Maybe there is some political argument for declaring that the Federal Emergency Management Agency “is in shambles and beyond repair,” as senators did in releasing the results of a Senate inquiry Thursday. But many Americans will be skeptical of the call to scrap and reinvent the nation’s emergency response infrastructure, in light of the troubled track record of the new Department of Homeland Security. Especially with tornado season in progress, hurricane season starting June 1 and the threat of further terrorist attacks ongoing, this is one “bumbling bureaucracy” that needs to be fixed as soon as possible, and without closing for business.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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17 Comments
“Maybe there is some political argument”
??????
Some political argument like Joe “I heart bush” Lieberman getting his butt kicked in his effort to hold his seat?
Like Joe needing to show he is NOT controlled by the war daddy? Like joe is gonna hold his breath and turn blue until we believe he doesnt bring the preznit breakfast in bed?
Like those political arguments?
FEMA worked fine before Bush put his cronies in charge of it.
The long term answer in to make peace with the Arabs. We can put things back to September 10 if we work at it. It’s really not that hard to do.
We cannot afford not to, and defending this country is impossible.
The Arabs have endorsed peace plan after peace plan. They want peace and they have the means to control any dissidents within their countries.
If the Arab League makes peace, best no Arab even think about breaking it. That they can deal with best.
FEMA was too slow. Let’s feplace it with the new ‘Fast Action Response Team’.
I’m sure the democrats will ‘pass’ it.
Well Hank, the Republicans already have!
AIPAC, according to their website, just pushed a bill through congress putting sanctions on Iran. They’re asking you to write to your congressman and thank him { You click and a form E-Mail is on its way to piss-off a potential of 50 million suicide bombers }.
The Iranians know that they are a target for nuclear weapons from Israel and from the United States.
We are forcing them into a defensive posture, placing both the United States and our troops in Iraq in grave danger.
The 3 dollar a gallon for gasoline is telling us all about the seriousness of this situation which Sharon and Bush has placed us.
Sharon is now gone, but knew how far he could push this situation but Bush, without Sharon, doesn’t have a clue.
The current leadership in Israel and Bush are subject to make a terrible error in judgement and Iran is a country which has said they can raise one million suicide bombers.
Iran also has missiels which can reach Europe and Israel. Our borders are an open invitation for a full-scale attack.
We have little to no defense for either a land, sea or air defense.
If Bush took his head out of the sand of immigration and set about making peace with the Arabs, that could be done in a week.
All three networks made no mention of why oil is 75 dollars a barrel.
No mention of threats to the oil fields of the Middle East.
Pounded away on oil company profits { didn’t mention that oil companies have to pay 75 a barrel for oil to make gasoline }.
Gold…..630Silver 12
When the US economy crashes, dollars will be worthless, so precious medals are the hedge.
What would you all say to adding another branch to the service; a disaster management corps, with a small full-time contingent and a much larger reserve, trained to handle disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, etc. It could be prepared to deploy anywhere in the US or the world on short notice whenever needed, and would have supplies, rescue and medical teams and transport on hand. It would be a viable alternative for those who wish to serve, but don’t like the idea of shooting people, and would probably bring us a somewhat better image than invading small countries. It wouldn’t replace FEMA, which is supposed to be a longer-term money fix, but would respond to emergencies in a matter of hours instead of months, and free up FEMA to do the necessary pencil-pushing.
My gosh Hank how very clever you are! Tee-hee-hee
Interesting take Jed. I have always wondered why in this modern day we don’t have an international rescue type operation.If separate but similar to the military is what you mean for a US type service, it’s viable. But we are rightfully very careful at allowing military too much leeway or control so the separation would have to be very clear.
I think FEMA will be ok….once bush gets his hands off it. If we completely reorganize every aspect of government he has screwed up, we should be very busy for a long time.
End FEMA? You mean give it another name.
JR,Agreed, it should be separate from the military, but have, or have access to, helicopters, transport planes, food, tents and medical sevices, just as the military does, and a reserve corps with regular training and research in rescue and evacuation procedures. Maybe model it’s structure on the best of the Peace Corps.
It should be the job of the National Guard to secure our borders and to provide the bulk of disaster relief. Sadly, the traitor in chief has the Guard in Iraq, fighting and killing and dying for israel and haliburton!
V.L.R.B!!!
JR - an interesting idea. I think such an outfit could also provide back-up in situations where the military ahs front-line work. A MASH unit is a MASH unit; whether it be Baghdad or the hills of Pakistan after an earthquake.
Do they make a spade/shovel attachment for the M-16? I see a potential “research project” for Jed’s idea.
I don’t know if we need to redo disaster managment, The Army Corps of Engineers told the administration that better levees were needed. This is science, folks, but it isn’t inter planetary rocket science. New Orleans flooded because weak levees failed. The feds KNEW the levees were weak. But the feds decided to do NOTHING about it.
Another thing: environmental scientists said long ago : leave a swamp buffer between New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico: let the swamps absorb and diminiish hurricane flood energy. But planners ignored this.
We need after-the-fact disaster management less than preemptive disaster prevention/mitigation.
Heartlander, you probably want to include not only the Feds, but the government of Louisanna and New Orleans.
Brian,Swords into plowshares? A wood handle is cheaper and more practical than an M-16, and might engender less suspicion among those being rescued! No, lets leave the shooting to the other branches; this is about saving lives.