and groups get far too much acceptance on universities that are supposedly institutions of higher learning. Where once in Nazi Germany, Jewish professors were forced from their positions and replaced by men who who taught eugenics and racial purity, the evilness of "the Jew", in American Universities, where the far left prevail ( a left that was also excoriated by the Nazis), "alternative" history is taught where the holocaust is either denied or is "mitigated" by alleged atrocities of the Israeli state. And, no one laughs these entities from the campus.
As I read the article from the Chicago Tribune, these words struck me the most:
"When history looks back," Wiesenthal said, "I want people to know the Nazis weren't able to kill millions of people and get away with it." He warned on many occasions: "If we pardon this genocide, it will be repeated, and not only on Jews. If we don't learn this lesson, then millions died for nothing."[snip]
His experiences with Kohlrautz and Gunthert [prison guards who helped Wiesenthal stay alive] would later influence Wiesenthal to reject collective guilt. Jews "are the eternal scapegoat," he wrote in "The Murderers Among Us." "We know that we are not collectively guilty, so how can we accuse any other nation, no matter what some of its people have done, of being collectively guilty?"[snip]
Merz[prison guard] asked what he would do if he ever got to New York and people inquired about the concentration camps.
Haltingly, Wiesenthal replied, "I believe I would tell the people the truth."
"You know what would happen, Wiesenthal?" Merz asked, smiling. "They wouldn't believe you. They'd say you were crazy. Might even put you into a madhouse. How can anyone believe this terrible business -- unless they lived through it?"[snip]
"The last day at Mauthausen," Wiesenthal told The Times during a July 2000 interview in Vienna, "I say to my friends in the death block, 'I wish to live another 15 minutes, because I want to see the look on the Nazis' faces when the Americans come.'."[snip]
Seibel and his troops found as many as 10,000 bodies in a single grave. Among the living "were thousands who had been starved, beaten and cruelly tortured," Seibel told his superiors in a report quoted in Pick's book. "I viewed the gas chambers where people were packed so tightly they couldn't move and little children were thrown on top of their heads before they were gassed. I saw the dissection rooms and the cooling rooms where the bodies were stacked like planks of wood
"I viewed the private execution rooms where prisoners were hanged or shot by the commandant. I saw the highly charged electric fences where prisoners, who could no longer endure the suffering, threw themselves for a swift death. I saw the bunkheads [sic] in the barracks, bunks made for one man, where prisoners so emaciated could sleep three to a bed.
"Mauthausen did exist. Man's inhumanity to man did exist. The world must not be allowed to forget the depths to which mankind can sink, lest it should happen again."
That is our heritage. That is what we should remember. The world must not be allowed to forget the depths to which mankind can sink." And it is easy to forget or at least push it far away in our minds so that Rwanda, Sudan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Cambodia and all others become some how acceptable or "not our problem" because we are told by the internationalist that we should not intervene because these nations are "sovreign" and these things are "internal affairs". Then there are those that sit around and debate what constitutes "genocide". All this after we declared "never again."
More important than the outcome of the trial, Wiesenthal wrote, was Eichmann's testimony.
It "destroyed the fairy tale that Auschwitz was just a lie," Wiesenthal said referring to the infamous death camp where historians say the Nazis murdered 1.1 million people. "Since then," he added, "the world has been familiar with the concept of the 'murderer at his desk.' We know that fanatical, near-pathological sadism is not necessary for millions of people to be murdered; that all that is needed is dutiful obedience to some leader."
This is also the reality of Iraq under Saddam and Iraq under attack by Islamic terrorists. They destroy and build nothing but grave yards and monuments to their own egos or proclaim their righteous cause sanctioned by history and religion on internet sites convincing young men that to die and to kill civillians is sanctioned by God. And like the executioner who paused for mass in Wiesenthal's story, the new killers pause for prayers, get up and go out to do it again. They have their own torture and execution chambers, choosing their victims based on ethnicity and religion.
And here, decades away from the sin of the holocaust, some choose to forget.
I found the end of the piece to be the most compelling:
Well into his 90s, Wiesenthal worked in his office regularly for at least half a day.
"Maybe it's my craziness," he told the Los Angeles Times in 1990. "Because I will never stop. I tell my wife, 'The great things in life are never done by normal people. They're done by crazy people.'."
Wiesenthal spoke often of a Sabbath dinner he had spent at the home of another survivor of Mauthausen, who had become a wealthy jeweler. The man speculated that Wiesenthal could have become a millionaire if he had gone back to architecture instead of hunting Nazis.
"When we come to the other world," Wiesenthal said he responded, "and meet the millions of Jews who died in the camps, and they ask us, 'What have you done?' there will be many answers.
"You will tell them, 'I became a jeweler.'
"Another will say, 'I smuggled coffee and American cigarettes.'
"Another will say, 'I built houses.'
"But I will say, 'I didn't forget you.'."
Don't forget.
KCTV5: Misrepresenting the Sheehan Fiasco in NYC
To repeat the anchor: "Just as Cindy Sheehan finished giving her speech, police rushed in cut the rally short."
No mention of lack of permits. No mention of who was supporting the rally. No mention of the permits they had or what they were asked to do in order to use the sound system. Nada.
While I declared that I would not speak about this woman here, I will not refrain from pointing out misleading bullshit from the media. Basically, they gave the impression that the storm troopers rushed in to put a stop to a peaceful demonstration which is so far from the truth, it's not even funny. I mean, did you ever hear the storm troopers of Germany or Stalinist Russia asking people politely to not use a sound system that they had no permit for but telling them that they could have their rally as long as it was without it?
Or, Storm Troopers that just walk away while being called names and threatened by the protesters?
I think KCTV5 just pissed me off. Freaking CBS affiliate.
Observations: 1938
One thing I've noticed in web and real time discussions with people of all walks of life is the disturbing Jewish conspiracy theories. I've heard these theories from two types of people: those that are simply ideologically/ethnically opposed to Jews and those with a conspicuous lack of historical knowledge.
The first group of people are the people that have existed through out history. European and Russian pogroms were based on rumors and finding scape goats. It's been this way since the first Jew stepped foot on European soil. The Jews allegedly brought the plague. The Jews, lending money to unfrugal monarchs for everything from crusades, to inter-state war, to just plain spendthrifts throwing lavish parties, giving "gifts" to favorites or just buying the latest jewelry/fashion/horse flesh, etc, etc, etc.
King John and King Henry III of England both instituted pogroms against the Jews. Why? Because they both owed Jewish moneylenders large sums of money. Even King Richard the Lion Hearted had a love hate relationship with the Jewish money lenders. From my historical readings, I'd have to say that being a Jewish money lender in those days had to be the epitome of high risk investment. Monarchs come and go. They have the power of life and death over you so even if they are bad risks for repayment (which most of them were), it was usually an offer you couldn't refuse. Even if the king or queen was good enough to give land or jewels as security, since the monarch technically owned all the land, he could arbitrarily take it away. The Czars and Czarina's of Russia were the same.
Owe the Jewish moneylenders money? Got civil unrest or an unexplained plague? Got Jews? Let's have a pogrom. Drive them from the land. Burn them at the stake. Confiscate their property.
Got a new war you want to prosecute? Need to update the crown jewels? Excuse me, Mr. Jewish Money Lender, got gold? Give it up. Don't make me call a pogrom on you.
I guess I always found it interesting that the Jews were blamed for the bad money management of kings. It's not the monarchs and lords that were bad, it's the evil Jewish moneylenders. Of course, the medieval church was part of that, insisting that the Jews were evil because they "killed Jesus". At least that gave the wealthy and the royalty a cover for defaulting on their loans and an outlet for their people to take their anger over their crappy condition out on somebody.
Life hasn't changed that much either.
In modern history, you have three kinds of people with three ideas about the holocaust: 1) the Jews deserved whatever they got and it wasn't as catastrophic as people say it was, the Jews are the real nazis; 2) the holocaust happened in a vaccuum, a one off episode rendered by a one off mad man and whatever happened doesn't have a thing to do with Jews and Israel today; 3) the holocaust was the culmination of centuries of hate and the way the world still behaves today, it could esily happen again.
I'm a number three.
Reading history, whenever I think of the Balfour Declaration that finally led to the creation of Israel, I never took it as a distinctly philanthropic undertaking by the European states that supported it. Frankly, it always reminds me of the post civil war effort to send the "Africans back to Africa" which was largely meant to satisfy post bellum discrimination. In the case of the Balfour Declaration, it was a post bellum/pre-holocaust concept that seemed bent on sending the Jews back to "where they belonged". Of course, there were Jewish Zionists who believed the Jews should have their own homeland and Europe wasn't exactly a friendly place to be if you were Jewish even before the holocaust.
And, while I am not so historically challenged that I don't know about the beginnings of the Haganah militia and other groups or their activities, I can grasp that both the Arabs and the Jews were betrayed by European realpolitics and the final gasps of colonialism.
The simplistic "holocaust in a vaccuum" idea of WWII Europe is a nice fantasy. It's just not historically accurate. I remember in high school when we were learning about World War II, we did learn a little bit about the collaboration of the French Vichy government with the Germans. However, it wasn't until many years later that I found out that there were plenty of citizens in France who were quite willing to round up the Jewish citizens and send them off to the camps. That went for a number of other European states. Then there were the states (including the US) that refused entry to those who tried to escape.
So, here we are, centuries and decades later and I hear rumblings that repeat every folly, regurgitating foolish conspiracy theories and for what? For the same reason that they've always been repeated: a convenient scapegoat that is weak comparatively speaking. Approximately 15 million Jews, 1.2 billion Christians and 1.5 billion Muslims and some how, the Jews control our fate.
The Jews own the banks, the media and the US and British government. The war in Iraq, both of them, were allegedly to protect Israel. Don't forget that the Mossad apparently perpetrated 9/11 and all the Jews knew to stay home that day. Don't forget that some of the hijackers allegedley had Israeli passports (they were Iraq passports but who pays attention apparently). Kind of sickening really. And, some of it is repeated by people that swear they aren't bigots, just pacifists or anti-war or support the "Palestenian Cause" or those that just wish we weren't at war or should have just stayed in Afghanistan to capture OBL as if he was the only terrorist that mattered. While it's true that Israel's security is vastly improved without Saddam in power and threatening to lob scuds with nerve gas at them whenever he gets pissed at the Americans, it was hardly a primary concern. Just like oil existed there and Saddam's existence threatened the security of the region, but hardly rates as the pimary reason for invasion.
Whenever I hear those comments, I usually roll my eyes and shrug "so, what's your point?".
You get those comments from the idealogues and demogogues, but you also get them from the historically challenged who like to make believe that the Middle East would be one fuzzy friendly land of brotherly love if Israel didn't exist or we weren't in Iraq. The Egyptians, Persians, Assyrians, the Turks and various other groups were busy conquering each other for millenia. Then came Mohammed that united many groups, but upon his death left divided ethnic and sectarian rivalries that continue today. Even the Ottomans couldn't keep them all under control. No better or worse than the Europeans incessent wars or other ancient or recent wars of conquest and they certainly needed very little outside provocation. Frankly, such commentary betrays the inner bigot.
Today, the British Universities disassociate themselves from Israeli Universities; the British and American Churches have gone through a purge of of their investments; the American and European Universities are rife with anti-Israel groups; newo-nazis are once again getting press time and damaging synogogues, cemetaries and businesses; Jewish students are harassed; and the historically uneducated or the short term memory folks or those who are inherently bigotted go on and on about the Jewish conspiracy to take over the world. All the while, a fascist ideology percolates and vows to take over the world under the pretext of righteous grievances, destroying the Jews as a primary step towards that goal.
To paraphrase another blogger, I get the feeling that it's 1938.
Monday, September 19, 2005
Two Tommies Bagged in Basrah And One Overblown Observation
According to this news item, two British soldiers were detained by Basrah police after getting into a shootout with the police.
An Iraqi official in Iraq's second largest city said the British military had informed him that the men were undercover soldiers and that an Iraqi judge was questioning them.
"They were driving a civilian car and were dressed in civilian clothes when a shooting took place between them and Iraqi patrols," the official told Reuters.
"We are investigating and an Iraqi judge is on the case questioning them."
Reuters photographs showed one of the two men with a bandage on his head. Police and Interior Ministry officials said the men were wearing traditional Arab headdress for their undercover mission.[snip]
Mohammed al-Abadi, an official in the Basra governorate, said the two men looked suspicious to police.
"A policeman approached them and then one of these guys fired at him. Then the police managed to capture them," Abadi told reporters.
"They refused to say what their mission was. They said they were British soldiers and (suggested) to ask their commander about their mission," he added.
I'll guess what their mission was and I'll guess why they weren't too keen on telling anyone after they were arrested. Recall that Basrah is now the home base for the Iranian backed Shi'ites and Sadr's own theocratic thugs that pretty much run their own little crime syndicate in town, cheating on contracts, killing anyone they think is threatening to their survival (Steven Vincent comes to mind) and intimidating or killing anyone that does not adhere to their hypocritical concept of morality including just recently four women for singing at a wedding.
I imagine that the Iranian and Sadr connections are the most interesting to the Brits considering the number of arms being smuggled into the country via smuggler routes in eastern Iraq.
Why they were shot at, I can only imagine. Could be a simple check point that the soldiers wanted to avoid or it could be that, just like Steven Vincent's killers, the men were police officers who were involved in something nasty and were only prevented from killing these men because they were armed or because one of the rogue police elements in Basrah had a leader that felt compelled to insure their dirty little empire was not completely exposed or put into danger by overtly killing British soldiers. Much better to detain them and embarass the British officers in charge, giving the thieves and strongmen some leverage.
If I was the Brits, I'd be "investigating" if the soldiers' cover was blown by someone inside their Joint Operations.
While reading the story from AP, I noted this rather overblown observation:
Basra, capital of the Shi'ite south, has been relatively stable compared with central Iraq, where Sunni Arab insurgents have killed thousands of Iraqi and U.S. forces, officials and civilians with suicide attacks, roadside bombs and shootings.
Maybe I'm just being picky, but I would have put that as "thousands of Iraqi civilians, police and military" and for once, I wouldn't have minded the most current body count for the US. It just seems by that comment they were overstating the US casualties and understating the "relative stability" of Basrah.
Odds And Ends
You might have noticed that I have been less than prolific lately. The writing/philosophy muse has been on vacation apparently. Or, possibly it's been pointing me in different directions, things I wouldn't normally write about on this blog. Personal things. Yes, I've been pretty open about my past life living in the big "P", but that was a lifetime ago and I felt far enough removed from that life to write about it (though I ended the series on the first half of the Philadelphia years; there's plenty laugh to laugh and curse about). Recent things have been too close and too "now" to feel comfortable to write about.
In some ways, holding that separate and trying to write something intelligent or worth while, it's been quite difficult. On top of that, I feel a little bit like I've had battle fatigue. Reading a bleat by Lilek today, one of his sentences got to me. Basically, talking about 9/11 and the war, he said, "if you don't get it by now, you never will." That's how I've been feeling lately. I'm tired of talking about why it's important, why it's necessary, defending our soldiers and I'm tired of being angry with these folks who use overblown polemics and low disgusting insults to make their points because they simply don't have anything else worth while to say or add to the discussion. Other blogges have noted this same malaise about the foolish repeated ad nauseum (yes, making me nauseas) same ridiculous commentary that passes for discourse.
On the other hand, I feel a little guilty about my fatigue on the subject because our men and women are still over there, the terrorists are still killing people, the towers are still gone, 2973 people are still dead and there's a hole in a Pennsylvania field that reminds me I haven't given even a quarter of what those people gave in the war against Islamist extremists. It's something I think about whenever I feel down or feel a little pity party for myself, I think about what it had to take to rush a cockpit knowing that you have a 99% chance of dying, but doing it anyway because it's the right thing to do. I think about what it takes to wake up every morning after that and see the pillow beside you is empty or all that you have left of your son or daughter are the pictures and their school trophies.
Those are heavy loads to bare and it makes my load seem like a feather. So, it's been difficult in my current situation to write about it because what I would write would seem so damned pitiful compared to those difficulties that it's almost an insult. On the other hand, however pitiful, I want to write about it just to talk it out. One thing about writing here, it's like having a hundred therapists or members of your support group listening. Kind of a captive audience.
Then again, you have to ask yourself: does anyone really care?
Where's this all going? Here it is:
I'm unemployed. I've been unemployed for three months now. After seven years killing myself for my company, traveling everywhere, barely taking vacation and using up just about every ounce of my creativity, right in the middle of my personal crisis (which I have failed to mention here for some time) and having twice tried to give my resignation, both times being rejected (and me foolishly not insisting that they take it anyway) I was fired.
Yep, fired. Seven years, three promotions, six incredibly good reviews, I finally needed some personal time to take care of those loathesome personal things I'd been ignoring for awhile and it was unacceptable to the company. The last straw was, right in the middle of this whole mess a wisdom tooth became infected so bad that I had to go on double antibiotics, using hot and cold compresses to make the swelling go down and then had to have the tooth removed. I had plenty of PTO. The year before I had lost a week of PTO because the company wouldn't let me carry anymore. But, that doesn't really matter when the company decides that you are no longer necessary. You may be loyal to your company, but for many companies, that loyalty is not reciprocated. In the last cost/benefit analysis, loyalty and years of service don't really matter.
It didn't take very long to go from star employee to an albatross. I'd tell you that I learned lesson from it, but I can't say that I did because I still believe that, if you're going to do something you should do it the best that you can and give all that you can. I suppose that the only thing I learned is that not everyone feels the same way that you do and in this corporate world, you're expendable.
In the end, it put me in a severe financial bind, but, in a strange way, I felt a very real sense of relief the day they gave me my termination papers. There's no bitterness, just relief.
I can speculate why it was they decided that I was now expendable. I was in the middle of analyzing a third reduction in force. Sales were going down and new business leads were no where to be seen. Not to mention that several contracts we'd had for years were unprofitable and they were a large part of our existing revenue base. Looking at the numbers, I can honestly say that I couldn't see where the cost reduction was coming without actually closing the business or dumping some more upper management folks. I believe I had the unfortunate timing of handing them their big cost savings without having to give me the severence package they would have had to based on my salary, position and years of experience. Lucky them.
But, like I said, that's oly speculation and I was actually relieved when it happened. I mean, I really felt a smile come over my face as I was leaving the office. I had escaped.
At that point you know that you should have left a long time ago.
So, here I am. Jobless. I took thirty days off and then started looking. I was trying to decide what I wanted to do. One of the things that was difficult is trying to decide about changing career paths. That is just about down right impossible when people see your resume is full of the same kind of companies over and over. But, I'm applying and I've got interviews lined up. Which is good because the mortgage needs paid and the dog needs food.
So, if you see me not posting anything pithy for a day or two at a time, don't go away. I'm just dilligently looking for employment. I'm thinking I may have to go work at the quick trip across the street and maybe the Mc Donalds.
Now that's desperate.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
While You Were Sleeping...
...democracy continued it's march in Aghanistan as Afghanis prepared to vote for Parliament and local elections. Afghan Warrior reports that the Taliban are still trying to stop the elections while promising not to attack the polls:
Unknown armed men killed 7 civilians after they searched the vehicle and passengers and found official documents. It was a very cowardly act of the enemies because these civilians were just carrying voter registration cards and documents for the weekend's parliamentary election and they wanted to cast their vote for a better future of their country and they were not armed men and nor were they goverment officials.
In another incident 3 more civilians were killed and 4 injured including a child by a remote-controlled landmine blast in the Tirinkot district of the same province on Wednesday. In southeastern Zabul province a man was hanged by Taliban rebels on Tuesday. He was an intelligence official working for the district intelligence department. He was captured and killed by the Taliban. He was hanged. After all these killings it is impossible to trust the Taliban. However the Taliban announced that they will not target the polling stations during the election day because they don't want civilian casualties.
But the Afghan's are preparing their security:
Around 50,000 police together with 20,000 Army and some 30,000 coalition troops are ready to provide security during the parliamentary election so I am sure nothing much will happen during the election and Afghans will peacefully vote and elect their honest representatives.
And our Afghan friend reminds us that the Afghanis have not forgotten the event that led to their freedom from terrorists:
The people of Afghanistan have not forgotten the deadliest attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon four years ago during which around 3000 people lost their lives. We strongly condemn this cowardly terrorist attack and express our grievous condolences for all American people, especially with those who lost family members, relatives and friends.
Make sure you watch the slide show. I must admit to getting a little teary eyed whenever I see the people keep marching on. It gives me the hope and the confidence that this war will be won and it is the dream of every man and woman, no matter how poor or from what nation, to be free.
Thursday, September 15, 2005
George Galloway = Hitler
Okay, I hat to equate anyone to Hitler because, well, it's like trying to disuade discussion by some sort of false argument, but I really have to say that his rhetorical style, as I listen to his comments on MP3 at the debate with Hitchens last night, I have this picture in my mind of Hitler at Nuremburg, pounding his fist on the podium denouncing Jews.
Don't believe me? Listen for yourself. Catch the second half here.
He also had the bad fortune to say something that quite sounded like he was blaming the United States for the attacks on the WTC 9/11. This while the debate was occuring in New York City. Needless to say, he was very loudly booed.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Al Qaida: Spoiled Children Needing Attention
Early this morning as I wrote this post concerning my concerns re: possible terrorist strikes in the US and indicators/target patterns, I forgot one of the main indicators: whenever terrorists feel like they aren't being given their due by the media (ie, they drop off the radar while larger tragedies or more important things are going on), they are bound to strike in a major way to regain their prominence on the international media.
I can't believe that I missed this important indicator since it is one of the MAJOR plaints of Zawahiri in his book "Knights Under the Prohet's Banner".
Part ElevenA. The universality of the battle:
The western forces that are hostile to Islam have clearly identified their enemy. They refer to it as the Islamic fundamentalism. They are joined in this by their old enemy, Russia. They have adopted a number of tools to fight Islam, including:
(1) The United Nations.
(2) The friendly rulers of the Muslim peoples.
(3) The multinational corporations.
(4) The international communications and data exchange systems.
(5) The international news agencies and satellite media channels.
(6) The international relief agencies, which are being used as a cover for espionage, proselytizing, coup planning, and the transfer of weapons. [snip]
Choosing TargetsN. We must get our message across to the masses of the nation and break the media siege imposed on the jihad movement. This is an independent battle that we must launch side by side with the military battle.
Thus, the last indicator for an attack would be whenever the headlines do not have the words: Iraq, dead, suicide bombers, statement from "X" (choose one: Zawahiri, Zarqawi, OBL) for three or more days.
Just like spoiled children, they demand attention. Unfortunately, they are more like the spoiled children of Satan (al Shatan) who want their attention in bloody headlines.
Iraq the Model believes they are trying to avenge Tal Afar based on a statement released by Al Qaida in Iraq, but I believe it is more complex than that considering that large attacks with multiple suiciders and mass casualties are reserved for special strategic needs.
Zawahiri explains further the strategy for achieving multiple goals in any one attack:
L. Changing the method of strikes:
The mujahid Islamic movement must escalate its methods of strikes and tools of resisting the enemies to keep up with the tremendous increase in the number of its enemies, the quality of their weapons, their destructive powers, their disregard for all taboos, and disrespect for the customs of wars and conflicts. In this regard, we concentrate on the following:
1. The need to inflict the maximum casualties against the opponent, for this is the language understood by the west, no matter how much time and effort such operations take.
2. The need to concentrate on the method of martyrdom operations as the most successful way of inflicting damage against the opponent and the least costly to the mujahidin in terms of casualties.
3. The targets as well as the type and method of weapons used must be chosen to have an impact on the structure of the enemy and deter it enough to stop its brutality, arrogance, and disregard for all taboos and customs. It must restore the struggle to its real size.
The real size, he goes on to say, is global war.
Frankly, I wonder if any agency has taken the time to compare the news cycles and headlines in a given period to attacks by the terrorists? Instead of blithely assuming that a decrease in activity on the part of the terrorists signifies defeat?
Although, the other point that can be made is that as we see attacks whittled down to mostly spectacular, mass casualty affairs further and further apart, this may be a good indicator that human resources may be declining or that the mujihadeen are moving their leadership assetts to avoid capture and are reduced to setting off their main attack by well entrenched and hidden cells. The good news is, these cells don't get rebuilt over night and investigative and interrogation techniques have led to support personnel and groups being arrested or taken out of the equation, forcing the mujihadeen to rebuild, not just the cell, but entire support networks in location.
No easy task once the cover is broken.
I am also beginning to think, based on the amassing of forces and the attacks in Baghdad that Zawahiri or some other leadership element was being evacuated from the area of Tal Afar once again and these items were hopeful distractions for US forces.
Our Friends the Pakistanis
Read this quick book review in the WSJ re: Pakistan, Jihad and Afghanistan.
Try not to be too shocked when you read it. (Yes, that is sarcasm.)
Strategies of Attack: Terrorists and First World Nations
As we continue to clean up from Hurricane Katrina, the largest discussion about terrorist attacks in the US are centered around the response of the federal and local government to the disaster and what this would portend for a future mass terrorist attack. What we aren't discussing is the probability of a terrorist attack in the wake of the disaster. Neither do we hear any comments regarding raising the terror alert level.
Just looking over the brief history of the last four years with direct massive attacks on first world nations, their are certain patterns and areas that intersect in order to form Al-Qaida's perfect target.
The intersecting areas have so far involved:
1) Politically weak or weakened leadership
2) Financial weakness or instability
3) Political atmosphere that leans towards withdrawal or isolation
4) Probability of a change in political leadership or changing the leadership's goals based on inability to sustain current policies or activities.
The targets in first world nations have centered around:
1) Transportation
2) Direct impact of financial capabilities
3) Mass casualties
9/11:
3/11:
7/7 - 7/14:
Post Katrina, the President continues to be attacked for lack of preparation on the home front and with calls from many, even previous supporters, to re-focus resources and time on the home front to make it more secure. While this cannot lead to a change in leadership, the declining polls and support could force a significant change in focus. Katrina has also certainly put a huge krimp in the continuing climb of the economy and immediately put unemployment up by .3% with a probably outcome of a decrease of .5%.
An attack today may bolster the election possibilities for the opposition in 2006, eroding Republican control and possibly leading to attempts by the opposition to block continuing finance of military operations or significantly erode them. Take over of the Senate or House by the opposition could also allow even more gridlock of Presidential policies, eroding his support and the support of the leading party by providing the illusion that the administration is ineffectual and their policies have failed.
This could lead to the eventual political victory of a candidate in 2008 who promises to make a significant change in policies, protect the homeland "at home" and return the troops to home, allowing a return to the policies that allowed Islamists to spread largely unopposed and claim a victory over the US.
Right now, if all agencies are not looking for the possibility of a terrorist attacks in the next 30-90 days, before economic recovery gets in full swing, it would be a terrible failure in creative thinking or recognizing patterns of significant terrorist attacks on first world nations.
Considering the impact of Katrina on the oil infrastructure and ports which caused gasoline prices to soar and general short termed panic for several days in the populace after the anouncement of possible gasoline shortages and a request from the President to conserve gasoline AND the impact from the East Coast to the Midwest, I would be looking for security at ports with significant oil infrastructure to be dramatically increased.
Monday, September 12, 2005
Adam Gadahn: Riding on the Coat Tails of Killers
Is it just me or does Adam Gadahn's video look make him look like a cheap wannabe riding on the coat tails of killers? He reminds me of those kookie guys that always try to confess to some heinous crime so they can be "famous". The video looked like it was shot in front of a blue screen or merged to show some fake background and the guy himself looked like a kid playing make believe.
What's with him hiding his face? As if nobody has a picture of him without a turban or scarf across his face.
Also, his hand movements were extremely wimpy. Was that finger pointing supposed to make us afraid?
My honest opinion? Mr. Gadahn is a nobody who is acting out a fantasy, pretending to be somebody he isn't and making videos proclaiming attacks on specific cities because he wants to be something he isn't. A very dangerous game, to be sure, but a game none the less.
I particularly found this statement ironically amusing:
"Yesterday, London and Madrid. Tomorrow, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Allah willing. And this time, don't count on us demonstrating restraint and compassion," the man says during the 11-minute tape.
Restraint? Compassion? Laughable. Not only because the attacks against civilians have neither been restrained or compassionate, but because he is trying to intimate that their relative smallness compared to giant car bombs in Iraq and the attacks of 9/11 are because they are showing restraint as opposed to unable to do anything else in these restricted arenas with stronger security and control by the authorities.
My first reaction to his statement was: don't make me laugh you little pissant peacock.
Anybody else think that Adam and Johnny Walker's parents should have beat them more?
Terrorism For the Sake of Terrorism
In most discussions concerning our current day terrorism, much of the discussion concerns the political and ideological motivations. We also focus on the political and miltary weakness of such organizations as reasons to turn to terrorism in order to promote their causes. Terrorists understand their weaknesses and use their lone ability to cause mass civilian casualties in order to exploit the one tool that they have: information. Whether that is apparent in 24 hour news cycles, world wide web or simply the attention of an audience that seems unable to look away, like deer in the headlights.
One aspect that has not been fully explored is the concept that some, if not many, terrorists' personal motivations for perpetrating terrorist acts are not motivated by lofty ideas or causes, but by the acts themselves: terrorism for the sake of terrorism.
We have examples of this concept on the individual level. Serial killers and sexual predators have very similar motives for their pursuit of their idea of "pleasure". In fact, the study of serial killers and sexual predators in history may well lend to the ability to evaluate and predict certain actions on the part of terrorists. Serial killers and sexual predators always select the weakest to prey upon. This is usually because the predator personally feels weak, psychologically and sometimes physically. They choose the weak because they are the easiest to manipulate and control. They are the easiest to affect.
These predators derive a major portion of their pleasure from the fear they instill in their victims. The final act or killing is the penacle of the pleasure and power. Once that pleasure is gone, the predator usually begins seeking another victim until they are stopped.
Power is it's own drug and the power of instilling fear has long term resonating impact on both the victim and the perpetrator. The final power is the power of life and death over the victim. Some have reported feeling god-like in the control of the act.
For some terrorists, this is their motivation.
Historical discussions of the post Russian-Afghanistan war have pointed to the number of young Muslim men who basically "grew up" fighting and know no other way of life, returning to their homelands and finding that they no longer fit in or found an outlet. Thus, they returned to Afghanistan and Pakistan to rejoin these organizations and continue their activities.
There may be questions as to whether this kind of behavior is learned or already part of the perpetrators nature. Discussions concerning the effects of war in general on soldiers have brought up the myth that soldiers who have killed find it easier to kill again, particularly in civilian life. But, this myth has been debunked time and again. Largely because most militaries have "rules of engagement" that expressly define who the enemy is and whether action is taken as an immediate deffensive or offensive movement. In which case, this allows most combat seasoned warriors to identify and compartmentalize the act of killing, insuring that such actions are not considered part of "normal life" and that the soldier can return into society without seeking death and destruction as a common or acceptable act against non-combatants.
In terrorist organizations and individuals, the entire concept of terrorism works on the theory that no person is protected against military acts: regardless of sex, age, creed or identity, uniform or not, every person is a potential target. This substantially lowers the mental and moral barriers of the actors against killing. Further destruction of barriers may be directly related to absolution that the perpetrator feels is given by religion or some other justification.
In the end, these last motivations may only act as mitigation of morality. Once the barriers are down and there are no boundaries it is easier to expand the pool of eventual victims and turn them into objects that serve the individuals purpose. Serial killers and sexual predators also experience similar break down in normal cultural mores and objectivize the victims.
It is likely that a number of leaders in the current terrorist movement are similarly motivated.
Some give aways for this idea are the grievances or "causes" that the individuals or organizations state as their motivators for actions. Demands that are impossible to meet or not in control of the victims or their extorted governments allows the terrorist to continue to feel justified in their actions and acts as the trigger "permission" to act again and again while simultaneously garnering additional vicarious thrills from the helplessness of their victims and the attention their continued demands receive.
Some of these demands include the withdrawal of western countries from any interaction in the middle east and the complaint that western culture is degrading their own culture through the influence of music, movies, fashion, education and information. While it is possible for western forces to physically leave the area, in a global connected world, demands for the separation of cultures are impossible. Even in Afghanistan, no perfect utopia devoid of outside relations or influence could be achieved. Books, music and learning aides were smuggled into the country. NGOs operated, with some limitations, but surely with western personnel interacting with locals and psuedo-officials.
In which case, such demands for a withdrawal or rejection of western culture from these areas are impossible demands. Regardless of other demands that may seem to have a veneer of legitimacy (like issues of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict; or even forces leaving Saudi Arabia) this impossible demand for disengagement simply acts as the justification for continuing terrorist acts.
Similarly, the last goals for a caliphate or global conversion to Islam, demands that are impossible, not just due to western interests but because the individual states are bound to object if not their citizens, also acts as the last justification for continuing terrorist activities.
There are several ways to use this knowledge to combat terrorism.
The first is to deligitimize their claims. Do they speak for all the people they claim to speak for? Do their moral justifications meet the morality of those they claim to fight for?
Second, take away their followers. Similarly by working against their ideology, pointing out their fallacies. Part of this could be pointing out the fact that the three base demands are unattainable, not just militarily, but politically and objected to by the actual citizens.
Predictable patterns. Like serial killers and sexual predators, terrorists tend to follow certain patterns in selecting victims, preparing and perpetrating attacks. They operate in areas where they feel comfortable. Recent major terrorist attacks have focused on the intersecting of transportation, large crowds and impact on the financial health of the victimized countries.
There are other patterns to be found in their activities. Realizing the patterns will allow authorities to counter terrorist activities. It is also important for citizens of potential victim countries understand that terrorism, seemingly random and without counter, can be stopped. This will lend towards mitigation of fear which is not only a tool for terrorists in achieving their aims, but may very well be their sole purpose considering the probably psychological motivations of individual actors.
While it is difficult to stop a serial killer, it is not impossible. By countering or mitigating their motivation, or over confidence or by the simple need for the killer to achieve ever greater psychological thrills and satisfaction from their acts, they eventually make mistakes that lead to their capture or death. Part of the motivation is also the game; the need for the killer to feel superior to his (sometimes "her") pursuer which leads to taunting through letters, videos and other media.
Again, all of these activities are part of the killers over all psychological need and resemble quite closely the motivations and actions of terrorists. Ultimately, serial killers and sexual predators are imminently selfish and perform their acts for their own sake.
Without a doubt, terrorists will continue to perpetrate terrorism for the sake of terrorism.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
9/11 The Personal War
It's four years later. Four years that we are supposed to have healed and grown away from the multitude of feelings that we felt on 9/11. It's called the healing process.
In four years, through personal tragedies and triumphs, nothing has ever felt like that day nor the days since.
Some say that 9/11 changed everything, changed America. I don't know if that is true, but it did change me. Before that day, it was as if I was only me, though connected to family and friends, while claiming to be an American and thinking I knew what that meant, I really never understood.
In wasn't that I lost my innocence on that day, but that I lost my trust in a world I had imagined was changing. I had dreamed the impossible dream and it was shattered that day. Since then, I have found myself re-evaluating all the things I thought I knew or understood. I found the world was changing, but it wasn't in that fuzzy, ephemeral way, far away from me. It was up close and personal.
Every day since then has not made it farther away or easier to remember. I still cry on September 11. Maybe I'm not supposed to say that. Maybe that means I haven't "healed" or found "closure" whatever that means. Maybe that is strange for somebody to say when I knew no one who died.
Yet, I felt like I knew them. They were more than just faces or fellow citizens. They were me. They were the unfortunate ones to be in the buildings and planes that were targeted. I could have been them on a different day.
On most days, it's just a thought in the back of my mind, but on others I could play the whole day in my memory like a movie that never ends. Mostly, because it hasn't. We're still at war and unlike all the other small wars, this one was more than just an action by the country I live in. It was personal. Very personal.
On the day the war began, it was a beautiful September morning. I was wakened early by the bright sunlight coming through the drawn shades. It was so bright that I wanted to put a pillow over my head to block it out and go back to sleep. But a glance at the alarm clock told me that it was only a few moments before the alarm would go off so I decided to get up anyway. I had the house to myself. My parents were away on vacation. I'd been living with them while I tried to find a house.
So, I threw back the covers, automatically reaching for my fluffy green robe and walking to the bathroom. I was thinking how much I was going to enjoy hogging the hot water that morning and I did. Twenty minutes of hot water further enjoyed because I was early and could waste a few more minutes. Getting out of the shower, I wrapped the towel around my head, put on the robe and brushed my teeth. Putting the brush in my pocket, I walked into the living room, found the remote and flipped on the TV to CNN. I tossed the remote into the easy chair and walked to the kitchen without really looking at the TV. The sound was down low as I walked into the kitchen looking for a can of coke. My morning caffiene. I didn't really do coffee back in those days.
I walked back to the living room and placed the coke on the table by the easy chair. Sitting down, I pulled the towel from my head and began to rub my hair dry. It was then that the images on the TV caught my attention. It was just the towers, one with a gaping hole, smoke billowing. The other was still untouched.
First, I thought it was a movie. In a few seconds, I had taken in the words streaming across the bottom of the screen: small plane reported to have hit the trade center. What? I fumbled for the remote and turned up the sound. The reporter was saying that they were waiting for confirmation, but first reports indicated a small commuter plane and flown into the building.
Oh my God! What a tragic accident. Of course, when they said "small plane" and "commuter plane", I was thinking a small jet that could hold 20 or so passengers. From the view of the towers, it was hard to tell how big the hole was. I couldn't understand the scale of the damage compared to the building. The reporter kept talking, basically repeating what they had already said and continuing to say that they were waiting for additional confirmation. Shortly after, they switched to cameras at the roof of the building where CNN was housed and I believe that Aaron Brown was standing there with a view of the towers behind him on his left, but on the right of my television screen.
Several minutes had gone by. I don't know how many, but I heard someone gasp and say, "there's another plane" just as the plane flew out of the left side of the screen, angling towards the building and crashed into the backside of the building that was away from the camera.
"OH MY GOD!" Was shouting in my head, but I said nothing. I know that I was sitting there with a towel in my hands, staring at the TV, slack jawed and nearly uncomprehending for 30 seconds. It was as if the world had gone silent. I couldn't hear what the reporters were saying. There was nothing but a buzzing sound that slowly faded away until the thoughts in my head and the words of the reporter echoed each other: terrorist attack.
We've been attacked! Oh my God! We've been attacked! Shit! Shit! Shit! What the hell? What are we going to do?
I sat there and listened, waiting to hear the rest of the reports. Obviously, the first reports had been wrong. The second tower strike, I had seen the plane, but I still couldn't tell the size of the plane. I couldn't understand the size.
The reports continued to come. More attacks. Get the planes down. The firemen and police were on the ground. Another plane might be hi-jacked. The tower is coming down, smoke billows up and covers the people who were running. I felt my heart pounding as I watched them run. A plane flew into the Pentagon. I was feeling more and more shocked as the time went on, but I also felt something else: really deep anger. It was welling up inside. I wanted to call somebody. Do something.
But I couldn't. It was the most helpless feeling that I had ever experienced. I have to admit, since that day, I've felt that many times: wanting to do something, but unable to do anything and it's bothered me ever since.
I don't have to retell that day. Most people remember the second tower falling, the reports from the Pentagon and the recordings of the voices from flight 93 who knew already that they would die. It was only a matter of how and when. I stayed watching the news until close to noon time before I drove down to the office. I noticed the sky was still electric blue with very few contrails tracing the sky. Everyone at the office was listening to the radio or trudging into the conference room to catch a few moments of the news while others kept their computer screens turned to streaming news. I went home as soon as I could to watch the news some more so that I would know what we were going to do. I wanted to know that we were now safe. I kept thinking that more attacks would come.
But they didn't.
I suppose that day stays imprinted on my mind because it ran the gamut of all human emotions: happy, shocked, fear, anguished and angry with a multitude of levels and emotions between. It stays with me because that day represents an entire range of all human activity:
To build soaring towers standing against all elements using advanced mathmatics, technologies and materials showing the unrivaled power of the human mind and spirit.
To utterly destroy, as only man can do, without feeling or regard, without compassion or compunction.
Bravery beyond ken as men and women found the courage to go where angels feared to tread, saving others without care for their own safety, not knowing what was ahead, but knowing they had to go on. And those that knew, who saw the first tower fall and realized that they had to get the others out. Others who's faces they had never seen, yet were precious to them for simply being humans. The ones that knew the fate of the other planes, but fought back, calling in those last minutes to say good-bye or to calm their loved ones.
Depravity beyond comprehension as men who had just been sitting in the passenger area, knowing that men and women, old and young, small children and grandparents were on board, having seen those people's faces, held them worthless along with the thousands of other lives, unknown and unseen, that they intended to end that day.
Grace as calls from the towers told loved ones good-bye or not to worry. Grace that overcomes men and women, knowing that they will die and deciding at the end that this last thing they can control, these last moments, as they jumped clear of the buildings, like silent gliding birds.
The roar of crashing steel and glass.
The deafening silence after.
The blue of a morning sky.
The grey dust and smoke of destruction.
The fear of pedestrians running before the cloud.
The compassion of strangers dragging people to safety, offering their arms for strength and their shirts as kerchiefs or tourniquets.
The joy of being alive.
The despair knowing friends and loved ones were gone.
Hope and anguish.
Once I was a simple citizen who knew nothing but the pleasure of living here, in a country, formed on an idea that I enjoyed yet barely understood. Then I finally understood "community" and "citizenship". I saw it defined on that day along with honor, duty and sacrifice. I've come to understand freedom and I finally understood tyranny.
I was no longer separate, but part of a whole and that whole had been attacked; wounded deeply and without remorse.
It was on that day that it became personal. Unknown by name and face to me, the dead and the survivors became my family. I finally saw their names and faces as thousands came into the streets with pictures and names, holding them up to the camera. I heard their stories in the days after.
We were united by more than tragedy. We were citizens. We were free. We were still here. We were still strong.
Several days later, as I walked with my nephews into a store in a strip mall, we noticed that one of the shops had been burned out. One nephew holding my hand tugged on it and asked me if a plane had flown into that building too and would we be safe when we went in. So I understood that tragedy and fear knew no age and it was now my job, not just to comfort them, but to protect them from all danger and fear.
Now every day, since that day, we have been at war. It will be the longest war in my lifetime; possibly the longest war known by our country. Every day I have never doubted the purpose of this war nor the outcome, though I have cried for the losses of more brave men and women, for those children who will not know their mother or father again except in pictures and stories. Since that day, the song "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes always evokes tears and remembrance of flagged draped coffins born by men in blue uniforms and white hats. The summer song of the crickets always reminds me of the sad sound of fireman's alarms echoing from the dusty silent streets.
Continuing this war, whether Afghanistan or Iraq, is not about those sacrifices. Though some have said that to pull back now would be to make their deaths in vain. They were not in vain and never will be. But this war is not about today or even the yesterday of a cloudless September morn. This is about tomorrow and the day after and the day after that. This is about the future that we choose to live in; the future that we will make.
This is about a Saturday after a terrible Tuesday, when two small boys asked me if they were safe and I promised them that they were and would be.
At the end of that terrible day, we were still standing. We unfurled the flags, lit our candles and sang songs of faith and devotion. And, burning hotter than those flames was anger, rage and righteous vengeance. Justice some call it; revenge say others. What ever it is, for some of us, a burning ember was placed in our hearts; an eternal flame that reminds us what we are and why we keep going.
It became personal.
That burning flame strengthens us when we despair, warms us in the cold night, lights the way when we feel lost and continues to forge the steel of our will. Like the phoenix, we rose from the ashes, born again to the call of an idea that had once languished behind a wall of complacency.
Now that wall is broken like the once impenetrable iron curtain, that which separated us is gone and we are inexplicably bound together, not just here within the shores of a free nation, but with events thousands of miles away where each triumph of freedom breaks away another stone in the wall allowing the fire in our hearts to burn more brightly and shine the light of the torch of liberty in every dark corner.
The fire in the minds of men was started by the flame of rememberance in our hearts.
We will never forget.
Previous 9/11 posts:
Epiphany
Changing Me
Blue Skies
Remembrance
First flight after 9/11
Why we Fight
Rudyard Kipling: Justice
Friday, September 09, 2005
Killing Bureaucracy
Do we need another committee or commission to figure out what went wrong with Hurricane Katrina Relief or is it just another time, money and resource wasting project that can be resolved by each area concentrating on their own area of expertise and responsibility?
The answer is, “Hell no!”.
The failures run the gamut from individuals to leaders, from citizens to city to state to federal, from bureaucracy to actual law, which means that efforts must be made across the board, from the lowest to the highest to evaluate and make changes to the level of responsibility, planning, communications, organization, leadership and law.
What’s likely is that, instead of streamlining any of this, government involvement will simply create more bureaucracy, more law, red tape, more of the same that we have already received. To simply point to individuals, decide that they should take the fall and fire them, would not solve the problem either.
No defense for anyone here, but it would be OVER simplifying the solution and would let people breath a sigh a relief, go back to what they were doing, once again paying little or no attention to the problems at hand. The same will happen once a committee or commission gets its hands on the issue. Just like 9/11, the citizens of this country watched congress and the White House go through contortions and act as if they were deciding how many bedrooms and separate baths they should build in their new home on the Riviera of Federal Boondogles at the tax payers expense.
As usual, the citizens of the country were complacent and relieved that SOMEBODY ELSE was looking into and taking care of it. We turned back to our television, our magazines, our movies, our Play Stations, the concerns of making dinner and deciding which bill to pay this week while the “remodelers” told us they were fixing the house, putting in new plumbing, a security system with a direct line to police and fire departments, bullet proof glass, electronic fence, steel doors, iron bars, fire proof insulation and roofing, five rotteweilers, a panic room and they’d throw in an armored humvee or two for transportation.
While we were not overseeing the remodeling efforts, the contractors brought in cheap labor to stand around and pick their noses, drink your beer (or wine depending), steal your grandmother’s silver, jack your car, sell your own dog to a chemical testing lab, while the contractors (senators, representatives, governors, city council members) use most of your payment and your credit account at the local hardware store to remodel their own homes and buy some nifty laser guided levels and saws (with their own titanium cases and the equipment rarely leaves the cases) before finally instructing the cheap labor to paint the walls, repair the holes (that they put there) and move the furniture.
Don’t forget to tie tin cans to the door handles for a security alarm and put the ceramic dog by the door.
Finally, they hand you the bill with an explanation that they had greatly underestimated the cost of the security remodeling, it’s now twenty times more than the initial projections, and the invoice has four line times:
Labor -$3,345,219,256.13
White Paint - $8756.99
Miscellaneous - $61,789,563,242.27
The look on your face when you actually do have an emergency: priceless
Your service contract has a large print single line, “On Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to handle all problems with installed products and threats to the safety of you and your home.” Under that in extremely small print:
Except on weekends, federal holidays, weekdays between the hours of 5:01pm and 8:29 AM. On call repair and response services are included after purchasing the six year service contract and paying an additional $5 billion per year service fee. All repairs and updates to installed systems will be at the owner’s expense. Contractor may send you arbitrary charges for goods and services bought for the contractor’s home, family, friends, or unrelated projects at any location serviced by the contractor. Failure to pay these charges will result in your tin cans…er…security system being uninstalled at an additional cost to you that will be specified at the time of removal. Contractor is not libel for death or injury caused by failure of security systems to be present, to properly function or for the lack of response from any of the contractor’s representatives, sub-contractors or designated scapegoat. In the event of an actual emergency, dial 911. If 911 places you on hold or is unavailable to respond, hang up and dial 1-800-RED-CROSS.
The contractor will not even lift a pen to take down your name without first consulting a panel of lawyers to insure there is no legal risk to the contractor or other designated representative. Scapegoats may be sued or lambasted at your leisure. Legal services will be billed to the customer at an amount to be specified later. Prior to any assistance being provided, the customer will also complete 9 million forms in triplicate regarding customer information, assessment of needs, specific list of requirements and requested assistance, with a three million word essay on why you deserve any assistance at all. The customer will need to attach a copy of this service agreement with each of the completed forms. The customer will be responsible for all administrative costs for submitting this document including $50.00/document not including labor and other unspecified charges.
Contractor reserves the right to addend this service agreement without notice input from the customer. Any attempt to provide your own security will be considered a breach of contract and will be subject to harsh penalties.
If you have any questions, don’t call us, we’ll be on vacation.
Thank you and have a nice day.
You want something to get done? Let the citizens get it done. Yes, the citizens. Get a group of private citizens with backgrounds in customer service, management, engineering, communication technologies, a couple of efficiency experts, several recent victims of disasters and incompetence , one logistics rep from the military, one red cross volunteer, one lawyer and Donald Trump.
I bet you we could fix this problem much faster, easier and get results.
Something we won’t be seeing out of a blue ribbon panel or congressional committee.
Inspired by Michelle Malkin’s Not Another Damn Commission.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Kansas City Reporter Broadcasts From New Orleans in the Heart of the Storm
Earlier in the day Verbeck had watched as Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard broadcast a plea for drinking water.
“Broussard said that at one point on Wednesday, a FEMA man had finally shown up” — two days after the levee break — “spent 15 minutes with him and said everything was going to be fine and that a field representative would be back to take over. And by Thursday that FEMA field rep had never shown.”
Verbeck learned that a Wal-Mart truck carrying water had been stopped and refused entry into the area by FEMA. A FEMA official told Broussard that “bottled water had arrived at Baton Rouge, which was an hour north, at 2 o’clock in the morning. It was noon and there was no water. It was a shambles. Poorly planned.”
Verbeck called Heart to Heart International in Olathe and asked if it could ship water down there pronto. And when the relief organization said yes, Verbeck decided not to broadcast the news, “in case some petty bureaucrat was listening” who might put a stop to the aid.
There were the terrible calls from residents trapped in their homes. One caller, whom he put on the air at 3 or 4 a.m. one night, still haunts him.
“A woman with a lot of dignity called in. She gave her address … east of the canal and north of the Superdome.
“She said, ‘I’m in my house and I’m up to my chest in water.’
“ ‘Are you alone?’
“ ‘No, I have three babies.’
“She said, ‘Can you save our lives? Can you save our lives?’ … There was nothing we could do to save her life, but she asked us anyway, with dignity.”
Read the rest here.
-Kansas City Star
Hurricane Katrina: Race Baiting and the Only Colors That Matter
I don't know where to begin. Of all the claims being made about the rescue efforts, racism must be the least logical or reasonable.
As I watched the news this evening, O'Reilly had a clip of Al Sharpton from the Tonight Show defending Kanye West's statements about President Bush hating black people and ordering law enforcement officers to "shoot black people". I'll come back to that in a moment. First, I want to address Al Sharpton's comment.
I believe that I am quoting him when he said that Kanye West was "defending his people."
The first thing I thought was, had a whiteman been on television and said that another whiteman's comment regarding "defending his people", he'd have been called a racist for separating "his" people from the rest of the population and clearly been referring to the white race.
So, "his" people are black. Not white, not Vietnamese, not Korean, not Hispanic, not American Citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana: black.
But, Al's not racist because black people can't be racist and, as long as your black you can say "my people", obviously refer to their color and race, and no one is supposed to call you on it.
I do. I do because, as I watched the news coverage, I never thought about anyone's color because I could clearly see that there were white, black, Asian and Hispanic at the Superdome and Convention Center. Some of the last people to leave the convention center were Asian members of a local Christian Church who insisted that others go first because they were in better shape than the others.
I found West's remarks particularly ignorant since it was the governor of Louisiana AND the BLACK mayor of New Orleans who gave orders for the POLICE to use force if necessary. I don't remember their exact words. The governor said that the national guard was coming and they were "locked and loaded". The mayor, he might have used stronger words about shooting looters.
In either case, the President never said those words at all, never talked about using force and certainly never could because he was not in charge of the police or the national guard. The state governor and the mayor are in charge of these entities. And, the active military has no role in the law enforcement, cannot due to the law of the land and so could not and would not give such an order.
It was just Kanye West and, subsequently Al Sharpton, talking about things they know nothing about.
Not egregious enough, we have many others making equally foolish statements about the delay to provide assistance to the folks stranded in New Orleans, specifically the Super Dome and Convention Center was race based since so many of those needing evaucation were black. Howard Dean apologists are now trying to claim his statement was a general commentary about who was stranded and not adding on to the race baiting.
That is some of the weakest defenses I've heard to date. Let's not even get into Dean's presidential run or the fact that he is the head of the DNC and knows the's been losing minority voters over issues of conservative living matching their politics; as if Dean wouldn't take this opportunity to rub it into the President and try to get back minority voters.
There were many things that delayed the evacuation:
1) Hurricane
2) Bad preparation and execution of the dissaster plan including evacuation at the local level
3) People refused to or were unable to evacuate on their own
4) Levee broke and put up to 20ft of water surging into streets, homes and businesses, killing hundreds if not thousands in minutes with several more hundreds dying as they tried to swim out, float out or simply escape to their roofs and attics.
5) The Hurricane and surging water from the levee break destroyed roads and bridges, deposited cars, buses, diesels, trees, homes, boats, electrical lines and various other debris on the same roads and bridges blocking direct rescue and relief vehicles.
6) The number of people needing assistance required extensive staging and coordination to provide food, water and method of evacuation.
7) Local, state and national resources were either destroyed or unavailable within the immediate vicinity
8) Bureaucracy kills. Literally in this case.
Now the story comes out that STATE officials prevented relief from going to the Convention Center because they thought it would convince people to evacuate voluntarily under their own steam.
The fact that 68% of New Orleans was black or other minority might be a good reason why a majority of the people that were unable to evacuate were black. Not because they were racially inferior or because of racial bias, but because, statistically, that IS the majority of New Orleans.
Juxtapose this with the limited news reported from the main point of contact for the hurricane in Mississippi where a majority of the affected people are white who haven't even seen the Red Cross, much less FEMA or other rescue and relief efforts.
Maybe they aren't getting attention because they are white?
Probably not. The fact is, the largest humanitarian crisis was in New Orleans. It had the most compressed and largest population of the area. It happens that 68% of the population was black.
Strangely, color apparently has no impact on charity or kindness. It can't change the path of a hurricane nor stop a levee from breaking. It didn't make any of the officials smarter, faster or more caring. It doesn't clear the roads, organize food, keep a helicopter, boat or plane from rescuing people. It didn't make a soldier pull back his hands or pass by a house.
The only colors that matter are red, white and blue. The colors of the flag that stands for ALL the people, created equal, without regard to their race, color or creed. Colors that neither a hurricane nor levee can tell the difference in nor make a rational decision about who it will effect more than others since it has no brain to reason with nor eyes to see.
Of course, that is probably true for most of the folks making these statements.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
The Jack Boot Fascist That Wasn't
The President has been being lambasted for several years now as a jack booted fascist who, along with his henchman, John Ashcroft, has been stealthily trying to steal our rights through such acts as the PATRIOT ACT and using the terrorism threat level to scare people, convince them to go to war and doing any number of other "fascist" type behavior contrary to our constitution, laws and democratic state.
The irony is, those very same people who have been declaring this for the last five years are the same ones that have been lambasting the President for not doing just that in Louisiana: tossing aside the laws and the government of the state, rushing in with federal agencies, officers and troops, and taking over the operation without request or authorization.
Something that is against the law, could result in imprisonment and a fine, would have truly set a new precedent for declaring "federal emergencies" and created a low standard under which the federal government could consolidate its powers over the states and its citizens.
Yes, the irony is mind boggling. The Jack Boot Fascist wasn't a Jack Boot Fascist after all and now they are lambasting him for not acting like a Jack Boot Fascist.
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Even we jack booted fascists have a heart so don't forget to donate. Click on the Red Cross Icon on the left sidebar and give a little love.
Wonder What Kansas City's Emergency Plan Is?
We're going to find out together.
Starting with, on the Kansas City, Missouri official website we have the Office of Emergency Management which has no link to the actual plan.
They do list a number of projects that they are undertaking to create or upgrade certain systems. They also have a link to a number of sites including the Mid-America Regional Council, Metropolitan Emergency Management Committee.
The Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee serves as a forum for local emergency managers to discuss and resolve regional issues, problems, projects and activities related to all-hazards emergency management. The MEMC's mission is to foster coordination, communication and cooperation among local emergency management and allied organizations through the development of policies, procedures, educational programs and resource materials related to all-hazards emergency management.
Stick with me the next few days while I look for the emergency management plan (or whatever they are calling it) and review it with my fellow Kansas Citians and all other interested parties.
Update: sent an email to D A Christiansen, Director of the Office of Emergency Management to ask where the plan could be found and it bounced back to me without a note why except: failure
Hurricane Katrina: Tyranny and the Rule of Law
I kept trying to focus on the rescue efforts and what it meant to us that did not suffer, what lessons we should learn as people, but I see and hear things that are, while understandable, simply beyond reason and logic. I have seen many a poster from the right and the left denouncing the President for not acting sooner to establish federal control, placing men and materials in the state of Louisiana sooner, assisting in the rescue effort earlier and helping to maintain law and order with the use of military forces in the city of New Orleans.
From an historical view point and the Rule of Law, this must be one of the most ironic demands of those who insist that this action should have been taken above and beyond the request of the governor of the state of Louisiana or should have been able to be implaced and ready to go on the land that is the state of Louisiana so to be used as soon as the governor decided that they would be used without first expressly obtaining a writ from the governor. A state in the United States, whose rights are protected by the constitution, whose responsibilities are spelled out as those not expressly given to the federal, centralized government of the United States and where numerous laws enacted thereafter, continue to protect the rights AND the obligations of the state above that of the federal government, even in particular the President of the United States.
The disaster in New Orleans certainly can be blamed on a number of sources: Mother Nature; the levees; the US Army Corp of Engineers; the individual citizens that did not evacuate or were not prepared; the city for not preparing or not identifying the 0.5% risk of a category 5 hurricane (regardless of self congratulatory statements of "I told you so"); the levee not being built to that specification; the governor for not calling an emergency situation sooner and handing it to the federal organizations; the federal organizations for not having a plan big enough to handle the number of evacuees; the department of homeland security for not having FEMA prepared for this size of a disaster despite many discussions of the size and scope of a terrorist event; the problems of logistics for such movement of people and supplies; the struggle to define leadership and roles within the disaster management; but there are some things that you cannot blame on the President though some have tried.
We live under the Rule of Law. This law exists based on two intangible contracts and one tangible contract. The rule of law exists based on the thin veneer of civilization which we call the "social contract" wherein the people that live together in this country have reasonable expectation not to be harmed by any other citizen of this country. Those that break this social contract are subject to the physical and tangible contract of the laws of the land, embodied in the constitution and amendments, codified in detail at the federal, state, county, city and town level which spells out exactly what that law is and the punishments for breaking them. However, without the social contract, the physical, tangible laws mean nothing.
In the United States of America, we have an intangible contract between the citizens of the United States and the government which we elect. This invisible and intangible contract says that we can reasonably expect to live within the United States and not have the government control our every movement our every thought; that this government is subject to the whims and rule of its people and not the strong arm of a central organization with a military at its beck and call. In turn, the government can expect that we the people will not start an insurrection and overthrow a government by the people, of the people and for the people. This intangible contract is written large, physical and tangible by the constitution, the amendments and all codified federal laws.
The tangible contract we exist by is the Constitution of the United States, which on purpose, to insure that the people could not fall to the tyranny of the state (ie, the United States), limits the ability of the government of the United States from: acting against its citizens except in extremely limited circumstances; usurping the power of the local government; abrogating the rights and responsibilities of individual states within the United States.
All this is to ensure that we do not fall prey to the creation of a police state and the tyranny that would result.
Despite the calls of many for the President to have ignored the laws of the land, to set a precedent with far reaching implications, by calling a national emergency, declaring martial law; wresting power from the local government, abrogating its rights and responsibilities and place the federal, professional military, under the command of the DoD in control of Louisiana to restore public order and control the rescue and relief efforts, there is a matter of the Rule of Law and a matter which is near and dear to many hearts that, while cold comfort to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and those that stood by watching, even takes precedence over our feelings that someone should "do something". Mainly, the President and Federal Government.
There are ironies within these demands that cannot go unanswered. The irony that many already believe that the government has taken on too many powers already, interfering with our individual rights and moving forward as a fascistic police state. These charges are heard from both the right and the left. Yet, in this moment of emergency, those charges are thrown aside for demands that the Federal Government become just that by ignoring the law and the rights and responsibilities of the state, tossing them aside in favor of the command, control and order provided by an active military.
There is the irony that one of the very laws that protects us from the abuse of the government through its aparatus of a standing military was created in the reconstruction period, just after the Civil War, pushed for by the southern states who had suffered what they felt was the tyranny of a military occupation and administration of the surrendered states. Most particularly, the state of Louisiana and more specifically, the City of New Orleans.
Aside from the Constitution and its amendments which spells out the limited role of the government and allocates ALL OTHER rights and responsibilities to the state, there are two specific laws that spell out the role of the federal government in a disaster situation and the use of military forces within the United States, both of which played a role in how the government reaction to Hurricane Katrina and the relief of New Orleans was enacted.
Posse Comitatus
Posse Comitatus Act 1878
Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.
The President cannot use the military to enforce civil law except in certain limited circumstances:
§ 331. Federal aid for State governments
Release date: 2004-03-18
Whenever there is an insurrections in any State against its government, the President may, upon the request of its legislature or of its governor if the legislature cannot be convened, call into Federal service such of the militia of the other States, in the number requested by that State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to suppress the insurrection.
Was there an insurrection in New Orleans? Or, was it a case of criminal behavior in the wake of a natural disaster? Could the limited cases of criminal activity, including looting, assaults and even shootings, be classified as "insurrection against the its government"? Even if it there was such an "insurrection", who had the responsibility of requesting militia, designating their number? The governor. At what point did the governor of Louisiana declare an insurrection and request government troops to deploy to quail such an "insurrection" and re-establish law and order in the disaster of New Orleans?
That would be "never". That request never came. Should the President have disregarded the law and lack of request by the governor, sending troops anyway? Did he have other legal roads under which the troops could be deployed? The answer is yes, but still with restrictions. What "armed forces" could he call by this law? The answer is the National Guard. He could make use of other states' National Guard, but this law does not expressly permit regular armed forces from participating. (see posse comitatus)
When the request came for assistance, was that assistance expressly for the purpose of supressing civil unrest? No.
§ 332. Use of militia and armed forces to enforce Federal authority
Release date: 2004-03-18
Whenever the President considers that unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion against the authority of the United States, make it impracticable to enforce the laws of the United States in any State or Territory by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, he may call into Federal service such of the militia of any State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to enforce those laws or to suppress the rebellion.
Was New Orleans in rebellion? Were the shooters and looters in "unlawful obstruction" of the laws and authority of the United States?
MILITARY SUPPORT FOR CIVILIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
§ 371. Use of information collected during military operations
§ 372. Use of military equipment and facilities
§ 373. Training and advising civilian law enforcement officials
§ 374. Maintenance and operation of equipment
§ 375. Restriction on direct participation by military personnelThe Secretary of Defense shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that any activity (including the provision of any equipment or facility or the assignment or detail of any personnel) under this chapter does not include or permit direct participation by a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps in a search, seizure, arrest, or other similar activity unless participation in such activity by such member is otherwise authorized by law.
§ 376. Support not to affect adversely military preparedness
§ 377. Reimbursement
§ 377. Reimbursement
Release date: 2004-03-18
(a) To the extent otherwise required by section 1535 of title 31 (popularly known as the “Economy Act”) or other applicable law, the Secretary of Defense shall require a civilian law enforcement agency to which support is provided under this chapter to reimburse the Department of Defense for that support.
(b) An agency to which support is provided under this chapter is not required to reimburse the Department of Defense for such support if such support—
(1) is provided in the normal course of military training or operations; or
(2) results in a benefit to the element of the Department of Defense providing the support that is substantially equivalent to that which would otherwise be obtained from military operations or training.
§ 378. Nonpreemption of other lawRelease date: 2004-03-18
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the executive branch in the use of military personnel or equipment for civilian law enforcement purposes beyond that provided by law before December 1, 1981.
That law that exists before 1981 was the Posse Comitatus Act which required express laws from the constitution or an act of congress. Did anyone hear the Congress of the US expressly authorize the use of military force in New Orleans?
§ 379. Assignment of Coast Guard personnel to naval vessels for law enforcement purposes
§ 380. Enhancement of cooperation with civilian law enforcement officials
§ 381. Procurement by State and local governments of law enforcement equipment suitable for counter-drug activities through the Department of Defense
§ 382. Emergency situations involving chemical or biological weapons of mass destruction
In short, the President can only declare a national state of emergency and place active duty military on duty within any state of the United States in times of war, in times of insurrection and rebellion against the United States' laws and authority. Only National Guard elements can act within a state, under the aegis of the state's governor in times of emergency, such as natural disasters, and this action can only be to "augment the civilian forces" and must act with the same restraint and under the same laws as the civilian law enforcement agencies.
Other states' National Guard units may be called to assist, but only after an appropriate agreement between the affected state and the the governors of the assisting states, an inter-state compact, is signed and agreed upon, putting these forces under the control of the governor of the affected state.
Not the President. Not the DoD.
The purpose of this limitation is to insure that every President and government of the United States is significantly limited on what they can call a national state of emergency and then deploy active troops to quail. Even in the face of the disaster in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in general, had the President declared a state of emergency and deployed active military troops, he would have set an irrevocably low threshold, providing a precedent for future Presidents to declare national emergencies and use the force of the military, legally, to enforce the rule of the President, the central government and any laws enacted, above and beyond the law, rights and responsibilities of the state, up to and including deposing the governor of the state and installing a new one.
That is why it is the state which retains responsibility in the face of disasters and the state which calls for the National Guard and the state which controls the National Guard.
When the governor declared a state of emergency due to the natural catastrophe of the hurricane, she could solicit assistance from the federal government under the following act:
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
This is the law under which FEMA exists, under which it operates and under which assistance is given, including a clause that limits the time under which the milititary can be active in the state providing assistance and what sort of assistance it is limited to.
The most significant words in this act is the words the state and give assistance and coordinate, leaving it in no doubt that it is the state that is responsible for creating disaster plans, soliciting assistance and managing emergencies.
5121. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS {Sec. 101}
a. The Congress hereby finds and declares that--
1) because disasters often cause loss of life, human suffering, loss of income, and property loss and damage;
2) and because disasters often disrupt the normal functioning of governments and communities, and adversely affect individuals and families with great severity;
- special measures, designed to assist the efforts of the affected States in expediting the rendering of aid, assistance, and emergency services, and the reconstruction and rehabilitation of devastated areas, are necessary.
b. It is the intent of the Congress, by this Act, to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance by the Federal Government to State and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage which result from such disasters by--
1) revising and broadening the scope of existing disaster relief programs;
2) encouraging the development of comprehensive disaster preparedness and assistance plans, programs, capabilities, and organizations by the States and by local governments;
3) achieving greater coordination and responsiveness of disaster preparedness and relief programs;
4) encouraging individuals, States, and local governments to protect themselves by obtaining insurance coverage to supplement or replace governmental assistance;
5) encouraging hazard mitigation measures to reduce losses from disasters, including development of land use and construction regulations; and
6) providing Federal assistance programs for both public and private losses sustained in disasters [.]
Who is responsible for creating,implementing and directing disaster preparedness and assistance? States and local governments.
Who is responsible for assisting and coordinating with the state? Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Why is it that the state is responsible for planning and managing disaster relief? Because the constitution protects the state against arbitrary abrogation of their power by the federal government, even in a natural disaster emergency, therefore, it is the state's responsibility to care for its citizens.
TITLE II--DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND MITIGATION ASSISTANCE
§ 5131. FEDERAL AND STATE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS {Sec. 201}
b. Technical assistance for the development of plans and programs
The President shall provide technical assistance to the States in developing comprehensive plans and practicable programs for preparation against disasters, including hazard reduction, avoidance, and mitigation; for assistance to individuals, businesses, and State and local governments following such disasters; and for recovery of damages or destroyed public and private facilities.
Did the city of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana have a disaster preparedness plan? Who was responsible for creating it? Who was responsible for providing "technical assistance" in the creation of this plan? Who is the representative of the President that is delegated the duty of assisting in this preparation? Who is responsible for ensuring that state agencies carry out this plan?
5132. DISASTER WARNINGS {Sec. 202}
a. Readiness of Federal agencies to issue warnings to state and local officials
The President shall insure that all appropriate Federal agencies are prepared to issue warnings of disasters to State and local officials.
b. Technical assistance to State and local governments for effective warnings
The President shall direct appropriate Federal agencies to provide technical assistance to State and local governments to insure that timely and effective disaster warning is provided. [snip]
Who is responsible for issuing a disaster warning to the state and local officials? Who is responsible for providing warning to the citizens of the state or the community? Who called the governor of the State of Louisiana to ask her to order an evacuation?
You may want to read the details about who is responsible for mitigation of hazards and how the funds are allocated noted in this act.
SUBCHAPTER III--MAJOR DISASTER AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION
§ 5141. WAIVER OF ADMINISTRATIVE CONDITIONS {Sec. 301}
Any Federal agency charged with the administration of a Federal assistance program may, if so requested by the applicant State or local authorities, modify or waive, for a major disaster, such administrative conditions for assistance as would otherwise prevent the giving of assistance under such programs if the inability to meet such conditions is a result of the major disaster.
The state remains in charge of the disaster relief and rescue efforts until they request, modify or waive, such authority "if the inability to meet such conditions is a result of the major disaster."
When did the governor of Louisiana "modify or waive,...such administrative conditions"? Under what conditions was this waived? Who came down to talk to the governor personally to get this condition waived? Why was the governor resistant to waiving this condition?
5148. NONLIABILITY OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT {Sec. 305}
The Federal Government shall not be liable for any claim based upon the exercise or performance of or the failure to exercise or perform a discretionary function or duty on the part of a Federal agency or an employee of the Federal Government in carrying out the provisions of this Act.[snip]
5170. PROCEDURE FOR DECLARATION {Sec. 401}
All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists ,strong>shall be made by the Governor of the affected State. Such a request shall be based on a finding that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments and that Federal assistance is necessary. As part of such request, and as a prerequisite to major disaster assistance under this Act, the Governor shall take appropriate response action under State law and direct execution of the State's emergency plan. The Governor shall furnish information on the nature and amount of State and local resources which have been or will be committed to alleviating the results of the disaster, and shall certify that, for the current disaster, State and local government obligations and expenditures (of which State commitments must be a significant proportion) will comply with all applicable cost-sharing requirements of this Act. Based on the request of a Governor under this section, the President may declare under this Act that a major disaster or emergency exists.
5170b. ESSENTIAL ASSISTANCE {Sec. 403}
[snip]c. Utilization of DOD resources
General rule
During the immediate aftermath of an incident which may ultimately qualify for assistance under this title or title V of this Act [42 U.S.C. §§ 5170 et seq. or 5191 et seq.], the Governor of the State in which such incident occurred may request the President to direct the Secretary of Defense to utilize the resources of the Department of Defense for the purpose of performing on public and private lands any emergency work which is made necessary by such incident and which is essential for the preservation of life and property. If the President determines that such work is essential for the preservation of life and property, the President shall grant such request to the extent the President determines practicable. Such emergency work may only be carried out for a period not to exceed 10 days.
The limit to the use of these forces under the DoD is a nod to the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, to insure that the military is not used unnecessarily to abrogate or usurp the power of the Governor of a state or the state legislature.
4) Federal share
The Federal share of assistance under this subsection shall be not less than 75 percent.
It will only exceed 75%, up to 90% if the community is designated as a "small community" - 3000 or less.
SUBCHAPTER IV-A--EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
§ 5191. PROCEDURE FOR DECLARATION {Sec. 501}
a. Request and declaration
All requests for a declaration by the President that an emergency exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State. Such a request shall be based on a finding that the situation is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments and that Federal assistance is necessary. As a part of such request, and as a prerequisite to emergency assistance under this Act, the Governor shall take appropriate action under State law and direct execution of the State's emergency plan. The Governor shall furnish information describing the State and local efforts and resources which have been or will be used to alleviate the emergency, and will define the type and extent of Federal aid required. Based upon such Governor's request, the President may declare that an emergency exists.
b. Certain emergencies involving Federal primary responsibility
The President may exercise any authority vested in him by section 502 or section 503 [42 U.S.C. § 5192 or § 5193] with respect to an emergency when he determines that an emergency exists for which the primary responsibility for response rests with the United States because the emergency involves a subject area for which, under the Constitution or laws of the United States, the United States exercises exclusive or preeminent responsibility and authority. In determining whether or not such an emergency exists, the President shall consult the Governor of any affected State, if practicable. The President's determination may be made without regard to subsection (a).
The purpose of these laws are to protect the states and citizens from the power of the federal government. These laws create a bueacracy and bueacratic process that is slow in response, not only by the sheer amount of services that must be coordinated and delivered, but for the very reason it was built, to insure that proper process is followed and no government can over step its boundaries without time to respond.
It is to avoid Tyranny of the Federal Government.
In a recent news interview, Mayor Nagin of New Orleans discussed briefly the meeting of the President and Governor Blanco on Thursday, September 1. He indicated that the President gave Governor Blanco two options. He did not detail these options. Based on the Robert T Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, these two options were:
1) Waive or modify her authority, handing it to the Federal Emergency Management Agency
2) The President would declare a state of emergency without her consent and the federal government would take control of the rescue and relief effort.
The governor of Louisiana asked for 24 hours to make this decision.
Read this time line.
From the perspective of many unknowledgable commentaters on this subject, they expected the President to throw out the law of the land, abrogate states rights and the governors powers and take over the situation.
The only way to resolve this situation and not compromise the laws that protect this country from a future of tyranny is to modify state emergency plans to:
Monday, September 05, 2005
Hiedi At the Astrodome: Unrest and Crime
Conditions at the Superdome are beginning to replicate themselves in the Astrodome. A few examples:
One of the active duty sergeants working for Heidi walked into the bathroom to see someone openly shooting heroin. On another occasion, he witnessed two males in the restroom defecating in the urinals - even though the stalls were open and functional.
Upon seeing that the sickest veterans had pillows, a young man walked up to the elderly vet helping out at the command post and menacingly asked if he was using all the pillows. When the vet tried to explain to him that the pillows were for disabled veterans, the man leaned down closer. “That’s not what I asked you. I asked you if you were using them all. Right now. This minute.” Heidi was quick to jump in, telling the would-be thug that the pillows were purchased with private donations (that’s YOU guys!), for the disabled vets. The man didn’t have the courage to face down Heidi - apparently terrorizing old men is more his style - and so he slunk away while Heidi shouted after him, “Why don’t you join the Army and get a life?”
Read the rest here
A Thought....
...from Curmudgeon at Tonecluster:
As the blame game heats up and the Mayor of New Orleans screams that Washington "does not have a clue about what is happening down here" [as if they do not watch TV or hear briefing reports] let us observe the one institution that never fails to respond. The US Military.
While held in general distaste by elements of the left and the academies that refuse to allow recruiters on campuses, the first call by both is to the US military for help, for protection, for rescue. And if the chaos goes too far, be assured that somebody in uniform will see the opportunity to run the show. History says so.
No comment.
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Lessons Learned: Emergency Preparedness and Your Medicine
As the tragedy of New Orleans continues to unfold in front of us, I keep thinking about it from the perspective of the medical field and what could have been done to prevent some of the deaths that occured. Deaths that were, in all likelihood, unnecessary.
I'm not talking about unnecessary in regards to the actual rescue efforts, but in regards to how many individuals did not have an emergency medication supply ready to go when they needed to evacuate. Actually, a kit that should have been ready and in their hands or carrying bags the minute the Hurricane warning came, not to mention when the order to evacuate was issued. This includes oxygen patients who were without oxygen and had no evacuation plan. How many diabetics went into diabetic shock without their medication or because their medication was unrefrigerated for so long?
It's a tragedy that is both the responsibility of individual citizens and the medical profession that more (though probably not all) of these individuals could have survived if appropriate emergency preparations had been made regarding medication, supplies and oxygen tanks.
As I noted in my previous post, patients being cared for by home health agencies (including nursing and medical equipment) are generally given either a sheet or pamphlet that instructs them on appropriate emergency preparations, evacuation and what the home health agency will do in case of an emergency. This often includes instructions to listen to a specific radio station (AM) for further instructions or numbers to call (this obviously would have failed in NO due to the disaster of the infrastructure, but there is usually back up). These agencies also usually keep an emergency list with one or more people who take it home so that they can inform emergency personnel about their patients that might need immediate rescue and to try to contact that patient as soon as communications allow.
The patients that don't get this kind of instructions are "outpatients" who are simply seen at a doctors office and collect their medication at the pharmacy. Here is where the medical and pharmacy professionals may need to re-assess their roll in caring for their patients beyond the office and pharmacy counter. These patients are often on maintenance drugs for blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and other diseases that may become life threatening if maintenance medications are not taken. I believe that the medical profession should take a more active roll in providing information for emergency preparations and enforcing those instructions more clearly.
I am also aware of the amount of time that home health agencies spend on explaining the emergency preparation information with their patients. It's about two seconds: "And this is the emergency preparedness brochure that you should read."
Generally, this lack of emphasis is because these patients are generally mobile and that, beyond a few instances, the medical profession bares no legal responsibility for these patients in an emergency situation.
The reality is, we need to be more pro-active as individuals, family, care givers and neighbors in preparing medically compromised patients for emergencies.
In the extended version of this post, under "read more" you will find basic instructions for preparing for an emergency if you are on maintenance medications (blood pressure, nitrogen, cholesterol, pain, cancer, etc) or on medical equipment like oxygen or nebulizer (breathing treatments). If you are not personally on either of these, you should pass this information to your family, friend or neighbor that is and ask them to follow this plan. You should make an effort to help them prepare.
Emergency Preparedness and Your Medicine
I. MedicationsA. Medications that do not require refrigeration
1) Keep your prescriptions filled
a. Your physician usually gives you a prescription for the entire treatment or for at least 30 days.
i. Some medications may even be “filled” for 60 or 90 days in advance. Check with your physician and pharmacist.
2) Do not let your medication run out.a. If the prescription is a “maintenance” drug or something that you take routinely, the prescription can be refilled several days in advance of the current prescription running out.
b. Mark on your calendar the day that the medication will run out.
c. Mark on your calendar at least 3 or 5 days in advance of the prescription running out to call for a refill
d. Make sure you pick up that refill within 24 hours.i. This will ensure that you always have at least 3 to 5 days worth of medication available at all times (if not a months worth)
3) Keep samples as “extra”a. If a physician gives you a prescription AND he gives you samples to take home, fill the prescription immediately.
b. Do not take the samples
c. Put them with your “emergency medications” (directions for “emergency kit” to follow)i. This will also ensure that you have several days or weeks worth of medication available in case of an emergency
4) Prepare an Emergency Medication Kita. Keep a set of “empty” medication bottles with their labels still intact.
i. In each bottle, place 5 to 30 days of each medication in the correctly labeled bottle.
ii. Make sure you check the medications against the labels
b. In a plastic, clear, Ziploc (preferably water proof) bag:i. Place your extra medications
ii. An equal amount of needles and syringes (if required) to the number of doses placed in the bag
iii. Alcohol or iodine swabs (if required)
iv. Extra: a collapsible cup to hold water
c. Replace “extra” medications in your emergency kit routinely as you refill your prescriptions with the most recent medicationi. Most medications have expiration dates. Make sure the emergency kit has the most current medication.
d. Place this kit in a secure location that is easy to remember and to access.i. Refrigerators are a good place to keep your emergency kit. They are heavy, have doors and can be located easily in the house (even if your medications do not require refrigeration).
ii. Other areas include cabinets or drawers that are above three feet from the ground (in case of flooding), but are not so high that you have to climb on anything to retrieve it; or with your personal “emergency preparedness kit” including food, water and first aid; or in your purse or personal carrying bag.
iii. People in wheelchairs should keep the medication in an easily reached location.
e. Make sure that your “kit” is clearly marked “emergency medication”i. This can be a label on the outside or a piece of paper with the information inside the bag.
f. Tell your family, friends or caregivers where this kit is in case you must exit the house quickly.
5) Keep a copy of each of your prescriptions OR take a label off of an empty bottle of each of your medications.a. Labels can be removed by soaking them for several minutes in warm soapy water.
i. Make sure that they dry completely and are readable.
ii. Some pharmacies provide “inserts” or information sheets with the medication with a label attached to it with the name and directions for taking the medication. This can be used as well.
b. Place the copies of your prescriptions, the labels or inserts in your wallet or purse or other “carry” item that can be easily located and that you would normally carry with you when you leave the homei. Keeping it your “carry” item (wallet or purse) will ensure this is available if your emergency evacuation is to a hospital or other medical care unit and you are unable to retrieve your emergency medication kit
ii. Medical emergency personnel often look for a purse or wallet for information about the person being transported
c. This will ensure that when you arrive at a location where medications can be dispensed, your information is available and your prescriptions can be filled without delay.
B. Medications that require refrigeration.1) Follow the basic guidelines noted for non-refrigerated medications
a. Keep your prescriptions filled
b. Fill the prescriptions as far in advance as possible
c. Write the information on a calendar or other place that will remind you to keep them filled.
d. Keep extra medications in your “emergency preparedness kit” along with necessary items like syringes, needles, alcohol swabs, etc.i. Everything necessary to administer your medication for the same number of doses contained in the kit
ii. Keep extra alcohol swabs to sterilize needles if it becomes necessary to re-use them.
e. Place medications and supplies in a clear, Ziploc bag.
d. Replace “extra” medications in your emergency kit routinely as you refill your prescriptions with the most recent medicationi. Most medications have expiration dates. Make sure the emergency kit has the most current medication
f. Clearly label the kit as “emergency medications”.
g. Tell your family, friends or caregivers where this kit is located.
h. Keep extra labels, inserts or copies of prescriptions in your “carry” item
2) Keep four to six “ice packs” frozen in the freezer at all times (more if you can)a. If you cannot afford “ice packs”, put extra ice in several small or medium size Ziploc bags
i. Make sure that everyone knows that these bags are your “emergency kit” bags to maintain your medications in case electricity goes out and not for common use.
3) Keep a small cooler to place your medications in near or with your emergency medication kita. If you cannot afford a small cooler, use plastic lunch bags, lunch boxes, Tupperware bowls with lids, personal bags, purses or other containers that can be tightly shut to keep the space cool.
i. In an emergency where you are not able to locate your cooler or other container, a small box that can be closed can be a temporary holder.
II. Medical Equipment (If you are already using this equipment)A. Battery Back Up
1) Keep extra batteries for all of your electric or battery operated medical equipment.
a. Most electric medical equipment will operate on a back up battery for several hours.
i. Some as many as 24 hours (see equipment information insert for details or ask your medical professional)
ii. Some have rechargeable batteries
b. Check the equipment or manufacturer insert for the necessary battery size.
c. Keep at least two batteries per piece of equipment in your emergency medication kit or in a Ziploc bag attached to your equipment.
d. Keep rechargeable battery packs fully charged at all times.i. Use electrical outlets if possible instead of your batteries to keep the battery fully charged in case you must switch to battery power
B. Oxygen1) Keep 3 to 5 days of portable oxygen tanks in your home or liquid oxygen in the main reservoir
a. Oxygen tank use will depend on the patient’s prescription (e.g. 2 lpm - liters per minute) and the size of the tank (e.g. 22 cubic ft).
i. Most oxygen providers for the home will provide a table that shows the amount of oxygen and how long it will last based on amount of use (e.g. 2lpm)
ii. Most providers will deliver a week or more of oxygen
2) Keep the oxygen tanks in a secure location, away from electrical or natural gas or other flammable materials that may catch fire in an emergency situation.a. Keep the tanks where they are easily found
b. Keep the tanks where they are most likely not to be covered in debris
3) Keep extra batteries for both the portable regulator and stationary concentratora. Most portable tanks operate using a battery operated regulator
i. Battery operated regulators will run for up to three days on one battery (if 9V) or two (if AA).
b. Most stationary oxygen concentrators will operate on a battery for several hours as well (read insert)
4) Keep an extra cannula, tubing. an oxygen wrench (for turning on the portable tank) and directions on how to use the oxygen equipment.a. Directions for use of oxygen equipment should be available so if you or your caregiver are not able to operate the equipment and you need to seek assistance from an untrained person, they have a point of reference for setting up equipment.
5) Keep extra batteries, supplies and directions in a Ziploc bag attached to the concentrator or in a secure placea. With your emergency medication kit if the space allows.
6) Make sure family, friends or caregiver know how to operate the equipment, replace the batteries and where the emergency supplies are.
7) Keep a copy of your prescription or other oxygen orders in your purse, wallet or emergency medication/supply kit for easy access.
8) Keep the number of your oxygen supply company in your wallet, purse or emergency medication/supply kit.a. Oxygen supply companies usually have emergency plans for delivering more oxygen to their patients
b. If you are able to stay in your home, they will deliver there if they are able.
c. If you must evacuate to a different location or station, they will deliver to you there or they will arrange for another company near by to provide oxygen
9) If you must evacuate immediately to a different shelter, take as many tanks as can be carried along with the emergency medication and supply kit.a. Some shelters may not allow more than one or two tanks as they present a real danger if they become flying debris. Check with your local shelter for details.
b. Take the concentrator if possiblei. Some shelters may have electricity or gasoline generators electricity that can sustain the concentrator.
ii. Concentrators do not require separate oxygen tanks to create oxygen. Concentrators create/deliver oxygen using a mechanical compressor and filtering system.
iii. Use the concentrator as long as possible. This will keep the portable tanks ready when there is no more electricity.
C. Nebulizer Machine1) Keep extra batteries
2) Keep extra medicine cups and nebulizer T
3) Keep extra medicine, at least 3 to 5 days, in your emergency medication kita. Most nebulizer medication does not require refrigeration
b. Most prescriptions can be filled for up to 90 days worth of medication
4) Keep extra batteries, supplies and medication in a clear Ziploc bag attached or nearby your nebulizer machinea. You can also keep this in your refrigerator or the same location as your other emergency medication kit
5) Clearly label the emergency medication and supply kit as “Emergency Only”
6) Make sure family, friend or caregiver knows the location of your emergency supply kit
III. Prepare for an emergency before emergency occursA. Before an emergency
1) Do not wait for an emergency to occur to prepare the emergency medication and supply kit
a. The kit should be prepared and standing by for pick up if you must leave or seek shelter immediately
2) If you are on oxygen or other mechanical medical equipment that requires electricity and is life sustaining, you should call your local fire department or EMS to insure that your name is on a list of people that need to be rescued or evacuated first.
3) If you are on oxygen, other mechanical medical equipment that requires electricity OR medications that require refrigeration, call the electrical, gas and phone company and tell them that you are on oxygen or other life sustaining medications or machines. They will put you on a priority customer list for restoration of servicesa. Many of these companies will make arrangements to insure that your services are never disconnected if you are unable to pay.
B. Prepare an evacuation plan1) Organize a plan with family, friends or caregivers to evacuate the residence when an emergency occurs
a. Make a plan with family, friends, and neighbors to check on you
b. Make a plan for someone to come and get you if you are unable to drive
c. Make a plan with neighbors to check on you and assist with evacuation if you have no friends or family near by to assist or cannot evacuate yourself.
2) Know where local shelters are located
3) Plan on a place to meet family or friends after the emergency clears
4) Keep a list of phone numbers to call after emergency clearsa. Get cell phone numbers and pager numbers
5) In case local phone lines or cell phone towers are no longer working in the area or you are unable to meet at the designated location, have the name and number of a central person that you and your family will call to let them know where you are and how they can contact you.
C. When Warning Comes1) Heed warnings to seek shelter or evacuate as soon as they are given.
2) Do not wait for an evacuation or “seek shelter” order to be given to retrieve your emergency supplies, have them ready as soon as local news, weather channels or national emergency channels tell you that a storm is on the way or some other emergency is occurring.
3) Take your medication emergency kit or extra tanks with you to the shelter, whether that is an outside location or in your home.
D. Sheltering in your home1) If an emergency or disaster occurs and you do not need to leave your house, or you cannot leave your house and the electricity goes out:
a. Keep your emergency kit in the refrigerator.
b. Do not open the doors unless you have to for either the refrigerator or freezer
c. Put the medications in the freezer as soon as the refrigerator seems to be room temperature.i. Even refrigerated medication can survive at room temperature for a short period of time. Keep the freezer shut and cool until absolutely necessary to open the doors and put your medication in.
ii. If possible, put your medication in the cooler or other container with your ice packs and put the cooler in the freezer. This will keep them longer.
d. Use your oxygen tanks conservatively.i. Use your concentrator or stationary oxygen system for as long as the battery will allow
ii. Only change to tanks when the stationary system is no longer available
iii. Conserve your oxygen by remaining calm.
iv. Stay immobile, sitting down or lying down as much as possible (unless you must evacuate or once you arrive at shelter).
v. Staying calm and sitting down will keep the oxygen use down to a minimum.
This is a lesson we should all learn as I watch the news this morning, many patients that have made it through, are now at a shelter, do not have their medicine with them, do not remember what their medication is and health care workers are desparately trying to get them what they need.
To the inner sanctum for more information.
Shocked and Still Thinking
Did everyone hear about the nursing home where 80 patients were found dead. From my perspective having worked in the medical field, I am completely shocked that this nursing home did not evacuate it's patients when the first order came. I wonder how many nursing homes did not have an active and acceptable emergency plan? I wonder how many in the United States do not have an emergency plan that does not include a way to evacuate their patients on the first order? How many have a shelter that their patients can be moved to easily? How many have enough supplies, food, water or a plan with local emergency groups or other nursing homes in the area with reciprocation?
It's a black mark on the medical community because, having come from a home health situation, I know that we always had a plan to contact, track and care for our patients even though they were in their homes.
However, I will tell you the reality: very few companies actually have a full rehearsal for these plans. I know we never did a "major disaster" though, being in this area, we have had tornadoes and have had to enact the emergency plan in a limited way, contacting patients and making sure they have supplies, oxygen, medicine while they wait for electricity or permanent removal to another home if there's is destroyed.
Still, the medical profession needs to look at their emergency plans and needs to look at what they tell their "outpatients" about preparing for emergencies.
I'm thinking now about what sort of efforts we need to take to ensure emergency preparedness is taken much more seriously by everyone; particularly individual citizens and medical personnel.
Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned
In the coming days, once the refugees are evacuated, shelter is found and the work of identifying the dead, counting the toll and cleaning up the disaster, behind the scenes, another group of people will be working, may be working already. They will be assessing the response at state and federal level, analyzing what went right, what went wrong, and beginning to formulate plans to improve their response.
We, the civilian population should do the same. We should look at the disaster, at the responses of private citizens and community leaders, and formulate our own plan, our own lessons learned.
Watching the people and listening to their stories, these are, in brief, things that I have learned.
1) Individual Preparedness:
A large number of individuals were not prepared to evacuate their homes. They were not prepared to care for themselves for any period of time. They did not have a plan to care for their medical needs. They did not have a plan to meet, to communicate or to have shelter for any period of time if the emergency continued. Security quickly became a primary survival need, along with food, water and medicine.
- Individual citizens need to be more pro-active in preparing for emergencies including having emergency water and food, having emergency medication and supplies prepared, having an evacuation plan and having an alternate plan to obtain or send information.
- Individual citizens should be prepared to survive at least 72 hours on their own.
- Have a plan to provide security for yourself and family.
- Have an evacuation plan
- Plan with your family and friends where you will meet if you must evacuate or if you are separated
- Have a person outside of your city or area that each family member can call in case you are separated and communication does not exist in your immediate area.
- Have a plan for long term shelter with friends or family outside of the effected area.
2) Heed warnings to take shelter or evacuate an area.
This was a major problem. Many citizens, having rode out storms before, chose to stay in their homes for various reasons including not believing the storm would be as damaging as it was predicted, they were not financially capable of leaving and paying for shelter, they did not have the means to evacuate, they were physically unable to evacuate and had no one to assist them.
- These warnings are for your own safety. Failure to heed them will most likely result in endangering yourself and your family.
- Families need to be aware of elderly or compromised members of the extended family and have a plan to rescue them.
- Red Cross and other organizations should be prepared to open shelters in more distant locations to receive evacuees BEFORE an emergency situation and make that information available more quickly and extensively to radio and television. Also news flashes on the internet.
- Individuals need to be prepared with a map or prior knowledge where these emergency shelters are at and how to get there
3) Neighborhood Preparedness:
The breakdown of the community has led to the breakdown of social structures that might otherwise act as a support network in emergency situations. We need to reconnect and recreate the "neighborhood". The neighborhood organizations need to take a more active roll in bringing their neighborhood together and educating them about emergency preparedness.
- Citizens should know their neighbors, know their names, know if they are elderly or medically compromised.
- At the neighborhood level (block or street), citizens should have a neighborhood emergency preparedness plan for assisting neighbors to evacuate, providing security, pooling resources and information.
4) Community Preparedness:
Citizens expected more from their community emergency services. This is probably from an unrealistic expectation that the emergency services, being specially trained in emergencies, would not suffer the same sort of damage or inconvenience as the individual citizen. It is also apparent that community emergency services and preparedness committees need to concentrate on getting community cooperation and participation in localized emergency planning and community organization.
At a very localized level, communities should give seminars, send mailings, look for other opportunities (including local network or cable stations) to educate their local populace about emergency preparedness and community organization.
Individuals should:
- Know what your local community has prepared for volunteers, emergency services, staging areas, evacuation, shelter, power, food, water, etc.
- Know your roll in the community emergency plan
- "Communities" can include town, parrish, housing community, neighborhood associations, church communities, community centers, Rotary, Optimist, VFW, American Legion, etc
5) City and State Emergency Plans:
The city and state emergency plan suffered what is known in many technical fields as a "triple failure". A triple failure results in all redundant back up systems going offline. Not only were backup systems destroyed, but the three main pieces of a good emergency plan were either destroyed or missing.
Communications: Regular phone lines, cell phone towers and radio systems were either destroyed or inoperable at the distance required. Radio stations and news stations were also off line. Leaders failed to take advantage of satellite communications available by national news organizations on the ground to pass information to emergency personnel and citizens who were gathered at specific locations. Mobile PA systems were not available or unable to reach the city to inform the citizens.
Emergency equipment and personnel: Some emergency equipment and personnel were moved from the city, but some remained inside, unavailable after the flood. The infrastructure damage was so immense that equipment could not move in and out of the city except for boats. Private boats that might have been used in the rescue process were also destroyed by the hurricane. The damage was so extensive over such a distance that other back up equipment from other towns were also unavailable or needed to help the rescue effort in those towns. There appeared to be no plan to use emergency equipment and personnel from throughout the state except for the state police which could not be the only source of equipment and personnel. Appears that emergency debris removal equipment was not staged or not as many as was needed for the size of the emergency.
Leadership: Once the triple failures began to happen, the situation quickly spun out of the control of the local and state leadership. "Outside the box" thinking seemed to be overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the situation and good leaders that could pull everyone together seemed like they were missing. The local and state leadership also failed to appoint a spokesperson that could act as a liaison with the media to release info and organize communication processes. Blinded by lack of communications and unable to assess situation, leadership seemed unable to decide the next action for 24 hours after the disaster and then did not call for federal assistance from including getting other National Guard Units or active duty military units which then took another 48 hours to get on site and organized for rescue and relief efforts. Federal leadership should have demanded that the governor authorize federalization of the rescue mission prior to the actual emergency considering the the predicted magnitude of the emergency or at least been federalized within the first 24 hours of the disaster.
Triple Victims: Hurricane, flood and destroyed emergency plan left citizens to survive on their own for five days.
- Know your city and state plans for emergency response to a natural or man-made disaster.
- Know where staging areas for evacuation or emergency assistance can be found.
- Know who to contact for assistance with evacuation if you are elderly, medically compromised or otherwise limited. Emergency phone numbers should be kept in multiple places and on your person.
- Insure that your state or city emergency plan includes back up systems, such as satellite phones and an appropriate threshold for declaring a situation federal.
- Insure that your state or city emergency plan includes plans for organizing evacuation of citizens using public transportation when warnings are first issued.
- Be prepared to organize your own relief and rescue if trapped within the city.
- Be prepared to organize leadership within your group or community should established leadership be unavailable or incommunicado.
- Be prepared to to organize a spokesperson for your group or community.
- Look for opportunities to organize communication using available resources such as national news.
Friday, September 02, 2005
Two New Updates: Military Family Contact Info and Podcasts from the Astrodome
From the Mudville Gazette: Useful public service request - help spread the word.
Contact info for military families displaced by Katrina (also a great collection of news releases on the military efforts in hurricane relief)
Info for Guard families impacted by the storm.
Info for getting deployed Guard members in touch with their families who might be displaced by the storm - and vice versa.
Greyhawk of the Mudville Gazette says: I compiled resources here here, but it's more important to get folks to those other pages.
Euphoric Reality has been at the Astrodome for two days acting as a volunteer. She has multiple podcasts throughout the day.
She says lots of supplies and volunteers. They had to turn away supplies until the could get hold of it. Seems like chaoctic organization. FEMA unseen until 4pm this afternoon. The American Red Cross has been working tirelessly. She's trying to help veterans who are elderly and weak. Houston VA hospital taking in veterans from LA veteran hospitals. Hiedi from Euphoric reality is working with the VA to get the veterans at the Astrodome "screened" through the VA computer system so that they can start getting medicines ASAP since many have been without their medicine for days. They are also advocating for the veterans and liaisoning with organizations.
They are getting toiletries and other supplies together.
Twice as many people as yesterday.
National Guard is there with an admin group to take info from families that need to be re-united with active service members.
Go listen to the podcasts, they are excellent sources of information about what is going on including personal stories of the people inside.
Something Easy To Help Katrina Relief
Alright, everyone always wants an easy way to do things, so here is your easy way to help the Red Cross by simply clicking here.
Yes, it is that easy. No, you don't have to do anything, although I think that reading the page is good for some people. No, it doesn't cost you anything, but two seconds to point and click and maybe another 30 seconds to read the page.
When you do, $1.00 will be donated to the Red Cross. Not very much you say? Well, every dollar counts and if enough people do it, (everyone who reads here) we could get over $100.00.
NO sales pitch. NO buying anything. Just click. Would I steer you wrong?
Now...GO!
Also, go over to Cat's place. She is blogging for Relief all weekend. Leave a comment and she donates $5.00 to the Red Cross. At the same time, you will get to see the Carnival of Recipes, a great place to look for dinner suggestions tonight.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Ry Reports: Half of Lafayette, Indiana Out of Gas by 6PM
As predicted, there is a mad rush by citizens of the country to by gas after the president asked people to conserve.
It will take a few days for people to calm down and common sense to come back. The best idea is to conserve gasoline. Do it.
The US Government Reports on the Effect of Katrina on the Gasoline Situation.
According to the Minerals Management Service (MMS), as of 11:30 Central Time September 1, Gulf of Mexico oil production was reduced by over 1.356 million barrels per day as a result of Hurricane Katrina, equivalent to 90.43 percent of daily Gulf of Mexico oil production (which is 1.5 million barrels per day). The MMS also reported that 7.866 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas production was shut in, equivalent to 78.66 percent of daily Gulf of Mexico natural gas production (which is 10 billion cubic feet per day).
There have been many reports in the media of gas stations in various parts of the country that are out of gas. While EIA does not monitor supplies at individual stations or localities, there are some reasons why this may be occurring at selective stations. With about 2 million barrels per day of refining capacity shut in or reduced due to Hurricane Katrina, approximately 1 million barrels per day (42 million gallons per day) of gasoline is not being produced. This represents about 10 percent of the nation's consumption, and is a major drop in the normal flow of gasoline through the system. In addition, major pipelines originating in the Gulf of Mexico area (namely the Plantation and Colonial product pipelines and the Capline crude oil pipeline) have been severely impacted or are closed. As a result, the distribution of gasoline, particularly in the Gulf Coast, Midwest, and East Coast regions of the country, has been significantly affected. Localities that were being served from gasoline terminals which already had low inventory levels, perhaps because they were expecting a delivery in the near future, could run out of supply before the next delivery arrives. Other areas which did have plenty of inventories on hand prior to the loss of the refineries and pipelines will be able to withstand the loss of supply for a longer time. However, it is impossible for EIA to know which terminals were well supplied and which ones were not prior to Hurricane Katrina, since EIA does not collect inventory data for individual terminals. But as soon as these stations are able to receive additional gasoline, they should be able to re-open.
No idea when that will happen. Some estimates within a few weeks with delivery to gas stations taking several more days in some locations. Best guess would be low gasoline available in some areas for up to three weeks. Additionally:
Impact on Refineries. Unlike 2004's Hurricane Ivan, which affected oil production facilities and had a lasting impact on crude oil production in the Gulf of Mexico, it appears that Hurricane Katrina may have a more lasting impact on refinery production and the distribution system. However, that news is varied, with some refineries likely able to restart their operations within the next 1-to-2 weeks, while others will likely be down for a more extended period, possibly several months in length. There are several factors currently inhibiting refinery production (see EIA's This Week in Petroleum).
The U.S. distillate surplus that built up over the last several months will certainly be important as seasonal emphasis shifts to heating oil. While distillate prices will react to crude price and related developments, the more critical near-term product problem relates to gasoline.
And it's not just gasoline. Break out the barbecues and eat sandwiches for lunch:
There are reports that Hurricane Katrina may have damaged four natural gas processing facilities on the Gulf Coast with a combined capacity of 5.5 Bcf per day, which is the equivalent of almost 10 percent of total national production. Follow-up reports have not indicated expected outages longer than a few weeks, with many units expected on line within a few days. A full assessment of some facilities, however, will require onsite inspections. If these or other plants are inoperable for any length of time, the loss could delay a recovery of natural gas production in the area. Even if platforms and pipelines are either unaffected or readily restored to service, the gas often can't flow to market without treatment. In 2003 (the latest year with complete data), almost three-fourths of total U.S. marketed gas production was processed prior to delivery to market.
This will not effect everyone, but, in the interest of helping the entire nation be able to survive in the next few weeks without ricocheting outages of gasoline or natural gas, we should take ever opportunity to conserve.
Check here for ways to conserve gasoline. Additional update to come on ways to conserve natural gas.
Also see my full report on the state of oil and gasoline resources in the United States at:
Hurricane Katrina: Houston Rescue Effort Shellshocked
Hiedi from Euphoric Reality has a podcast up regarding the rescue effort at the Astrodome in Houston Thursday night.
It's orderly. Many volunteers. But she reports that it is strangely "quiet" and the people are walking around "shellshocked".
Clothes and supplies are plentiful.
She volunteered and helped a man find his wife by calling every hospital in the area to see where she was taken.
Correction: In the Words of HERB MORRISON
...while watching the Hindenberg disaster...
"Oh, the humanity!"
Thanks George.
Report on Refugees: Texas
My friend down in Texas says that refugees are stranded on the side of I 10 and in Walmart parking lots. It seems they had come over the weekend to wait out the storm, staying in hotel rooms, but now people are running out of money and have no place to go. Reports indicate that people are being turned away from the Astro Dome because it is reserved for evacuees of the Super Drome.
She indicates that there are other shelters to go to, but communication is sketchy and people are not familiar with the area.
Need people to get on radio stations and report locations and directions. Pass the word. May also need volunteers to find these folks and help direct them to a shelter.
Kansas City, MO - USA: Gas Panic Ensues
Reports begin to filter in of gas stations already running out of gas. Many stations are indicating that they only have premium gasoline and diesel remaining. Prices have again risen today by $.05/gallon.
I am going down the street to get gas and will report on the situation. Expectations are that gas will be limited until deliveries this weekend.
Again, Kansas Citians and other city residents are cautioned to conserve gasoline.
Scroll down for ways to conserve.
Katrina Backlash: Don't Buy Gas If you Don't Need It! Conserve! Be Efficient.
As I said two days ago, conserve gas. I just saw the president on Fox News. He announced that there will be a gas shortage in multiple areas of the country because of the damage to a major pipeline from the LA area to South East United States. Last night, reports showed gas stations charging as high as $6.00/gallon in Georgia and North Carolina.
The Colonial Pipeline is only at 50% capacity. President indicates it will be improved over the next "days", however, a source indicates that it takes "30 days" for gasoline to traverse the pipeline to it's final destination on the east coast, so the effect could be an issue for at least 30 days if not up to 90 days.
President Bush indicates that several things have been done to help alleviate the problem. First, requirements for gasoline purity have been waived in order to attract gasoline from foreign sources that do not follow our standards. He is also waiving the law that says only US ships can carry gas to inter-country ports because the US does not have enough ships to do it.
We should remember that the area effected by hurricane Katrina still needs large amounts of diesel and regular fuel to help with the rescue and relief efforts. Help out the effort.
Things you can do to conserve gas:
Don't panic! Not every area is effected the same as others. There are refineries in many areas that may be able to pick up additional gasoline production, though this may be limited. Do not cause a rush on gas stations. If everyone goes to buy gas in the next two days, it WILL have a drastic impact on gasoline availability in your area. Community leaders should ask people to stay calm and help keep their communities from bein UNNECESSARILY effected by inappropriate rushes on stations. These rushes will actually CAUSE a problem that might not otherwise exist in your area at this time.
Delivery of product takes time and is on a regular schedule to every area whether by pipeline, by truck, railroad or ship. Rushes on gasoline will make gasoline scarce in between the delivery and cause even more panic.
Conserve gas: If you were planning to go on a driving vacation, cancel or stay closer to home. Long road trips should be the last thing on your mind unless you are part of the rescue effort. If the store is within a mile or less of your house, walk or bike. You can do it. Do not waste gas to run down to the station for cigarettes or to the dry cleaner's around the corner. Walk.
Car Pool: If you haven't done it lately, you should really look into who lives in your area and works with you. Car pool to work, make sure your kids are part of a car pool for regular after school activities. Drastic measures could include neighborhood car pooliing to grocery stores or other important destinations.
Take Public Transportation: Get online and find the schedule for youf local public transportation. Get schedules. Ride the bus or train.
Get fuel and carb/injector cleaners: The new gas will be less pure than what your car (particularly new cars) are used to running on and may effect your gas mileage and performance. You will probably need to run one bottle every two or three tanks of gas.
Keep your tank topped off: Cars get better gas mileage on full tanks and this will reduce the amount of gas that you are buying at any given time. If you're in Kansas City or other areas that have experienced significant "winters", follow your standard mode for "winter" gas operations.
Update: More Gas Conservation Tips
Drive the Speed Limit: The faster you drive, the less efficient your car's engine is. "Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.11-$0.73/gallon
Highway Driving - Do not drive above 60mph. "Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas. "
Fuel Economy Benefit: 7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.15-$0.51/gallon
Remove Excess Weight - Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. Check your trunk and your back seat. What are you carrying? Keep only an emergency kit in the trunk. Remove all other items. Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2 percent.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%/100 lbs
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.02-$0.04/gallon
Avoid Excessive Idling - Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines. If you drop someone off and are waiting for them to come back out, don't wait at the door. Find a place to park, roll down your windows and turn off the engine. Do not run you vehicle for 5 or 10 minutes to "cool" the interior.
Use Cruise Control - Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. (Try this at 60mph to get better gas mileage.) Leave early enough in the morning to avoid traffic jams where you may end up idling on the highway for 15 mins and so that you do not have to speed to make it the rest of the way.
Use Overdrive Gears - When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear. Many cars have regular drive "D" and overdrive "(D)". Make sure you are putting your car in the most efficient gear.
Tune Up Your Car: Replace sparkplugs, sparkplug lines, and air filters. Keep your tires properly inflated (see mfg recommendations usually on the tire; check the pressure regularly). Use the proper oil weight as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Conserve Oil: Oil will also be in short supply so read your owners manual. They usually recommend at least a minimum time frame for oil changes and this can help conserve gas, usually around 3000 miles. But, it's a catch 22 since oil is an issue as well. The manufacturer may also recommend a "maximum" time frame to change oil. This is often around 5000 miles. If you are coming up on a 3000 mile change, you should consider pushing it back to the maximum time frame or some time in between. Do not recommend going above 10,000 miles before changes, particularly for older cars.
Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.20/gallon.
Other Suggestions -
Pack your lunch and don't go out or leave the office. If you must, car pool with one or more employee. As tempting as it is, don't go out and sit in your car running the air conditioner while you smoke or listen to the radio.
Go to the grocery store or other destinations in the evening. There are generally less cars on the road and thus, less breaking and acceleration (see fuel efficiency), less traffic to sit in and idle at the lights, intersections or other areas. Also, your car gets better mileage in the cooler hours of the evening, particularly if you are not using the air conditioner.
Fill your car at night or very early morning. Evaporation of gasoline is higher during the hot hours of the day.
If you have two vehicles, drive the one with the best gas mileage. Now is a good time to put the Hummer or Expedition on hiatus. Check the situation, but if you have diesel engine, that may also be an alternate choice since diesel is less scarce.
Conserve Energy: Turn up your thermastats, use fans, turn off the lights, reduce energy use. Some power stations are run on diesel turbines. We need to reduce the amount of fuel used to run these turbines.
Be prepared! Expect that there may be slow downs in other supplies and necessities to other areas of the country. The Mississippi as a transport route from a major port to the center of the US for distribution is now offline. Areas largely effected will be in the center of the US, but will effect out lying areas. Expect that railroad operations will increase as well as truck driving (if you're a CDL and unemployed, you can probably find a job). However, cost of products will continue to rise until the crisis is over. If you do not conserve gas, then the price will go up more and then food and necessities will be more costly.
Again, don't panic. It doesn't mean that we will not have food or fuel. It means that you should make appropriate plans, stay calm, stay home with your family.
Stay tuned for more information on what you can do to conserve gas.
Mudville: News From Berlin on Katrina
click on the title and read. I guarantee you'll like.
Update: Rueters Reports Schroeder telling ministers to prepare assistance to United States including shelters and water treatment plants.
Don't Forget To Donate or Volunteer
Check here for continuing updates on people and places accepting donations and supplies or looking for volunteers.
Original Post with Charity List
Soldiers Angels Katrina Soldiers Framily Relief Fund
This guy is down there and is known to Charles Johnson of LGF. Lizard Powered Relief Fund. He has direct donations that will be used for supplies and two addresses; one for the hospital relief fund where his sister works as a nurse and the other you can email him for if you are looking to ship lesser packages with basic items.
Gulfportnews.com is now beggin for a company that can provide server power so that they can post information online about survivors and the status of the situation. Also WWLTV.com. Anybody know anyone with a server that can provide assistance?
Look at the site for gulfportnews.com. It's a "citizen journalist" site and has very interesting stories we're not seeing on the news.
BBC Provides Forum For Missing People Messages. Let people know that they can go to leave and read messages to find out about their loved ones or tell people that they are alright. Also, some first hand reports on conditions of towns and where people are being evacuated to.
Missing - diabetic, insulin dependent mother and 85 yr old grandmother, last known to be in diamondhead, Mississippi, Names: Betty Pike and Dottie Hirsch.
Simone, Orange County California
While another reports:
I am living in texas now, but am from the MS coast. All my family is there. Ocean Springs was wiped out as well as Diamondhead, The Bay, The Pass and Moss Point and Pascagoula. I have found out my friend rode out the storm with his family in his attic in Ocean Springs. I hope that everyone finds their loved ones and that all is well! Paige, Houston, TX
The stories of humanity:
I'm trying to find an online forum to find my sister in Gulfport Miss. I'm affected in that I don't know what to do nor can I go down there I cant afford it. I haven't seen my sister since she was 6 years old and she is now 40 and I'm 50. She just visited me for the first time 2 1/2 wks ago. I liked her I liked her a lot and I really don't have any other family. Now she might be gone. I just don't know. Can somebody help me? Leslie , Cedar Crest NM
And survival:
Posted an appeal last night for information about my sister Frances Holland of Biloxi Mississippi delighted to say I know she is safe and well.
Marlene Lowe, Strichen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Kansas City Charity
In Kansas City, on Hwy 45, address unkown, but west of I29 at the Hen House behind Johnny O'Quiggley's they are collecting supplies, water, food. I will have a more definitive list items that can be brought to the location and if they have other locations in the next few days for those that live near by here.
Help From the Heartland Call 1-866-999-7780
Local Red Cross still looking for volunteers on this same site.
Donate Food to Second Harvest. They also take monetary donations online and you can "purchase" food for donations on line here. If you are a transportation company, they are looking for donated transport, trucks, etc to deliver the food already on hand. Contact them at 1-800-771-2303. Go here to find out where the nearest food bank is to you and where you can deliver food. PS...don't forget the babies. Baby food, diapers, baby wipes, cleaning and disinfecting items will be helpful.
Don't forget to check where you can donate blood. Find your area blood drive here
Thursday, September 1
KVC-Olathe
21350 W. 153rd St.
Olathe, KS
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
YMCA
14001 E. 32nd St.
Independence, MO
4:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Friday, September 2
Shawnee Civic Center
Johnson Drive & Pflumm
Shawnee, KS
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Valley View Bank
7500 W. 95th St.
Overland Park, KS
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Thank you and stay tuned.
Before Reality Sets In
I was reading this and realized that I was not the only one thinking that the plaints of the watchers and the do nothings and the ambulance chasers were getting rather irritating considering the situation.
I've been watching the news all day regarding the hurricane relief effort and, unfortunately, listening to a number of people pontificate on this point or that about the disaster, it's causes, what could or should be done, complaints and just general talking to hear themselves speak.
In between that I saw the pictures of the people who were still stranded, who were still trying to leave, who were sick, injured, hungry, thirsty, grieving and lost.
It's always the people that get me. Not the commentaters and pundits, galvanized to make their political statements and forward their cause or justify their position of importance. I mean the people in t-shirts and shorts, wading through the water with their belongings in plastic bags or a cooler. The ones that are crying into the camera about the loss of family, friends, animals, their life and everything that they once knew as normal.
I can tell by the news coverage, the politicos and the punditry that reality has yet to set in. It hasn't set in yet because they cannot see the dead bodies, smell the sewage, hear the wailing or conceptualize what it means for an entire city, once teaming with humanity to be literally wiped from the map.
To be gone, as I noted on yesterday's post, like Atlantis, sunk beneath the water and all it's glories and all it's dark places, quieted beneath gently lapping waves. So far from us that we cannot conceive of the enormity.
I've heard people on the streets talking, some worried, but still unable to comprehend and others that cannot concieve of the magniture either, but picking apart stories on the news complaining about this or that effort or some failure that they conceive has occured. All from one or two stories on the news.
"Did you see that old lady on the bridge? Her husband was dead and the police wouldn't help her move him? They just kept driving by." That was one. They couldn't understand that the man was dead and there were still possibly 100k people to rescue and that, in the list of priorities, the dead were far down the line.
My brother heard this and then joined in the complaints. "Why," he wondered, "couldn't they stop for a minute and help this woman who was obviously grieving? Why couldn't they move the body?"
I said that the living get priority and they are still at risk. At which point, an argument ensued with my brother waving his hands around and jumping from one point to the other, barely related but the same comments that I have read and heard by people on the web or the news. Bush didn't do this. The government didn't do that. Why didn't they call out the army and national guard quicker? Why aren't there more men and people there helping? Where are all the boats rescuing people? It's been three days now. What is taking so long?
Why couldn't those officers take a few minutes and help that lady?
The scope and magnitude of the disaster has not set it. You cannot really explain to someone that that lady and her poor dead husband was one live person safe, who, though having lost her husband, at least knows where he's at and not wondering like thousands of people where their loved ones are or if they are going to survive the next few days as even more significant rescue efforts continue. When it comes down to a disaster of this magnitude, saving thousands of live people takes precedence over a small kindness of moving the lady's husband from the side of the road.
But people here are still in shock. They are like someone who has had their hand cut off and is still walking around looking at the bloody stump, unable to concieve of the loss and what it will mean to him for the rest of his life. His mind still tells him that he has that hand.
So, I just stopped talking to my brother and the other person. Realize that people deal with tragedy in different ways. They want to do something, but don't know what, can't do much and can only watch.
Yet, as after September 11, before anyone can contemplate the enormity, before the living are yet rescued or the dead even counted, the ambulance chasers are on the job. Politicos attacking for not signing the Kyoto treaty; for not providing more funding for this or that; getting their faces on the news and getting their cause du jour out, riding the coattails of disaster, slipping their way to 15 seconds of fame on the dead bodies of thousands.
My disgust, I don't think I can convey my disgust strongly enough. Even if I typed curse words, I could not convey it and just writing that thought seems cheap and meaningless compared to the feelings churning inside me.
Then there is the absurdity. The absurdity of some politicos and news reporters talking about the "big secret" of the "newly revealed" documents concerning Supreme Court Justice nominee Roberts. I did not see the face of the peson, but a woman senator or representative was going on for several moments about how this proves that he was a mysogynist and not a supporter of the poor working men and women, much less an appropriate candidate for the court.
It seemed bizarrely incongruous as I had just seen Alan Shepard on Fox standing in the middle of a highway, surrounded by water for miles around and interviewing people as they waded to dry land, one man saying he had been at it all night rescuing people from home and bringing them there to the bridge. To a place that has no outlet of escape, no water, no food and no shelter, yet they were still alive and still in danger. And there was this person talking about "the big secret".
I heard right wing buttheads and left wing bozos all flapping their lips. Like that long ago time after September 11, I wish them to shut up and just let the cameras roll. The cameras say what we need. The people tell us what is there and what kind of help is being given.
But, I think the reality has as yet to set in.
The reality that 1 million people are homeless. 1 million is a number you cannot imagine being refugees within this country. We see third world countries with refugee camps from 5k to 40k and we are simply overwhelmed by it and how to help their survival. Now we have 1 million.
1 million.
1 million.
I wanted to say that again and again because that is the "reality" that has not really arrived in the minds of those not directly effected. I just keep imagining just what it would be like if Kansas City was suddenly empty and everyone had gone to shelters in the fields and farms out of the city limits.
And it isn't just New Orleans.
This is not last years hurricanes in Florida where the number of homeless were not so great and the death rate was limited. This is more than September 11, but similar in a way because I believe that we will never know the true number of dead because their bodies will not be found or will require long months of DNA matching and it will be for more than the number of people from September 11.
The death toll will rise from the medically challenged that will not receive treatement or necessary medicines because they cannot be reached. Then the disease from those that, regardless of instructions or common sense, will be so thirsty or so unknowledgable that they drink the water anyway. Cholera, even typhoid, will take their toll. The real number of dead will not be final for months if not years.
So it continues. Reality has not set in. Reality is far away and even as I write this, many cannot understand how this little bit, this that we have not yet conceptualized, is barely the tip of the iceberg of things to come. For those that are there, the reality is all too real. Survival is reverting to basic instinct as people fight for a few items that might insure another few hours of living while they wait for rescue. Others have reverted to the lowest traits of mankind, intimidating others, stealing what little they have left, for what, no one can imagine since the city is in effect, no longer existent. They are kings of nothing and like all the others who remain in the city, will soon have to choose between the material things they covet and life itself.
I am not trying to be a voice of gloom and doom. Honestly, I am only writing to put my own thoughts down and I'd be happy if others didn't read it because i don't want to be part of a rumor mill or panic instigation. But, I can't imagine what the next few weeks and months will be like since a major shipping port and transportation lane (the Mississippi) is now shut down for all intents and purposes and may take weeks and months to open to traffic. Goods and commodities will now be even more shipped via truck or railroad, both of which use gasoline, whihc is extremely high priced at this time.
It means that everything we eat and wear will be more costly for the foreseeble future. Gas is nothing.
Maybe, after all, it's better that we cannot conceive of the destruction. It might paralyze us. It might freeze us in the moments we most need to do something.
But I believe that we will survive and it may be that belief among the millions in America that has kept the calm to date. No panic. No mad rushes to the gas station or the grocery store. We are 300 million that surely can take care of 1 million of our family. We took care of thousands after 9/11 and the last hurricane and the tsunami, this is but another activity.
This is, after all, the thing that we do best: pull on the bootstraps, tighten the belt, roll up the sleeves and get to work. We are a country of the free and the brave, where the brave come in all shapes and sizes, the heroes walk among us, anonymous, but to a few. Even the rescued will not know their names.
When the water recedes, the last person is rescued and the quiet efforts to clean and rebuild begin, we will not know the names or the faces of the countless people who have gone, risking life and limb, barely sleeping, just for one more minute, one more man, woman or child that will be rescued. The facelss, nameless and tired will return home to be forgotten except for a footnote in the history pages with the short epitaph, "thousands of relief and rescue teams worked tirelessly to save the people of New Orleans and bring comfort and aid to the citizens of the Gulf states".
Necessity is the mother of invention and crisis is the father of the heroic.
Once again we rise.
Psalm 119:49-51
49Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
50This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
