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lets look at the ramifications of the natural disaster in new Orleans

1-not Russian or American weather control modification. Harp. If govt, or the oil companies, assuming of course that there is a difference, wanted to shut down oil refineries to raise prices, an attack on the refineries by ‘muslim terrorists" would serve far wider purposes. So I say it was ma nature.

Which of course leads us to ponder: most destructive tsunami in history last year. Now the most destructive hurricane in history. Coincidence? Or is ma nature getting really pissed off? The saddest fact is that is the poor of the earth that suffered most in both tragedies. Why is that? Im sure pat Robertson has an answer, but I don’t.

By the way, cuba which won an international award last year for their superb level of preparation for the hurricane that hit them, has offered over 1000 doctors to be flown into the south to help. The offer of course was refused. Will we get a similar award for our preparation? That pipsqueak nation of Cuba more prepared than the mighty us of a? Many other nations have offered help. Those offers were also refused. I wonder how the people of our south feel about those refusals. I wonder if the bush govt cares how they feel.

Next item: since fema, the fed emergency management agency was spectacularly unprepared in new orleans, even after they were warned by being similarly unprepared for the hurricanes in fla some years back, is it fair to question just what is the real purpose of fema, since disaster preparation does not seem to be its mission.

But to me, the major take home lesson is how futile it is to believe that we can prevent terrorism in our nation. How many American cities exist as they do only because they are protected by dams and levees holding back rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, whose levels are higher than the city streets? How many cities would be flooded if nearby dams, or levees failed? Now into this reality, insert a single terrorist with a backpack filled with explosives and a timer. Some guy sits on a levee bank fishing or eating his lunch and when he leaves, his backpack remains. Some time later Bang goes the backpack or briefcase bomb, the dam or levee is breached and millions of gallons of water inundates the city. New Orleans is not unique. Sacramento could easily suffer a similiar disaster. How do we protect ourselves from this possibility? Same thing with subways. Terrorist leaves backpack under seat during rush hour, gets off, with timer set to go off a few minutes later. The train is crowded with rush hour commuters and no one notices. Terrorist is gone off the train and into the crowd as bomb goes off at next station. How do you prevent that? Answer: we cannot. The whole idea that some govt agency can protect us from terrorists is a myth, pure and simple.

Next item: hurricane Katrina sure messed up the gulf coast and new Orleans and the outpouring of aid from ordinary American citizens is a heartwarming response. I have friends contributing food, clothing, even flying to the south to help out. But does anyone else step back and wonder: the citizens of iraq have been suffering in far greater measure for some years now, and its not nature that has caused their suffering, but our loved ones and fellow Americans, using our tax dollars, who are inflicting the suffering. Now compare how americans respond to the 2 different peoples suffering. One with open arms and wallets, and the other with indifference. Who is suffering more, American southerners or Iraqis? I find it sad and disturbing, how bout you?

Next item: I could read you countless articles on how unprepared fema and other govt agencies were for this eventuality. Is this criticism fair? Lets be clear. This disaster in new Orleans was predicted. It was not if but when. So Lets look at that. Say you and I were appointed to prepare America for a disaster either natural or terrorist. Do we sit around waiting or do we prepare? What could we do to prepare? For starters: stockpile food, water, blankets, tents and temporary shelters in warehouses on military bases all over our nation. Have cargo aircraft and helicopters designated to be immediately available to ferry those supplies wherever needed. Isn’t that a no brainer?. In the military its called quick response or quick strike teams. They practice to be ready. How bout adding portable generators? desalinization equipment to make potable water from salt water? How bout medical supplies, portable medical stations and field hospitals? The us military has had all this for decades. They know how to do it. All they need are the orders. Why have these orders never been given?

Next tiem: Gasoline and diesel are over $3 per gallon. Meanwhile oil companies are reporting obscene profits for the last quarter. Whats wrong with this picture? Do these figures add up? Yes they do. Its thievery folks. Highwayb robbery. Its quite simple. The oil companies are stealing from us. And the govt allows it. Why? Because the oikl industry is our govt. the oil industry, along with big pharmaceuticals, big militarsy contractors, have purchased our govt. they run the show, they make the dicisions, not us. And the latest is record profits for the oil industry while they charge us record prices. They’re stealing from us folks, just like the electricity producers did a few years back. They got caught. They admitted the theft. And what happened then? Did you get any refund checks in your mail? Did you get a statement on your pge bill stating you get a credit for overharges? Of course not. They are stealing from us again folks. And the govt is letting them because the govt is them