America Responds

While some are trying to lay the blame for Hurricane Katrina at President Bush's feet, this president has been busy leading what is very likely the largest disaster relief effort in this nation's history. It is almost unparalleled in its scope, short of a national mobilization for war. In fact, some are calling it the "second Battle of New Orleans," referring to the War of 1812, and the comparison isn't far off. Here is just a small list of what the government is doing:

· Nearly 30,000 National Guard troops have been deployed.

· Several U.S. Navy ships, including the carrier USS Harry S. Truman and a hospital ship, are steaming toward the Gulf, with an additional 6,000 personnel.

· The Defense Department has also sent a 500-bed mobile hospital.

· The EPA issued a temporary waiver of some clean-air rules that will allow refineries in other parts of the country to produce more gasoline to try to make up for the lost capacity in the Gulf.

· The Transportation Department has sent more than 400 trucks with 5.4 million MREs (meals ready to eat), and 13.4 million liters of water, 3.4 million pounds of ice, and 144 generators.

· The Department of Health and Human Services has identified 40,000 available hospital beds across the country and sent 27 pallets of medical supplies from national stockpiles.

In addition, U.S. corporations have offered more than $100 million in pledges so far. Wal-Mart is collecting donations outside its stores nationwide, and it is also donating $2 million to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. Anheuser-Busch is shipping more than 800,000 cans of water. Chevron, BP, Home Depot and Johnson & Johnson have donated $1 million each to disaster relief groups. And more is undoubtedly on the way.
 

Allies Step Up!

How about some good news? Yesterday, I noted the apparent lack of helping hands from our allies, but they are now stepping up to help Uncle Sam! Not surprisingly, Israel was one of the first. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom sent a letter to Condoleezza Rice expressing sympathy for the victims and offering assistance. French aid officials are meeting now to coordinate a relief team from the French Antilles in the Caribbean; the Canadian Deputy Prime Minister said Ottawa is ready to offer assistance; and Germany, too, has offered technical and other help. In addition, private relief efforts are being organized in several nations around the world. To all these folks we say, "Thank You!"
 

Looting Price

The mayor of New Orleans is now discovering why it was a mistake to turn a blind eye to the widespread looting that has added to the misery in his city: once the thin veneer of civilization begins to peel away, criminal elements inevitably gather strength. Today, unbelievably, someone in the crowd at the Super Dome fired on a helicopter bringing supplies, causing such flights to be suspended. Relief trucks have been ambushed and robbed by marauding bands of thugs. Ambulances have been overturned; nursing homes have been raided. Today, the mayor ordered 1,500 police officers to abandon rescue missions and, instead, get serious about the breakdown of order. Unfortunately, his lack of concern for four days has now caused a major law enforcement problem on top of everything else.

THIS JUST IN…FEMA has suspended all rescue operations being conducted by boat until order is restored AND Congress has been ordered back to Washington for an emergency session.
                                                                                                         - Gary Bauer