An Unmentionable Question

A Question That Shouldn’t Be Asked Ever, but Must Be Asked Now:

The political fallout from the Katrina disaster raises some ugly thoughts in my head – thoughts I’m embarrassed to admit to, though I’m going to anyway. Suppose the next humanitarian crisis to hit America – natural disaster or otherwise – happens to land on a predominantly white, middle-class area. Further, suppose a Republican – perhaps even still George W Bush – is in the White House. Question: Is there a possible model of federal response that would not be open to damning criticisms from the opposition? Especially if GWB still has the federal reigns in his hands, it’s a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don’t scenario. Succeed in drastically improving the swiftness and efficacy of the federal segments of the relief effort, and you’ve shown what a drastic disparity exists between the resource management for poor nonwhites versus well-to-do whites. On the other hand, fail miserably and you’ve shown that the system is “still broken” and that no lessons have been learned.

Granted, there are unmentioned upsides to the fallout from a hypothetical success case, at least inasmuch as there are better possible responses to the inevitable criticisms. But as much as I hate to be thinking this way in a time like this, I think it’s crucial that this question be put to the most vocal critics of the Bush administration now, not later. The question is “if the next disaster happens to hit America in a wealthy or white area, how would you define success for the federal response?”  Without the opposition being overwhelmingly documented as on-record beforehand demanding improvement in such cases, I fear that charges of racism are only likely to increase in volume if the relief efforts are perceived as “better” than those in response to Katrina.

Deroy Murdock on Hurricane Katrina on National Review Online

I recommend reading this entire article, but this short summary contains some of the more noteworthy incidents of criminal activity in Katrina's aftermath:

Deroy Murdock on Hurricane Katrina on National Review Online: "For all their mismanagement, Bush, Brown, Blanco, and Nagin have had to operate during what likely is the worst natural disaster in American history. Katrina flattened and soaked 90,000 square miles that remain in a state of emergency — an area nearly that of the United Kingdom. The problems these officials faced were (and are) mammoth, Herculean, and gargantuan. For all their shortcomings, at least they have not operated from malice.

That cannot be said of the shameful New Orleanians who darkened and complicated an already grim situation. Few begrudge those who stole water and food to stay alive. Those criminals who ripped off TV sets, jewelry, and enough pairs of jeans to complete their Christmas shopping four months early behaved without a thread of ethical justification. However, one at least can see how they personally would benefit from their thievery.

But imagine the unvarnished evil of a sniper who fired at doctors and nurses who tried to evacuate patients from Charity Hospital. Terrified of bullets, medical personnel kept the infirm in sweltering rooms where some expired.

A flotilla of private boats prepared last week to rescue stranded hurricane survivors. The boat owners turned back when they were shot at. Those dying on their rooftops had to wait longer, perhaps fatally, thanks to their own murderous neighbors.

Scott Harney posted this news on the New Orleans Times-Picayune’s website:

Spoke to my uncle this morning (Thurs) in Riverbend near Carrolton and St. Charles. He and several (elderly) residents are holed up there and the security situation is getting desperate. Heat is extreme, and there are roving gangs of looters with guns. The looters have also commandeered a backhoe and are ramming homes…While Leake Avenue and River Road are dry, they are afraid to leave as they fear they will be shot, carjacked etc.

Michael Shellie of Oregon told the New York Post about looters who broke into his New Orleans hotel: “They threw everything out the windows just for the fun of watching it crash — televisions, vending machines, beds. And they robbed the manager at gunpoint, so he fled.”

The Saks Fifth Avenue near the fashionable River Walk was sacked over the weekend. Soon thereafter, it burned in yet another fire that authorities blamed on arsonists.

Rather than applaud as 14 contractors crossed the Danziger Bridge to fix the 17th Street Canal that faltered and submerged their city, a well-armed band of hoodlums instead opened fire on these engineers. NOPD officers, on hand to provide security, shot back at these hooligans. In a magnificent and morally pristine use of force, the NOPD killed two of these goons and wounded two others in a firefight. They also captured two more who fled, one of whom was injured in an exchange of bullets.

If these derelicts hindered the levee-doctors’ work for even a quarter hour, that would have been 15 minutes too many. Katrina’s still-trapped victims can thank these criminals, not George W. Bush, for this latest delay in getting help.

90% of MoveOn.org readers agree with this:

This truly frightening bit is that this was the #2 Action Item on MoveOn.org as of 1:55pm CST Thursday Sept 8th...

ActionForum: "Is this country headed toward a revolution?

When the guardsmen were sent back from Iraq to restore order in New Orleans, they described the looters as 'insurgents'.

Bush sent troops but held back the Red Cross and refused many offers for help. That does not look good.

In case of confrontation between the police and demonstrators, in Washington DC or elsewhere, I have little doubt that Bush will not hesitate to use force. It is clear that if asked to shoot to kill 'insurgents', most soldiers and guardsmen would not dare disobey orders.

Against that backdrop, will civil disobedience and passive resistance work?

Would Blacks in this country have obtained civil rights without bloody confrontations with the police?

I really think that a labor action is the best way to deal with the current situation but if one chooses to demonstrate and confront the police, he better be ready. One should ask oneself: 'what would I do if confronted with a tank?'.

It becomes clearer every day that we are in a dictatorship. I say: if we opt for a confrontation, we cannot be choosy. We have to bring in all the forces that are hostile to the present order. I can understand that some would be reluctant to associate Farrakhan with this movement but, let's face it, Bush is not scared of us 'liberals'.

When we choose to take our message to the streets, we have to be ready for a bloody confrontation with the police or the army. In that case, why not put all the chances on our side. We have to force Bush to resign. That's the only way out and that's what is at stake today.

].[Scarier still is that (presumably the same) 90% of MoveOn.org readers who voted seet this as an item deserving Five out of Five stars in importance.]

Democratic Underground - I did not stop to help a W supporter today.

This is really sick:

Democratic Underground - I did not stop to help a [Bush]* supporter today.

Note: "Bush" is apparently replaced with an asterisk, either by the author of that posting, or by the board software settings.

Blogcritics.org: I Won't Contribute to Katrina

Holy cow, this is unbelievable:
Blogcritics.org: I Won't Contribute to Katrina

CNN.com - Black lawmakers angry about federal response to Katrina - Sep 2, 2005

CNN.com - Black lawmakers angry about federal response to Katrina - Sep 2, 2005:

"Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Illinois, said too much focus has been placed on the looting, taking away from what should be the priority: getting food, water and stability to the tens of thousands of displaced victims."

One could say that too much focus has been placed on the Bush administration, taking away from same admittedly high priorities.

Federal agents are charging a man with shooting at a military rescue helicopter in New Orleans - MSNBC.com

I've heard said that the shooting at helicopters story was apocryphal, which makes me wonder if the feds are charging a mannequin. You'll need to scroll to the last item in the 'other developments' bullet-point list to see the quote on MSNBC:

Bush to seek another $40 billion for Katrina aid - Hurricane Katrina - MSNBC.com: "Federal agents are charging a man with shooting at a military rescue helicopter in New Orleans. Wendell Bailey was arrested Monday night after gunshots were fired from an apartment building in the Algiers neighborhood. He is charged with trying to damage an aircraft and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm."

New Orleans' Unfinest Hour (David Frum)

David Frum answers a smattering of Katrina-related criticisms of the Bush administration from the left.

City of New Orleans Emergency Preparedness

From the horse's mouth... what the City should have done: