The Silence Is Deafening

[SODsniper]

(I had intially thought this should be in the OFF TOPIC CHIT CHAT forum, but then figured that, since it is politics-oriented, it would be safer to put it here...)


Next time someone feels like bashing America.......


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The Silence Is Deafening
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
By Neil Cavuto

Maybe I missed it, but I have a question: Where's the global relief effort for us today?

New Orleans (search) is under water. Mississippi (search) is a disaster. Scores are dead. Homes are destroyed. Businesses are shut down.

When this kind of stuff happens to other folks, we're there. When this kind of stuff happens to us, who's here?

I know we're a rich country. But I think it a bit rich so few call to wish us well in this country. Perhaps some have and perhaps I've missed it.

Still, others never miss a chance to bash us if we've done something wrong or done nothing at all.

All I know is a lot of poor folks here got hit here. Would it kill the same foreigners we've helped there, to offer support here?

I don't expect a telethon. But how about a call on a telephone?

Maybe some countries have offered rescue personnel. I just haven't seen them. I'll keep looking. I'll keep waiting. I'll keep wondering.

All I know is for now, the silence is deafening. And the water in New Orleans isn't the only thing that stinks.
=============================================


By and large, Mr Cavuto has always been a wise wise man.



SODsniper

[Mutt_Dog]

I know i am looking for some foreign aid and those Hollywood Elites like Tim Robbins, and Sean Penn, George Clooney who love helping out the other countries in their time of need...i am still waiting for them, to show up. I haven't heard a damn peep out of their mouths yet.

[MONOLITH]

It's always been this way. It always will.

When you're a struggling revolution, the world cheers you on. When you're a superpower, they loath you.


"When I was a fighting-man, the kettle-drums they beat,
The people scattered gold-dust before my horse's feet;
But now I am a great king, the people hound my track
With poison in my wine-cup, and daggers at my back."

[Fixxxer]

Still, others never miss a chance to bash us if we've done something wrong or done nothing at all.

"When I do something good, no one remembers. When I do something bad, no one forgets."

Like MONO said, it's the sad reality. Since America is the world's super power or the "world's police" :wink:, you're expected to help 3rd world countries (and even 2nd and 1st world countries) when disaster strikes.

Unfortunatly, those favours are rarely returned. I don't agree with it, but there is very little I can do about it.

[sithdemon]

What exactly would be the point? America has all the resources and personel to deal with this if possible. Heck why not be more worried about what your own government bodies are doing to best deal with the damage.

If you REALLY think the world is loathing you, or only calls on to rag you, I'd like to mention africa, specificly the congo. People atleast know about whats happend in the last few days in the states. For years while millions have died each year, from violence, malnutrition, displacement, diease, the world went on it's merry way ignoring that area, and the rest of the contients problems.

A city is gone, fair enough, some people died, many are displaced "temporarily", however there will be disaster relife, hopefully it will be enough, and if it's not, again start harrasing your own government, if you can afford wars, and yes helping out other nations, there should be more then enough in the coffers of FEMA, and other such agencies.

Last year in canada we had out of control forest fires, it was a disaster of sorts, people were displaced, but for the most part emercengy services in the country got it dealt with, even though the fires went on for weeks.

in the last week there was a massive oil spill on a CP railcar. It's a environmental disaster, people live right beside the track. The government demanded CP get on it right away, issuing a time table.

some times incidents can be handled by your own government, othertimes like with the south asian Tsunami, you need foreign relife.

[Fixxxer]

If you REALLY think the world is loathing you, or only calls on to rag you, I'd like to mention africa, specificly the congo. People atleast know about whats happend in the last few days in the states. For years while millions have died each year, from violence, malnutrition, displacement, diease, the world went on it's merry way ignoring that area, and the rest of the contients problems.

I'm not going to say it, but I think you can put two and two together to figure out why no one bothers with the Congo (or other poverty/war stricken nations).

:wink:

[SODsniper]

If I recall correctly, the world hardly did "nothing" in the African states.

What was it I read a while back.  The entire assistance funds for many years of something like 40+ billion dollars provided for some African states was stolen and lined the pockets of the alleged "leaders" of those countries??

Don't accuse the world of doing "nothing".  Plenty was done.  But it never got to the people who needed it.


SODsniper

[Mofoka]

About Africa, I think SithDemon is right and the fact that it would be a never ending battle. If we did try to pull off what we are in Iraq with a country it's size, too many lives would be lost.

About people not coming to our rescue, well American pride runs deep and we can bandage ourselves up, we have been for years, and will continue to. I really don't think we need help, because we do have the resources.

[Mutt_Dog]

You can scratch Germany off that list. Cause they offered for help...but still i am sick of everyones bitch when we don't help some other countries...if you want to play fair...when s*** hits the fan for the US a little sympathy towards the us wouldn't be a bad thing. We're always giving resources and our people to your cause...still waiting on the hollywood elite to show their cowardly faces.

[BPR_MiK]

I don`t believe that People are ignoring the floods you have in the usa.. All the world hates tragedy happening to anyone whether they be poor or rich .But when you are rich enough and resoursefull enough to sort your own dissasters then why would you need from other countries ?

I`m sure phone calls were made and i`m certain that by and large most people through the world are wishing good luck and better tidings to those affected by any bad things..

Just because no-one is heading a worldwide appeal to help people who quite honestly don`t need our help doesn`t mean we hate you or whant to see you struggle . Just means that we know we can`t help.

[DaSmerg]

Ok, I'm trying to figure this out.  Gonna need a little help here.

Devastating hurricane Katrina hits Louisiana and Mississippi.  Causes a lot of damage.  In fact more damage than if it would have hit say Florida because of the terrain of this region and that it sits below sea level so various levee's have broken causing wide spread flooding.  This flooding is effectively worsening a bad situation.  Many people have died.  Thousands of people are displaced.  Homes and businesses destroyed.  Basic services could take weeks or even months to get back on track.

Pretty grim and sad situation, no doubt about it.

Yet someone decides to captilize on this sad situation...who almost assuredly lives no where near the affected areas...has time to circulate some whiney e-mail because he/she hasn't seen the Prime Minister of Luxemburgh or the Chancellor of Germany offering condolences and aid to the United States on CNN or FOX news?

This same e-mail writer is so delusional to ask where is the global relief effort as if this is some kind of multi-national catastrophe like the tsunamis that hit the Pacific rim a couple years ago where hundreds of thousands of people were killed in several nations, where millions of people's homes and businesses were destroyed and millions are still displaced, to this day, in an area of the world we call "the Third World".

Don't misunderstand.  This is a grim situation right now.  But the reality is that hurricanes happen every year and various government agencies have stockpiles of supplies, plans of action for these types of situations, there's the national guard, corps of volunteers from a host of aid agencies, the region was declared a national disaster zone before the storm even hit in order to expediate any and all government relief efforts, etc.

Is it just me or do priorities and energies seem to be out of synch here?

How about taking the time to circulate an e-mail informing people on the various aid agencies working in the relief effort?

How about taking the time to circulate an e-mail on informing people on where they can send help if they so desire?

How about keeping an eye on how several government agencies are spending a sizable chunk of hard earned tax dollars in the relief efforts and clean up instead of worrying about what the French President has to say about this sad situation in some news conference on cable news?

How about worrying about how to help out the poor folks in the affected areas instead of worrying about geo-political nonsense?

I dunno, I just don't get it.

[DaSmerg]

P.S.  Why look outward when you can ask questions inward

Did New Orleans Catastrophe Have to Happen?

'Times-Picayune' Had Repeatedly Raised Federal Spending Issues

PHILADELPHIA Even though Hurricane Katrina has moved well north of the city, the waters may still keep rising in New Orleans late on Tuesday. That's because Lake Pontchartrain continues to pour through a two-block-long break in the main levee, near the city's 17th Street Canal. With much of the Crescent City some 10 feet below sea level, the rising tide may not stop until it's level with the massive lake.

New Orleans had long known it was highly vulnerable to flooding and a direct hit from a hurricane. In fact, the federal government has been working with state and local officials in the region since the late 1960s on major hurricane and flood relief efforts. When flooding from a massive rainstorm in May 1995 killed six people, Congress authorized the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project, or SELA.

Over the next 10 years, the Army Corps of Engineers, tasked with carrying out SELA, spent $430 million on shoring up levees and building pumping stations, with $50 million in local aid. But at least $250 million in crucial projects remained, even as hurricane activity in the Atlantic Basin increased dramatically and the levees surrounding New Orleans continued to subside.

Yet after 2003, the flow of federal dollars toward SELA dropped to a trickle. The Corps never tried to hide the fact that the spending pressures of the war in Iraq, as well as homeland security -- coming at the same time as federal tax cuts -- was the reason for the strain. At least nine articles in the Times-Picayune from 2004 and 2005 specifically cite the cost of Iraq as a reason for the lack of hurricane- and flood-control dollars.

Newhouse News Service, in an article posted late Tuesday night at The Times-Picayune Web site, reported: "No one can say they didn't see it coming. ... Now in the wake of one of the worst storms ever, serious questions are being asked about the lack of preparation."

In early 2004, as the cost of the conflict in Iraq soared, President Bush proposed spending less than 20 percent of what the Corps said was needed for Lake Pontchartrain, according to a Feb. 16, 2004, article, in New Orleans CityBusiness.

On June 8, 2004, Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana; told the Times-Picayune: "It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that's the price we pay. Nobody locally is happy that the levees can't be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us."

Also that June, with the 2004 hurricane season starting, the Corps' project manager Al Naomi went before a local agency, the East Jefferson Levee Authority, and essentially begged for $2 million for urgent work that Washington was now unable to pay for. From the June 18, 2004 Times-Picayune:

"The system is in great shape, but the levees are sinking. Everything is sinking, and if we don't get the money fast enough to raise them, then we can't stay ahead of the settlement," he said. "The problem that we have isn't that the levee is low, but that the federal funds have dried up so that we can't raise them."

The panel authorized that money, and on July 1, 2004, it had to pony up another $250,000 when it learned that stretches of the levee in Metairie had sunk by four feet. The agency had to pay for the work with higher property taxes. The levee board noted in October 2004 that the feds were also now not paying for a hoped-for $15 million project to better shore up the banks of Lake Pontchartrain.

The 2004 hurricane season was the worst in decades. In spite of that, the federal government came back this spring with the steepest reduction in hurricane and flood-control funding for New Orleans in history. Because of the proposed cuts, the Corps office there imposed a hiring freeze. Officials said that money targeted for the SELA project -- $10.4 million, down from $36.5 million -- was not enough to start any new jobs.

There was, at the same time, a growing recognition that more research was needed to see what New Orleans must do to protect itself from a Category 4 or 5 hurricane. But once again, the money was not there. As the Times-Picayune reported last Sept. 22:

"That second study would take about four years to complete and would cost about $4 million, said Army Corps of Engineers project manager Al Naomi. About $300,000 in federal money was proposed for the 2005 fiscal-year budget, and the state had agreed to match that amount. But the cost of the Iraq war forced the Bush administration to order the New Orleans district office not to begin any new studies, and the 2005 budget no longer includes the needed money, he said."

The Senate was seeking to restore some of the SELA funding cuts for 2006. But now it's too late.

One project that a contractor had been racing to finish this summer: a bridge and levee job right at the 17th Street Canal, site of the main breach on Monday.

The Newhouse News Service article published Tuesday night observed, "The Louisiana congressional delegation urged Congress earlier this year to dedicate a stream of federal money to Louisiana's coast, only to be opposed by the White House. ... In its budget, the Bush administration proposed a significant reduction in funding for southeast Louisiana's chief hurricane protection project. Bush proposed $10.4 million, a sixth of what local officials say they need."

Local officials are now saying, the article reported, that had Washington heeded their warnings about the dire need for hurricane protection, including building up levees and repairing barrier islands, "the damage might not have been nearly as bad as it turned out to be."

from this article

[Zazoo]

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4200/is_20050207/ai_n10176537

Interesting article. Definitely gives some new insight into this disaster. Scary that it was written 7 months ago. Talk about ominous...  :1 (:  

EDIT: Didn't notice DaSmerg had also posted on this (same subject, different article though).
~Mike

[Frozyn]

I don't really care if other people pitch in or not. If they don't - we can handle it. The US is more than capable to handle it. Would it be a nice political gesture to offer aid? Sure. Do I think it necessary? Nope.

If for some reason someone argues "Maybe we shouldn't help them out next time," I would have to disagree. Whether the world publicly praises or admonishes our efforts abroad, it makes no difference - it's that we make the effort to help that's important.

[MONOLITH]

If for some reason someone argues "Maybe we shouldn't help them out next time," I would have to disagree. Whether the world publicly praises or admonishes our efforts abroad, it makes no difference - it's that we make the effort to help that's important.

Well said. Agreed.

[Mutt_Dog]

Well, Morgan Freeman, and Tim McGraw (Freeman from Mississippi, and has a resturant down there as well (good place to eat he comes in a lot, and McGraw from Louisiana) are both heading up Charity events and telethons to raise money and also giving their own money to with the Search and Rescue, rebuilding and any other kind of aid i heard on the radio to work.

[Fixxxer]

I'm almost positive you'll see a big "Katrina Relief Concert" sometime soon headed up by a lot of the bigger noble bands like The Rolling Stones and such. They did that huge SARS concert in Toronto back when that was an issue, I don't see why they wouldn't do it for something like this.

[SilentEdge]

I'm almost positive you'll see a big "Katrina Relief Concert" sometime soon headed up by a lot of the bigger noble bands like The Rolling Stones and such. They did that huge SARS concert in Toronto back when that was an issue, I don't see why they wouldn't do it for something like this.

I'm not going to hold my breath.

[Dr.Jeckyl]

I'm not going to hold my breath.

there is one scheduled for tomorrow.

[BPR_MiK]

If you see a man sitting by the side of the road ,his clothes tattered , he looks hungry and tired and his shoes are worn do you give him money for food ??

Yes of course you do he`s down on his luck and needs a help..

If you see a man sitting by the side of the road ,nice tidy suit but a little dirty, looks well fed, slightly tired nice new shoes do you give him money for food ??

No he`s probly just resting or something and he`s got the money to sort himself out..Maybe just ask if he is ok

Do you hate the rich man who is sitting down and that`s why you hav`n`t given him money...??  No ! and if he thinks you do then maybe he is either  just feeling sorry for himself or he feels you should..

see the analagy (or whatever it`s called) ?