Jackson Free Press

This came today from a filmmaker we know—a Mississippi native who divides his time between Oxford (Miss.) and Sweden. His message is important:

I see you and the JFP are frantically busy with the fallout of Katrina - I'm watching the story from Sweden and sickened by the incompetence that made it so bad, and heartened to see what you and others in Jackson are doing.

But there's a part of the story that isn't getting adequately through to the US.

Sweden put together disaster relief teams last week - they wanted to be ready when permission came through to enter the US to provide help for Katrina.

They had people who can provide clean drinking water for 20,000; communications teams experienced in disaster work; and teams that can put together emergency housing.

They've been ready since last Wednesday, waiting at the airport, waiting for permission to enter the US and help. They could have been there 9 hours after getting permission from the State Department to come in.

As of yesterday, permission still hasn't come.

Sweden is not alone, 60 countries have offered help, I'm sure many were
like Sweden and already had their teams together and gear packed aboard planes.

Bush did nothing, and wouldn't let others come in and do the job either.

I just wanted to make sure you knew this part of the story.

Peace, and keep at it.

Kent

Previous Commentsshow

Look, Im not one to often take up for the President, but I think its awfully premature, even sinful, to now blame this disaster on Bush. I am sure Kent understands that the President does not manage every logistical detail in this country. I think this story shows utter immaturity and and obvious disconnect from the reality of what is going own down there. My whole family is from South Mississippi and New Orleans and the last thing they are worried about right now is The President of the United States and what he did and didnt do. They have been working hard to help one another- not play the blame game. We can all agree that it is unfortunate that the response took as long as it did- but I think playing this crap right now is extremely disrepectful to everyone involved- this is no time for spolied disconnected naysayers to be adding to an already awful situation- have some damn respect.

bluedog

Sep 5 2005

I don't think anyone is blaming the "disaster" on Mr. Bush or anyone else. However, people are trying to figure out what happened to keep help from getting to these people, both in Louisiana and in Mississippi, for so long. Being that another hurricane, or other disaster, could brew at any time, this is not a conversation that can wait a couple weeks. This ain't about respect; it's about saving lives. Let's get our priorities straight. You also might note that the White House itself is playing the "blame game"ótrying to position the crisis as the "fault" of Louisiana officials. It'll be interesting to see if they do the same for Mississippi, being that Mr. Barbour is one of their own.

DonnaLadd

Sep 5 2005

Also, bluedog, if the public doesn't put pressure on the White House RIGHT NOW, we will still have folks in charge of emergency management who have no friggin' idea what they're doing, like "Brownie" and Allbaugh and all those guys. See the Times-Picayune's open letter to President Bush.

DonnaLadd

Sep 5 2005

ìThe response of this country has been amazing.î ñPresident George W. Bush Yes, Mr. President. The response of this country HAS been amazing. It is the response of the government that has been deplorable.

Lori G

Sep 5 2005

The sheer arrogance of it all! I read somewhere that the Russians has a similar run in with whoever it was that didn't grant permission (maybe Bush, maybe not. I don't know). At best, this only further reenforces the notion that Washington's response is, at best, bureaucratic bungling. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if it was more of this "protect our country from terrorists" matter, at least where formal procedure is concerned. I wouldn't even be surprised if it were rooted in petty "philosophical" arrogance -- Americans are supposed to be self-sufficient -- Image Is Everything!

Philip

Sep 5 2005

This speaks to Ali's point well ... it just warms, and hurts, the heart to think of all these people desperately trying to fend for themselves and for others while the government dragged its wingtips (and Farragamos). Biloxi Sun-Herald: Fillling the Void Across the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast with government response spotty, private individuals, business groups, and churches from all over are filling the void. Business owners roll into towns with tractor-trailer loads of sandwiches and muffins. Doctors arrive with their trunks filled with medical supplies. Church groups come with U-Hauls of water, diapers and coloring books for kids. With nobody to direct them, these spontaneous relief workers pull into church parking lots that show signs of activity or simply set up shop in debris-filled parking lots of now-vacant businesses. Judy Keeling and her family, members of the 30-member Oak Grove Gospel Mission in Marion, Ill., drove 600 miles in an RV with a trailer full of supplies. In 36 hours she figured they'd served 2,000 people, including the Harrison County sheriff and a few National Guardsmen. "People who didn't have anything drive up for baby supplies, crying and thanking us for helping them," said Keeling. She said almost as soon as they fired up their kettles and started making soup, independent truckers began arriving looking for a place to drop off food and water. "One guy with a truck full of frozen sandwiches and muffins said the Salvation Army turned him away because they didn't accept frozen food," said Keeling. By Sunday afternoon the sandwiches and muffins were gone. On Sunday morning Pass Road Baptist Church was just a house of worship. That afternoon it was a full-blown relief center with an organized food and clothing distribution system run by the Volunteers of America and a medical clinic staffed by volunteers from other Baptist churches. One congregation member became a hastily-deputized FEMA agent, manning a table in the church foyer, taking names and addresses and damage reports. It was unclear when the federal government would receive the reports or address them.

DonnaLadd

Sep 5 2005

even the cubans are trying to help with no response from america: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/09/05/katrina.cuba/index.html HAVANA, Cuba (CNN) -- Cuban President Fidel Castro told more than 1,500 doctors Sunday night that American officials had made "absolutely no response" to his offer to send them to the U.S. Gulf Coast to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Castro, a longtime adversary of the United States, initially offered to send 1,100 doctors and at least 26 tons of supplies and equipment, but the Communist leader announced Sunday during a televised speech that he had increased the number of physicians to 1,586. Each doctor would carry about 27 pounds of medicine. "You could all be there right now lending your services, but 48 hours have passed since we made this offer, and we have received absolutely no response," Castro said at Havana's Palace of the Revolution. "We continue to wait patiently for a response. In the meantime, all of you will be taking intensive courses in immunology and also something that I should be doing -- an intensive brush-up course in English.

patrick

Sep 5 2005

I'm with Philip on this one, that the government has probably refused help from other governments just for the appearance of self-sufficiency. It might be bureaucratic delay (not that such delay is a good excuse), but this administration has been so hostile to any respect (while we're throwing that word around) for international opinion that it makes one suspicious. And of course Bush does *not* want a bunch of Europeans on the ground doing what he failed to take care of himself.

Brian C Johnson

Sep 6 2005

Good points. Criticism of a public official is not always political; it is often just plain necessary based on their action, inaction or the people they put in charge of thingsóas with this disaster. However, reacting to criticism in such a way that further hurts the people is downright abhorable. This administration is nothing if not politicalóRovian, you could call it. I mean, it's a White House that won't attend soldiers' funerals, and tried to stop media from photographing caskets and TV stations from broadcasting the names of our lost soldiers. What can we really expect now? The writing has been on the wall for a long time.

DonnaLadd

Sep 6 2005

It seems Mexico IS a good neighbor!!!!! On the 6:00 local news in Dallas, Ch 5 (I think) had footage of Mexican troops crossing the border to offer aid. The tops of their trucks emblazoned with full Mexican flags. The first action of Mexican soldiers on U.S. soil since 1846 -- one action we all welcome, I'm sure. More from http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050907/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/katrina_mexico http://news.yahoo.com/s/krwashbureau/20050908/ts_krwashbureau/_wea_katrina_mexico

Philip

Sep 8 2005