http://mapquest-usa.tripod.com

http://green-tea.airmode.de/Green-tea.html

Wow! I am so impressed -- you've managed to get all the Bush Bashers, miscreants, pity potters, frustrated civil servants, helpless, hopeless, depressed, I-wanna-shoot-somebody-right-now folks,slayers of the English language,people so paranoid they probably carry their own walls with them, sociopaths, uneducated creepies, educated creepies, lost souls, and simply Unhappy, Confused, Ill-Informed, just plain failures in the same blog! Did you mean to do that, Mr. Washington Post Columnist? If you did, you succeeded. If not, perhaps you may want to broaden your appeal in order to have intelligent feedback from thoughtful people, instead of people who just want to kill the President (they had better hope the Secret Service doesn't monitor this mess -- or they should prepare for a little visit), among other things. These poor folks might want to do something with their lives besides rant or worse....as I said, I'm impressed with the number of distorted visions you've managed to gather in one place! I'm out of this terrible place - this blog - and back into the real world, where people are not generally crazy, just trying to do the best job they can. Some serious therapy might help some of your repeat bloggers......

How can Homeland Security allow trucks & cars to enter the United States at Sarnia, Ontario via the Blue Water Bridge, drive 3 miles into the U.S. and over the Black River Bridge before they are inspected by U.S. Customs/Immigration/Border Patrol. That is what Michigan's Transportation Dept proposes.The Canadian toll taker is our only line of defense against terriorists until 3 or 4 miles into Mich. & over 2 bridges. We inspect airplane passengers before they start a trip, not after they reach their destination. Homeland Security is like the cereal business, fancy packaging and promotion.

Brilliant. Thanks so much. As an American living oversees for the last 12 years it is difficult at times to find clear, well documented analyses of domestic issues.

I also applaud your 'basic philosophy'.

Keep up the good work.

Help please I'm looking for a plan a blogger posted in the past couple of days.It's all about using government surplus to aid victims of disasters.He mentioned storing the surplus on railcars instead of warehouses(current location)The railcars placed in various areas could be hooked up and delivered quickly compared to what we've seen because for one they are already loaded with the basic necessities.The post was rather long but so very very interesting.Wish I'd printed it but didn't and now I can't find it.Anyone know where to look?

I suppose anyone who finds EARLY WARNING valuable like I do "may" be considered "paranoid" -- but you know what? After some of the recent shenanigans from the Federal establishment here and abroad, a little skeptical oversight is LONG OVERDUE!

Today's piece on DOD and it's "rules of engagement" on our own soil--and how it can over-ride local authority-- doesn't hide the fact that a POTUS can "claim" there are WMD's in a region that's become a political liability---and then glibly send DOD down there to declare martial law. Don't you think that's a possibility?

All this hand wringing and smoke and mirrors and billions of dollars to be spent on katrina relief would only have been a si-if bad dream if congress would only do its job and see to the over site of government programs such as the Army Core of Engineers.

The main stream media has not reported the outrageous news briefing from the DOD on their response to Katrina. The DOD response was postponed 36 hours, while people died. Why? According to the DOD to overwhelm the people of NOLA. Their response was as if the people in the convention center were from a foreign power. That view is scary and Americans better get used to a military that treats them like the Chinese Army treats the people in China.

http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20050903-3850.html
Defense Department Briefing on Ongoing National Guard Response to Hurricane Katrina

GEN. BLUM: Good morning gentlemen. I just got back late last evening from New Orleans and the stricken areas in Mississippi along the Gulf Coast, and if you want I'll give you a quick assessment of what we've seen--Dramatic changes in the last 36 hours... We waited until we had enough force in place to do an overwhelming force. Went in with police powers, 1,000 National Guard military policemen under the command and control of the adjutant general of the State of Louisiana, Major General Landreneau, yesterday shortly after noon stormed the convention center, for lack of a better term, and there was absolutely no opposition, complete cooperation, and we attribute that to an excellent plan, superbly executed with great military precision. It was rather complex. It was executed absolutely flawlessly in that there was no violent resistance, no one injured, no one shot, even though there were stabbed, even though there were weapons in the area. There were no soldiers injured and we did not have to fire a shot...

In my oppinion the Democratic and Republican parties are the most corrupt organizations in the U.S today.(not the 2nd most dangerous yet) Their sole reason for existence these days are power and money. That is why we are getting 2nd and 3rd rate people put up by them for office. These are the people they can control. Reporters or Journalist used to be people on intergraty, that has past also. I was an Infantry man in the 40's and an expert rifleman, I would be honored to be a membe of the fireing squad for Robert Novak and the white house traitors. By Constitution deffinition

Once upon a long time ago, in perhaps an excess of civic duty, I quit a good job on Capitol Hill and joined the staff of a fledgling
Job Corps Center. Problems abounded. The administrators foundered. Enter Booz Allen Hamilton. Their fact-finders first came to ask for our description of the many across-the-board
difficulties in inventing a resident learning institution for the most hapless of America's young people. Later, in a second round, the BAH folks returned to ask our best advice for solutions. Still later, there came a tall, tanned, movie-idol handsome fellow in a black tailored suit and red tie. In our conference room, he placed before him a bound report. For more than an hour, he reviewed the findings and recommendations without opening the report volume. It was a stunning performance. It also was a near-perfect recapitulation of all the problems as we had described them and all the solutions we staffers had proposed. How could we argue with our own work? If memory serves, the Center paid more than
$200,000.00 for this extraordinary service. The Center director, who had rejected staff solutions before hiring the
"consultants,' now strove to implement every line-item of the
expensive report.

Obviously, the "democratic" in the previous post should have a small "D." Sorry!

First step towards a military dictatorship is the sense that civilian institutions of a Democratic government are somehow inferior to the military. If you think there's no chance of anything like happening in the States, recall that Salvador Allende did not expect anything like it could happen in Chile.

Gary, I think that the President excepted responsibility too. He didn't accept it, but he did except it. Right you are!

I am amazed that people expect understanding or empathy from Bush and his administration. GW is, and always will be, a supercilious preppie who functions at the problem solving level with no background, expertise or understanding. He simply executes a learned "management I" response and then is flabbergasted when reality does not conform with it. A few professionals would certainly improve the situation but they would work to standards not image.

It too big of a job for Bush,and he should say goodbye to washingyon, and go back to his Ranch>He is the worse thing that has happen to this country ever,but if he left Chenny wold take over and he is the second worse thing that has happen to this country.I forgot Tom DeLay,he should be kicked all the way back to Texas and shot.

B. Brownh should know that a state of emergency was declared by the Louisiana governor on Friday, August 26, before the storm hit. Please find a link at: http://gov.louisiana.gov/Press_Release_detail.asp?id=973

It's unfortunate that people who bother to participate in a discussion can't get their facts straight first.

Absolutely agree.

The police and the fire departments are the first responders.

Bush wants the military for emergency responses so that he can have them as a backdrop for speeches in the next homeland emergency. I understand the fire deparments were miffed when they wanted them for photo-ops with the president, while people needed to be rescued. The insubordination..... Bush probably wanted to replay the day he was on the heap in New York with the firemen.

John K has his head in the sand,just as many of the Republicans, who would have voted for Hitler, if he had run on the Reuplican ticket.

This is a wake up call for poor people, that when things like the Hurriane happines, you are on your own. No Bush does not care about blacks, especially the poor ones. I want someone to explain why 34 people had to die in a nursing home in America.

Bill,

Nice to read your insights again. I continues to amaze me how Bush "groupthink" and hubris infects all areas of our lives. Especially Irag military troops and hurricane victums.

We are slow to hold Bush accountable because, to reduce our fear we want to believe that "daddy" will take care of us. He seems to be "Teflon" number two.

What a stupid and tendentious analysis. Inevitably the government is going to plan for a wide range of scenarios. In fact, they would be IRRESPONSIBLE not to do so. You have not proven, however, that the government considered all these scenarios EQUALLY PROBABLE - and if they did, this would be grounds for severe criticism. In fact, the National Planning Scenarios document specifically states that the scenarios are NOT ranked in terms of the probability that they will occur. Thus, all you're really saying is that the government thinks a wide range of disasters could potentially occur, of which hurricanes are a small subset. Wow, color me impressed.

What an evil government we have, that plans for a wide range of contingencies...

Hi Bill Arkin -- we are organizing a conference in October in Chincoteague for national security whistleblowers. Please let anyone know who may be interested to contact us. Perhaps you might come and give a rousing speech?

BTW, we've got a blog too (http://pogoblog.typepad.com). Keep in touch, your fans,

Beth Daley
Project On Government Oversight http://www.pogo.org

What is the staus of the investigation of the anthrax attacks in 2001?

Back to the color-coded terror alerts:

It seems like the pre-election priority of the Dept of Homeland Security was to keep the American public in a constant state of anxiety to aid in Bush's reelection. They obviously weren't spending their time beefing up communication between the different layers of government or figuring out how to evacuate cities in times of crisis.

Gary's right, W "excepted" responsibilty. Now the "silly little bias" liberals ought to note that. And Gary should be able to get a job writing speeches for Dubya.

Gary's right, W "excepted" responsibilty. Now the "silly little bias" liberals ought to note that. And Gary should be able to get a job writing speeches for Dubya.

I lost my freedom once, not by any probable cause but by being ethnically different than the majority. This was done by the same means used today by our Adminstration actions by a few in our government. This all happpens due to our lack of diligence in questioning our government for it's actions. Hope our public will heed your warning. Politically we are corrupted and things will not change until the people demand a change

FEMA and any organization under President Bush is a target of the media and Democratic Party. A brief news release reported how successful the Department of Veterans Affairs was able to evacuate the veterans from their hospital in New Orleans, a stones throw away from Community Hospital. The VA evacuation should be compared to other hospitals and nursing homes in New Orleans and the obvious question should be asked what happended elsewhere? And why? The mayor of New Orleans and Governor both screwed up and should have resigned instead of the FEMA Director becoming the problem rather than solution. Instead we have President Bush apologizing for them and himself.

FEMA and any organization under President Bush is a target of the media and Democratic Party. A brief news release reported how successful the Department of Veterans Affairs was able to evacuate the veterans from their hospital in New Orleans, a stones throw away from Community Hospital. The VA evacuation should be compared to other hospitals and nursing homes in New Orleans and the obvious question should be asked what happended elsewhere? And why? The mayor of New Orleans and Governor both screwed up and should have resigned instead of the FEMA Director becoming the problem rather than solution. Instead we have President Bush apologizing for them and himself.

Don't we mean WEATHER of mass destruction?

Hear Hear is all I can say..Of course we will be accused of being anti American etc etc..if you speak against the administration and while Bush accepted responsibility that is only to make those of you who are blinded to the real facts feel better. After all you wouldnt want to admit that you possibly voted the wrong man in. When that happened, all we could say, those of us whose gut instincts told us worse things were going to happen if he was re-elected...could only say ..yall will get what you deserve. But we were wrong, once again money talks and to heck with those of lesser means. That has always been a republican theme and some things never change..Republicans for big business and Democrats for the people...
So, I pray yall keep the dust stirred up and get the answers, otherwise it will be swept under the rug just as fox news predicted this morning...
I know I will be praying and doing what I can, you see there are some Christians who know what the truth truly is...

Responding to Emily's question about the lack of terror alerts since the 2004 election: the sad pattern is that every time election polls showed Kerry gaining over Bush the Dept of Homeland Security suddenly had a credible threat and raised the terror alert. The pattern became so predictable that it was laughable (although the "joke" was in rather poor taste). Look back over the news archives and you'll see the pattern: Bush sinks (or Kerry gains) in the polls -> DHS raises security alert -> Bush rises in election polls -> security alert quietly slips back down at a later date.
Some people seem to have no shame.

I feel Mr. Brown was set up also but not by the President. This all starts at local,then county, then state levels before it goes federal. The people who are in charge of Louisana are to blame because they waited to call for help. Mr. Brown was in Baton Rouge waiting 24hours before it hit to go to New Orleans. They didn't call for help in that time. He couldn't go without a disaster being declared by the governor who is nothing but a bias democrat as is the whole state of Louisana.
I commend Mr. Brown and think he did what he could and his main thing was to save lives and people were going in and shooting at the helicopters trying to save and rescue them. I'm also proud to call him my oldest brother.

For the first time in his adminstration W finally did the right thing and took responsibility for something. Perhaps he's finally on track to learn from his mistakes rather than just deny they ever happened.

What weapons of mass destruction?
I'm sorry, I thought that the reason we were at war was to defend the oil supply from terrorists. At least I think that is the latest version....a little closer to the truth at least.

Shouldn't using depleted uranium in Iraq and Afghanistan put the USA onto a terrorist list of some kind? So far we've left over 4,000 tons of it behind. Just ask a veteran with Gulf War Syndrome what it can do to the human body. http://www.infowars.com/video/promo/beyond_treason/

The double standards are blatant, and very destructive. We've invaded two countries looking to win a war on terror. Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black?

I think that nuclear weapons are the deadliest of all yet we seek to use them in the Middle East. I think that the world is a much more dangerous place! The only people that are benefiting from the war in Iraq are running our government or are tied very closely to them. Does anyone remember who Cheney worked for, and how much profit Halliburton has made thus far? Now Halliburton is in a position to gain profits from the Katrina disaster.

I think that there is overwhelming evidence that our government knew in advance that 9-11 was going to happen. I think that the motive is clear, and that only the biggest lies are defendable. Why has Bush basically said that investigating 9-11 is a crime, and that conspiracy theorists should not be listened to? I find the whole thing to be appalling. After taking a look at the reopen911.org site I have no doubts.

America better wake up or every thing that made our country great is going to go up in smoke. The New World Order is not looking out for our personal freedoms or liberty!

What a ridiculous "scorecard" analysis! FEMA has real problems that go beyond Brown and even beyond politics. Can you spell "bureaucracy"?
And then, there's the inconvenient fact that neither FEMA nor Bush put those "evacuees" in the Superdome or the Convention Center, then prevented help to them. Credit for that goes to two organizations named "Nagin" and "Blanco."

What a ridiculous "scorecard" analysis! FEMA has real problems that go beyond Brown and even beyond politics. Can you spell "bureaucracy"?
And then, there's the inconvenient fact that neither FEMA nor Bush put those "evacuees" in the Superdome or the Convention Center, then prevented help to them. Credit for that goes to two organizations named "Nagin" and "Blanco."

What a ridiculous "scorecard" analysis! FEMA has real problems that go beyond Brown and even beyond politics. Can you spell "bureaucracy"?
And then, there's the inconvenient fact that neither FEMA nor Bush put those "evacuees" in the Superdome or the Convention Center, then prevented help to them. Credit for that goes to two organizations named "Nagin" and "Blanco."

As long as you are looking at Katrina in the context of national security, you may be interested in the story about Blackwater Security establishing a presence in New Orleans. (Here is a link: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/091005A.shtml
). I'm not sure how extensive their operations are, or how far they will go, but the use of paramilitary mercenaries in a situation like this disaster is truly disturbing. Not to mention the disparity in cost between what these jokers demand and what the government pays the troops.

Be fair? Are the dead and dying being fair? I'm tired of the apologists for the cronyism in the Bush Government. Just like in Iraq, United States Government screw-ups over Katrina are being lauded as some sort of success by the Bush Administration and their apologists. "We're looking into what went right!" What? Get a clue! Stop being "fair" and start getting real. How many people would still be alive if all the hype about preparedness had been real? Be fair. Go to New Orleans and take the bodies out of the cellars. Be fair. Go to Iraq and show the world one WMD...instead of thousands of bodies and tens of thousands of maimed and crippled human beings.

Fair? Yeah, who got the money? Who got paid for those decisions? Who controls the oil? In cases where there is incompetence, in a government as sophisticated as the USG, you can bet that there is someone making money off the dead and the dying. So, I ask for justice. What's your definition of "fair"?

I hate to say it but it is the ignorant that think that the US Government has no impact on their lives. The US is reputedly a representative democracy--guess whose responsibility it is to ensure that the US Government does the least evil in the world, is held responsible for its actions? So, rather than look to the fairness, I'd say take responsibility for what has occurred and take action. Stop watching it play out on television, with commercials thrown in so it all feels normal to you.

Welcome to Blogistan, Arkin!

I just linked:

http://badattitudes.com/MT/archives/002994.html

(P.S.: Jerry Doolittle, creator of Bad Attitudes, was a Post reporter and editor in a previous life.)

My top national security question actually predates Katrina. What I would most like to have investigated is why, from September 11 until the 2004 election, were we constantly bombarded with terrorist threats? It seemed like every couple of months the country or parts of it was put on "orange alert". Then we were all told to buy duct tape and plastic sheeting and create safe rooms.

Since Bush has been re-elected, there have been no national alerts. While I know it's easy to read conspiracy in this, I really would like to know the official explanation.

I have heard (though I didn't see it myself) that after resigning as Homeland Security sec, Tom Ridge went on David Letterman and lampooned the color-coded alert system.

Also, is it true that the new FEMA head was actually the one who came up with the duct tape warning?

So let me get this straight...When a disaster happens, attack the administration as viciously as you possibly can and demand that the head of FEMA is fired. When Bush actually does that and even better promotes a Democrat(David Paulison) that you can't attack, you then claim that MB was set up.

No my friend, YOU were set up. Bush has done it to you Democrats again. What's more you are again put into the position of reveling in misery and suffering of others while refusing to be a part of any solution.

Last year, four major hurricanes hit Florida. Ostensibly, none of the major breakdowns that occured in the response to Katrina occurred then. Granted, none of those flooded a major city, but still, why did it go right in Florida and so terribly wrong in Louisiana and Mississippi?

How is the response from any agency of the government different for WMD or natural disaster? It seems to me that all require food, water, clean air, health care and re-location of survivors. Why focus on semantics or "counting words"? Disaster is disaster in my book.

I appreciate your comments, and I appreciate myself for finding your blog:-)
I wonder though at Brown's qualifications to resist this "priority wave" that you have described. It seems he had no real background and probably no confidence to take his shoe off and pound on the desk of his superiors about his department's unique missions. Just the first couple of priorities could be endlessly prepared for.

William,

Thanks for putting this on a perspective that although obvious, not many have rationalized yet.

Natural Disasters take place every year in many shapes...Is amazing how we have come to underestimate Nature's Power. Regardless of the political aspect of your blog. Which I second, this is also a call for the general public to re think their relationship with nature.

Great column today and I look forward to reding more!

It seems that no matter how much or how often the "truth" comes out about Bush and his war in Iraq, Homeland security, the Patriot Act, even Enron - nothing changes. As you wrote: "note to self, say nothing bad about the troops." It seems that no matter what one says about Bush, if its critical, then its against the troops or against freedom.

Why do you hate Freedom?

As I have pointed out before in other forums, Michael Brown was really never the problem at FEMA. He was simply a consequence of the arrogance, stupidity and blind, ideological devotion of the man who hired him, George W. Bush.

Now as one renowned columnist put it this morning, Bush haunts a ravaged New Orleans looking for that elusive "bullhorn moment" complete oblivious to the reality that his blundering in Iraq, his hokey devotion to supply side economics and now his stinginess in funding the most crucial agencies of our government in responding to natural disasters, has undone that moment in the eyes of American voters.

Someone mentioned "bias liberal" here. Really? Is this person in denial? I am from India and Mumbai had 37.1" rain in one day in July. Here are some facts about those 2-3 fateful days in Mumbai compared with what happened in New Orleans. Yes, I understand the effect of a Hurricane Vs heavy monsoon rains, but the response was shameful consdering that the US is a super power.

Inches of rain in new orleans due to hurricane katrina... 18
Inches of rain in mumbai (July 26th).... 37.1

Population of new orleans ... 484,674
Population of mumbai.... 12,622,500

Deaths in new orleans within 48 hours of katrina...100
Deaths in mumbai within 48hours of rain.. 37.

Number of people to be evacuated in new orleans ... entire city..wohh
Number of people evacuated in mumbai...10,000

Cases of shooting and violence in new orleans ...Countless
Cases of shooting and violence in mumbai.. NONE

Time taken for US army to reach new orleans... 48hours
Time taken for Indian army and navy to reach mumbai...12hours - and they were roundly criticized for the delay.

Status 48hours later...new orleans is still waiting for relief, army and electricty
Status 48hours later..mumbai is back on its feet and business is as usual

USA...world's most developed nation
India...third world country..

Oops...did one get the last fact wrong???

Bill,

Sounds like an excellent idea. Hopefully the feedback and comments will be constructive and inquisitive and not defensive/attacking and partisan (Gary Branch). Some honesty, truth, and cohesiveness are essential right now when the level of transparency has seemingly disappeared in government and many people appear uninterested in facts in the face of loyalty (regardless of consequence). Press On!
By the way, can you comment on "American Hiroshima" at some point. Google it for the basics. Thanks.

As an ex DHS contractor I can tell you the game is all about generating fear and mania in the public. Since FEMA failed with Katrina does this mean we now have to invade another Third World country to make up for it?Maybe we could just say they are hiding WMD's in Louisiana so they can get all the attention they need from the US government? Or give another tax cut to the oil companies and the rest of George Bush's rich friends?
The Bush brand of Fascism seems to be unraveling in the face of public scrutiny. Robbing the poor to feed the rich doesn't really seem to help America as a whole. Maybe George should just go back on vacation with "his base" until all these problems faced by "the little people" go away?

I'm not sure "set up" is the right terminology here. If anything, Brown was in the wrong position at the worst possible time. Regardless of what he knew or didn't know coming in as the head of FEMA, Brown had a responsibility to the public. By most accounts (save for President Bush), he failed to meet that responsibility.

I think the President excepted responsiblity you silly little bias liberal. Stop the hate and be fair

Boy, do we need you. Where have you been so long? I hope you report on the spending binge and the connections between Red Cross and Homeland Security. Why does Bush et al push the Red Cross so? How politically connected to Bush administration is Red Cross?