When The Levees Broke.
Posted by: Malky on 19 December 2006
Watched Spike Lee's extraordinary documentary on hurricane Katrina and the U.S. government's response to the tragedy in New Orleans. Lee dispenses with any editorial commentary. He lets those involved speak for themselves. What emerges is a combination of local petty political squabbling and federal incompetence/ indifference that led to so much tragic and needless loss of life. Hard to believe that the third world scenes you were watching were taking place in the richest, most powerful country on earth. Part two tonight, 21:00, BBC4.
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Deane F
I hope we see it over here. I found the whole Katrina thing astounding. I couldn't understand why, with the amount the US spends on their military, the skies over New Orleans weren't black with choppers dropping off ration packs and machinery.
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Big Brother
I wasn't surprised by the "incompetence" of Bushco ect in responding to those in need. For them, the whole idea of helping the downtrodden is rather infra dig. Something about it just makes their skin crawl. Also, naturally they just basically don't give a shit.
Since I live out in the country and don't have access to cable, I get mostly the Spanish channels and religious programs on those rare (once every 6 mos) occasions when I watch the tube. Saw Pat Boone on a show not long after the New Orleans flood incident. He suggested that this was God's retribution for a plaque with the Ten Commandnents being taken down somewhere in Alabama by court order. You see, God was angry at some wealthy judge in Alabama so he decided to kill 10,000 poor black people in New Orleans. Makes sense , no?
BB
Since I live out in the country and don't have access to cable, I get mostly the Spanish channels and religious programs on those rare (once every 6 mos) occasions when I watch the tube. Saw Pat Boone on a show not long after the New Orleans flood incident. He suggested that this was God's retribution for a plaque with the Ten Commandnents being taken down somewhere in Alabama by court order. You see, God was angry at some wealthy judge in Alabama so he decided to kill 10,000 poor black people in New Orleans. Makes sense , no?
BB
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Malky
Jeezus, where's Frank Zappa when you need him?
I thought one of the best observations came from the guy who asked "how come the 102nd Airborne can get anywhere in the world in a day and a half, and we waited five days for help from the federal government?"
I thought one of the best observations came from the guy who asked "how come the 102nd Airborne can get anywhere in the world in a day and a half, and we waited five days for help from the federal government?"
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by acad tsunami
The New Orleans Cover-Up:It wasn't Katrina
'What really happened in New Orleans
If you ask most people what caused the catastrophic flooding of New Orleans and vicinity, they'll tell you "Hurricane Katrina." Others who think they are better informed will say it was the post-storm surge that breeched the top of the levees.
Both these explanations for the disaster that killed thousands and made hundreds of thousands homeless are factually incorrect.
Hurricane Katrina did not damage New Orleans in any significant way. The storm surge did not come over the top of the levees. The levees - designed, built and maintained by the federal government - collapsed. The catastrophe in New Orleans was not a natural catastrophe. It was a government-made one.
A group of New Orleans firemen stationed in a hurricane-proof office building while the storm raged documented what happened as it happened and were then ordered not to make the video they shot available to the public or talk about what they saw.
Now, long after the fact, we're finally learning the truth'.
(From Brasscheck.com)
'What really happened in New Orleans
If you ask most people what caused the catastrophic flooding of New Orleans and vicinity, they'll tell you "Hurricane Katrina." Others who think they are better informed will say it was the post-storm surge that breeched the top of the levees.
Both these explanations for the disaster that killed thousands and made hundreds of thousands homeless are factually incorrect.
Hurricane Katrina did not damage New Orleans in any significant way. The storm surge did not come over the top of the levees. The levees - designed, built and maintained by the federal government - collapsed. The catastrophe in New Orleans was not a natural catastrophe. It was a government-made one.
A group of New Orleans firemen stationed in a hurricane-proof office building while the storm raged documented what happened as it happened and were then ordered not to make the video they shot available to the public or talk about what they saw.
Now, long after the fact, we're finally learning the truth'.
(From Brasscheck.com)
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Derek Wright
BB
Where in NM are you?
Where in NM are you?
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Big Brother
para que ?
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Derek Wright
BB
I was in Santa Fe this last October, the previous October and the previous October going back for quite a few years.
So just curious as to which part of NM you were in
we are typical tourists - trawling the public and private galleries.
I was in Santa Fe this last October, the previous October and the previous October going back for quite a few years.
So just curious as to which part of NM you were in
we are typical tourists - trawling the public and private galleries.
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Big Brother
Derek
So you missed the big rainstorm we had in NM a day or two after Katrina, rained like Noah's Ark for a day and a half, very rare for this area.
BB
So you missed the big rainstorm we had in NM a day or two after Katrina, rained like Noah's Ark for a day and a half, very rare for this area.
BB
Posted on: 19 December 2006 by Derek Wright
Yes - but we got snow on the High Road to Taos
Posted on: 20 December 2006 by Steve Toy
quote:A group of New Orleans firemen stationed in a hurricane-proof office building while the storm raged documented what happened as it happened and were then ordered not to make the video they shot available to the public or talk about what they saw.
What would have happened to them had they defied the gagging order? Firemen aren't required to sign official secrets acts, are they?
Posted on: 20 December 2006 by JonR
Big Brother/Derek,
Is there really a place in New Mexico called "Truth & Consequences" ?
Is there really a place in New Mexico called "Truth & Consequences" ?
Posted on: 20 December 2006 by full ahead
During the KATRINA/NEW ORLEANS thing,we had a friend of my wife's, from Texas USA staying with us.While watching this horror unfold,she gave up on BBC,ITN and SKY news, suggesting what we were watching was'nt actually happening and indeed was some kind of anti-American propaganda blitz.She would search for FOX NEWS on my pc where the truth could be found.
And no she was'nt takeing the piss.!!
George
And no she was'nt takeing the piss.!!
George
Posted on: 20 December 2006 by Derek Wright
JonR
Actually it is called Truth or Consequences named after the Radio and TV Game show, it used to be called Hot Springs - do a Google to get the story of the name change
On the local TV stations it is referred to as T or C
shortened to and pronounced Torc with a hard C
I have stayed there several times, about 50 miles north of it is a good bird reserve and it is not far from the Trinity test where the first Nuclear bomb was tested in 1945.
A little to the north west in Arizona is another town named after game - Show Low - again Google for the stor of how it was named after or because of a card game.
Actually it is called Truth or Consequences named after the Radio and TV Game show, it used to be called Hot Springs - do a Google to get the story of the name change
On the local TV stations it is referred to as T or C
shortened to and pronounced Torc with a hard C
I have stayed there several times, about 50 miles north of it is a good bird reserve and it is not far from the Trinity test where the first Nuclear bomb was tested in 1945.
A little to the north west in Arizona is another town named after game - Show Low - again Google for the stor of how it was named after or because of a card game.
Posted on: 20 December 2006 by JonR
Cheers Derek, thanks for the info.