Katrina info thread II

[Ming]

Sigh... ONE MORE TIME... can we stick to the news... and leave your OPINIONS and political comments for other threads...

[Chemical Ollie]

Edit: quote from op-ed moved to this thread after I saw Ming's X-post.

http://www.apolyton.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=3998671&t=8219#post3998671

[Q Classic]

edit

[realpolitic]

Rumor of Lousianna national guard mutiny in Iraq:

http://italy.indymedia.org/news/2005/09/865980.php

This is a news item that is currently being 'independently' verified in Baghdad:

"Reports are emanating from Iraqis who are working with the Americans, (both at the Baghdad International airport and in the Green Zone), of a mutiny that had occurred among the American soldiers against their officers. (emphasis added)
Three days ago, one American soldier went into hysterics upon hearing of the death of the three members of his family in New Orleans.
Corporal Nick Lancer shouted:"This is the curse of Iraq. My family paid for my crimes in Iraq. Send us back to help our families. God damn you Bush and Rumsfeld".
Matters escalated when an officer tried, by force, to calm Lancer down. Lancer was then joined by other soldiers who started to beat the officer. The fighting escalated when other officers tried to intervene in the melee and the soldiers began attacking and hitting them with their riffle butts. This included the beating of Iraqi senior army officers who attempted to help the American officers.
The soldiers were shouting:"You scoundrels. We will throw you out to the Resistance to kill you. It is because of you that we are getting killed here".
At one point, one of the soldiers radioed other fellow soldiers, who were out on patrols, to stop their mission and to return quickly to join them."
Mutiny among occupation soldiers September 2, 2005 (in Arabic). The specific location of the disturbance was not specified. Awaiting further confirmation.

[Pekka]

Sounds like a stupid rumour. It's written in way that stinks of BS. The quotes especially, I keep imaging them all in posh British accent. Yes this is not news what I'm posting sorry, just had to say this sounds like a rumour, not news.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I'm going to doubt that story just based on the use of the word 'scoundrels.' Of the many military people I've known in my life, I can't think of one that would shout 'scoundrel' while in a mob beating somebody up. Got any other sources?...

[Mrs. Tuberski]

I will add this, tho the rescue effort is slow, it is happening. We have word that in san antonio, we have 1/4 million evacuees tho this number seems quite hi this is what our news is reporting. I know of at least 25000 at an old af base and another 15000 at another location in the city. some of these foks have been located in the outskirts or sa. Red cross as settled 10 families in our apartment building and we are bout 30 minutes from san antonio. Seems the efforts are still moving along

[Guynemer]

Originally posted by Koyaanisqatsi
I'm going to doubt that story just based on the use of the word 'scoundrels.' Of the many military people I've known in my life, I can't think of one that would shout 'scoundrel' while in a mob beating somebody up. Got any other sources?...

While I don't doubt that the story is likely false, keep in mind what was posted was an English translation of an Arabic story of an alleged event that took place in English. If it did happen, "scoundrel" is very likely an English translation of an Arabic approximation of a more apt English word.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

Oh, I know, I just couldn't pass it up while I was asking about another source...

[chequita guevara]

"The curse of Iraq, may family paid for my crimes in Iraq?" I'm sure scoundral was a translation of *sshole, but this other stuff just sounds made up.

[Jack_www]

I heard today that now only 60% of New Orleans is under water. So they are making good progress in pumping out the city at least.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by realpolitic
Rumor of Lousianna national guard mutiny in Iraq:

ROTFLMAO!

:Wipes tear from eye:

All that was missing was the usual opening quote from the Quran "Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate,"

[Guynemer]

On 26 August (prior to landfall), the White House issued the following statement:

Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana




The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

[Dr Strangelove]

There's only one man who can save us from FEMA: JC Denton!

[Boris Godunov]

http://www.t-g.com/story/1116806.html

"DMort is telling us to expect up to 40,000 bodies," Dan Buckner said, quoting officials with the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team, a volunteer arm of Homeland Security.

Dear god.