Monday, March 30, 2009

Katrina Mistake List

Katrina Mistake List

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Judge gives go-ahead to MRGO suit - NOLA.com

He clears way to hear case against corps

Saturday, March 21, 2009

By Susan Finch
Staff writer

A federal court judge in New Orleans cleared the way Friday for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to face trial next month in a lawsuit that claims the agency's failure to heed environmental laws in building and maintaining the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet caused environmental damage that led to massive flooding in New Orleans and St. Bernard Parish during Hurricane Katrina.

The case, which Judge Stanwood Duval is scheduled to hear without a jury starting April 20, was filed by WDSU-TV news anchorman Norman Robinson and five other plaintiffs whose homes or businesses in eastern New Orleans, the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard Parish were swamped during the August 2005 storm .

"We are pleased to have overcome this final hurdle to securing the first trial for Katrina victims and to holding the Army Corps accountable," said Los Angeles lawyer Pierce O'Donnell, the plaintiffs' lead trial counsel in the nearly three-year-old case. "Battling the federal government with its own army of lawyers and unlimited resources has been a daunting ordeal."

______SNIP_____

Jonathan Andry, one of several attorneys for the plaintiffs, said the essence of their case is, "Once the corps decided to build the MRGO, it was under an obligation, just as any private citizen, to maintain the MRGO in such a way as not to injure others and have it pose a threat to human health or the environment."
He said that if the plaintiffs prevail at trial and on appeal, the stage would be set for thousands of additional Katrina flood victims in eastern New Orleans, the Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard to seek compensation from the federal government.
New Orleans lawyer Joseph Bruno, the plaintiffs' court-appointed liaison counsel, said the upcoming trial will get down to Duval's deciding whether the flooding that prompted the case was caused by what the corps failed to do.

O'Donnell signaled Friday, as he did when the case was filed nearly three years ago, that the plaintiffs' side will seek help in Washington, D.C., for all Katrina flooding victims if they win the case.

"Before and after his election, President Obama promised that he would make rebuilding New Orleans a top priority," O'Donnell said. "We are looking to the White House for leadership in expeditiously resolving the claims of Katrina victims in a fair and equitable manner. The continued stonewalling of Katrina victims is a national disgrace."
. . . . . . .
Susan Finch can be reached at sfinch@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3340.
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Blogger NOTICE:
This is the FIRST lawsuit allowed, naming the Army Corps of Engineers as Defendant.
They are being sued for destroying the wetlands, which in turn ALLOWED the huge tidal swelling, which in turn caused the levees to breach. The suit names 5 New Orleans plaintiffs who sufferred great loss. This paves the way for a class action and reparitions for the government culpability with at least negligent homicide. I have seen evidence of malice aforethought. Manslaughter, eugenics and genocide come to mind. (See Edwin Blacks book in the margin links list and Amazon ad)
Profiteers have made $trillions$ at the expense of human lives.
Are you seeing the pattern yet?

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Flashpoints - September 7, 2005 at 5:00pm | KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley: Listener Sponsored Free Speech Radio

Flashpoints - September 7, 2005 at 5:00pm KPFA 94.1 FM Berkeley: Listener Sponsored Free Speech Radio: "
Flashpoints - September 7, 2005 at 5:00pm

Click to listen (or download)


Flashpoints - September 7, 2005 at 5:00pm

Click to listen (or download)

Click Green Play button above for broadcast. (OUTRAGEOUS! Body count grossly underestimated, victims not allowed to possess a radio! Fascist!!)


Flashpoints - September 7, 2005
"We’ll feature a breaking story on how the federal government has vetoed a crucial microtransmitter radio project for the Astrodome; we’ll hear the stories of two Bay Area survivors who were shot at by local police in New Orleans; we’ll speak with a young man who is doing what the feds should be doing, re-establishing infrastructure in parts of flooded New Orleans; plus, we’ll speak with Makani Themba-Nixon of the Praxis Project on her view on the federal breakdown and her call for a real investigation into the tragic abandonment of black people in this country; sounds from a protest today at UC Berkeley; and from exile, the Knight Report."

Archives of this show go back to the time of the flood.
AVAILABLE HERE. Enter the date you want at top of page.


KPFA 94FM Berkeley Free Speech Radio Home page

(Listen Live ~Opens your mp3 player)

The Shock Doctrine: An Excerpt From the Introduction | Naomi Klein

The Shock Doctrine: An Excerpt From the Introduction | Naomi Klein

"The Shock Doctrine: An Excerpt From the Introduction

I met Jamar Perry in September 2005, at the big Red Cross shelter in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dinner was being doled out by grinning young Scientologists, and he was standing in line. I had just been busted for talking to evacuees without a media escort and was now doing my best to blend in, a white Canadian in a sea of African- American southerners. I dodged into the food line behind Perry and asked him to talk to me as if we were old friends, which he kindly did.

Born and raised in New Orleans, he'd been out of the flooded city for a week. He and his family had waited forever for the evacuation buses; when they didn't arrive, they had walked out in the baking sun. Finally they ended up here, a sprawling convention centre now jammed with 2,000 cots and a mess of angry, exhausted people being patrolled by edgy National Guard soldiers just back from Iraq.

The news racing around the shelter that day was that the Republican Congressman Richard Baker had told a group of lobbyists, "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." Joseph Canizaro, one of New Orleans' wealthiest developers, had just expressed a similar sentiment: "I think we have a clean sheet to start again. And with that clean sheet we have some very big opportunities." All that week Baton Rouge had been crawling with corporate lobbyists helping to lock in those big opportunities: lower taxes, fewer regulations, cheaper workers and a "smaller, safer city" - which in practice meant plans to level the public housing projects. Hearing all the talk of "fresh starts" and "clean sheets", you could almost forget the toxic stew of rubble, chemical outflows and human remains just a few miles down the highway.

Over at the shelter, Jamar could think of nothing else. "I really don't see it as cleaning up the city. What I see is that a lot of people got killed uptown. People who shouldn't have died."

He was speaking quietly, but an older man in line in front of us overheard and whipped around. "What is wrong with these people in Baton Rouge? This isn't an opportunity. It's a goddamned tragedy. Are they blind?" A mother with two kids chimed in. "No, they're not blind, they're evil. They see just fine."

One of those who saw opportunity in the floodwaters of New Orleans was the late Milton Friedman, grand guru of unfettered capitalism and credited with writing the rulebook for the contemporary, hyper-mobile global economy. Ninety-three years old and in failing health, "Uncle Miltie", as he was known to his followers, found the strength to write an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal three months after the levees broke. "Most New Orleans schools are in ruins," Friedman observed, "as are the homes of the children who have attended them. The children are now scattered all over the country. This is a tragedy. It is also an opportunity."

Friedman's radical idea was that instead of spending a portion of the billions of dollars in reconstruction money on rebuilding and improving New Orleans' existing public school system, the government should provide families with vouchers, which they could spend at private institutions.

In sharp contrast to the glacial pace with which the levees were repaired and the electricity grid brought back online, the auctioning-off of New Orleans' school system took place with military speed and precision. Within 19 months, with most of the city's poor residents still in exile, New Orleans' public school system had been almost completely replaced by privately run charter schools."

more....

YouTube - The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism Sept 27, 2007 Seattle Town Hall



Another Naomi:

Naomi Klein - The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism

Naomi Klein - The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster CapitalismDec. 7, 2007
1 hour 33 min. Google Video at link.


"An introduction to the concept of "disaster capitalism" offers an exposé of how the global "free market" has exploited crises, violence, and shock over the past three decades to promote radical privatization that benefits large corporations and powerfulinterest groups." ~From book description

Naomi Klein in this video, quotes Richard Baker the Republican Congressman
~~~ "We couldnt clean out New Orleans housing projects, but God did."

Friday, March 27, 2009

YouTube - Katrina News Clips you may not have seen

YouTube - Katrina News Clips you may not have seen
A lot of videos on this page. I will glean them later.

President Aaron Broussards' cry for help

Katrina Files- Sept 04 Aaron Broussard


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"We have been abandoned by our own country"
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"Yesterday, FEMA comes in and cuts all of our emergency comminication lines. They CUT THEM, without notice."
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In Katrina's wake, white supremacists spew hatred

When we should all be pulling together in common cause and brotherly love; the Southern Poverty Law Center shows how Katrina brought out the worst in some:

In Katrina's wake, white supremacists spew hate

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Web Archive

Hurricanes Katrina & Rita Web Archive
61 million searchable documents

(Note: These pages are HUGE! My connection timed out repeatedly!)

Mexican military enters Texas for first time since 1846

Mexican military enters Texas for first time since 1846

UPDATE: Using the Wayback Machine I couldnt find an archived copy of the original Cleveland Plain Dealer story.... there are plenty of links, but they are all dead.

Heres a related AP Story on San Diego Union Tribune:
CLICK HERE

Report: Armed Mexican Troops Invade US

Report: Armed Mexican Troops Invade US:

"Report: Armed Mexican Troops Invade US
Eyewitnesses: Under cover of aid, combat ready soldiers roll into Texas, Congressman Ron Paul says Mexican troops in US period is 'illegal, unconstitutional'
Alex Jones & Paul Joseph Watson September 8 2005
Two separate credible sources known to Alex Jones have reported that armed combat ready Mexican troops have entered Texas.
The Associated Press reported today that unarmed Mexican troops were being escorted by the US army to help relief efforts for hurricane Katrina.
However, the report was only specific to one convoy. The convoys reported to Alex Jones are said to be fully armed with Heckler & Koch German assault rifles.
The first sighting occurred at 12:30 on Highway 183 traveling towards Austin. The eyewitness described at least ten vehicles, four jeeps (other witnesses described them as Humvees) and six combat trucks brimming with armed Mexican troops wearing body armor, helmets and rifles. The troops riding in the jeeps were wearing holstered hand guns.
The vehicles were not being escorted by the US army or any other government vehicles and the vehicles were festooned with insignia reading 'Mexico MP's' and the Mexican flag.
The second sighting of a similar nature occurred north of Austin on I35 near Georgetown Texas.
Prison Planet contacted Congressman Ron Paul's office whose district is in Texas and the Congressman's response was, 'any Mexican troops here period is illegal and unconstitutional.'
Another source known to Alex Jones called the Austin Police Department and they said that they knew about the armed troops. The police asked if the troops had threatened the caller. The caller said they threaten the sovereignty of the country and the police laughed and hung up."

more....

Davis-Bacon Act - wiki

Davis-Bacon Act : "President George W. Bush then issued proclamation 7924 to suspend indefinitely the provisions of 40 U.S.C. 3141-3148 (the Davis–Bacon Act) in designated areas in the states of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi -- the areas most heavily hit by the hurricane. [14] [15]."

Compliance Assistance By Law - The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA)

The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA):

"The Davis Bacon and Related Acts (DBRA) requires all contractors and subcontractors performing work on federal or District of Columbia construction contracts or federally assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 to pay their laborers and mechanics not less than the prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits for corresponding classes of laborers and mechanics employed on similar projects in the area. The prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits are determined by the Secretary of Labor for inclusion in covered contracts."

Cynthia McKinney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cynthia McKinney -
"Rep. McKinney along with Rep. Barbara Lee (CA), produced a[53] 'Katrina Legislative Summary,' a chart summarizing House and Senate bills on Hurricane Katrina. On June 13, 2006, McKinney pointed out on the House floor that only a dozen of the 176 Katrina bills identified on the chart had passed into law, leaving 163 bills stalled in committee."

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

BBC NEWS | Programmes | This World | Prisoners of Katrina

Prisoners of Katrina

Last Updated: Friday, 11 August 2006, 11:37 GMT 12:37 UK

Prisoners of Katrina

A year after Hurricane Katrina, This World finds out what happened inside Orleans Parish Prison as panicked inmates, left without food or water, rioted and broke out.


"What about the prisoners in the jail?" the sheriff had been asked as city leaders ordered the people of New Orleans to flee the hurricane heading their way in August 2005.

"The prisoners will stay where they belong," he decided.

It was a decision he would later regret.

In the chaotic days that followed Hurricane Katrina, the image of thousands of orange-clad prisoners crouching on a broken bridge - held at gunpoint by a few overstretched guards - was an unforgettable image.

This is the untold story of almost 7,000 inmates - some murderers and rapists, but others never even charged - who found themselves trapped in the city jail as it flooded.

Olenka Frenkiel reports on a justice system already near to collapse, and on its final tipping point: Katrina.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Navy Pilots Who Rescued Victims Are Reprimanded - Volconvo Debate Forums

Navy Pilots Who Rescued Victims Are Reprimanded - Volconvo Debate Forums

NPR : Remembering the Tuskegee Experiment

NPR : Remembering the Tuskegee Experiment

Orleans Parish Omitted from Official Declaration of Katrina Emergency







Notice:
Full Screenshot is available at top of right column on this page.








Original WhiteHouse.gov Link to GW Bushs Declaration page: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html
The page HAS BEEN SCRUBBED!!

You will be re-directed to the current president's "The Briefing Room" (which has no Katrina info at all...See UPDATES below)
Heres the emergency declaration.... The parishes are in alphebetical order:







For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryAugust 27, 2005




Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana
The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.
The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of





Allen,Avoyelles,Beauregard, Bienville,Bossier,Caddo,Caldwell,



Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge,



East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant,



Jackson, LaSalle,Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse,



Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee,Ouachita, Rapides, Red River,



Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas,Union, Vernon,



Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.




Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.




FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.




# # #





BlogNote:

Orleans Parish is excluded.



That, my friends, is wreckless negligent homicide. If not outright premeditated mass murder. Genocidal maniacs with class and ethnic motives. The serial pattern began with Iraq.









UPDATE:
Using "The Wayback Machine" I found an archived webpage of the White House Official Declaration, LINK.

Here is a thumbnail of a screenshot of that
page,just in case the archive is removed too:
:::Click to enlarge; then click on that image for full size:::

















UPDATE:
From the declaration:







"Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding."








Thats nice. 75% federal funding. TOO BAD New Orleans is excluded! (accidentally on purpose)

Welcome!

Natural disaster?
Is it natural to nail the door of a burning house shut when the family is still inside?

Natural to block an ambulance from arriving at a tragedy?

No?

Well neither is it 'natural' to NOT repair damaged levees (government owned and maintained) when well over 150,000 citizens are in danger.

There are many anomalies revealed since the storm 'Katrina' made landfall in late August of 2005.

I will use this blog to lay out articles in one place for all to see.
I am currently writing an essay on this subject and have run into SERIOUS HURDLES. The official White House website HAS BEEN SCRUBBED!!! With the changing of the guard (to Barack Obama) came a changing of viewable records. For instance; the presidents declaration of emergency (which conveniently omitted New Orleans, yet included parishes that were not in danger; but had voted for him)
I will post this issue first because it is one of the most glaring smoking guns left at the scene of the crime. They have tried to bury the smoking gun by scrubbing the WH website, but I had posted this info in a forum and still have the 'ghost' web address that brings up a blank WH page for the briefing room.