Even though Algiers came through Katrina relatively unscathed, our federal government tried to force (mostly successfully) the people out of the community. Malik Rahim, a new friend of ours and resident of Algiers, told us stories of the days after the hurricane. The government declared martial law, but there was no effective police presence to enforce it. Malik said the lawlessness was rampant. People were running out of food and water and they were being forced to go to the Superdome. They didn't want to go to the Superdome, because their homes were pretty intact: they wanted to stay and have food and water brought to them.
Malik Rahim (former Black Panther and current Muslim):
Ray Nagin. No, I don't have no -- listen, the little respect I have for him is gone. Same thing about our Governor. You know, the little respect I had for her is gone.Rahim's interviewer (from Democracy Now) tries to get him to deflect blame away from Nagin and Blanco and onto Bush:
There's no way in the world I would have put people in that Superdome. Everybody knew that that Superdome was nothing but a death trap. Because if we would have gotten 30 feet of water, how are you going to survive in that Superdome? I mean, everybody knew this. And then when you start hearing the horror stories, last year we had test run. A hurricane came, but at the last minute, it veered off. So, we had a test run. Everybody knew what needed to be in place, and it seemed like -- he still got caught unprepared with his pants down.
SHARIF ABDEL KOUDOUS: Nagin got on the radio and gave an impassioned speech talking about . . .His interviewer gives up on getting Bush blamed for all this:
MALIK RAHIM: It was too late.
SHARIF ABDEL KOUDOUS: . . . how federal authorities failed.
MALIK RAHIM: But listen, if you get out this car, and get under here to work on this car, and I run over you, and while you laying there dying, I'm telling you about how sorry I am, what good would that do you? How would you feel? Would you feel better? Well, I'm going to die, but at least he's sorry he killed me. You still dead. You know, that's the part of it -- you know. It's too late to be talking about who failed. You failed. We elected you to represent us. So, if you was waiting on the federal government, then damn, we don't need you as Mayor. We need the federal government to run New Orleans. We don't need you, if you cannot lead the city in a time of emergency. You know, this is when we need leadership. This is when we need for the real Ray Nagin to come and stand up. You know, not to be on no boat trying to rescue people, because you don't feel -- now all of a sudden you have a guilt trip. You know, you should have been out here leading everybody by getting them out of the city. That could have left. You know, I mean, it just came too little too late.
SHARIF ABDEL KOUDOUS: And the Governor?Cindy Sheehan's post in the Michael Moore blog is an obvious attempt to place blame for the conditions in New Orleans and Algiers on George Bush. She drops the name of Malik Rahim as though he is backing up her accusations. It doesn't sound like Rahim agrees.
MALIK RAHIM: The Governor ain't about nothing. She was -- she was just as lost as he was. You know, there ain't no -- none of them know what they was doing. You know, their answer to everything now is send in more troops. Marshall law. You know? I mean, for what? I mean, there's no reason for it now. Most of the looters and the people that was doing wrong that was stealing for all of the wrong reasons have done left. Now, you just have people here dying that's scared to go in the store to get anything. Because they are scared that you are going to kill them. She did’t come through here with no compassion. Nothing. You know what I mean, look how long we have been here. So, you tell me she's doing her (bleep) job? How long we’ve been sitting in this hot sun trying to get ice? Damn near an hour. You know, I mean, so, what is she doing? What is Ray Nagin doing when he ain't got one place in the whole damn city of New Orleans where we could get services from?
I'm going to wait until Ray Nagin sends somebody here for me. He is going to send somebody. I know that that's a lie. I know ain't nobody going to do that. You are going to jump on anything. That's the way it should have been done for help, you know? The very first thing he should have done is made sure that one, that the medical assistance he knew it was going to be needed was made available. He should have had that in place. He should have had food in place. He should have had water in place. He should have had ice in place. He should have had generators in place. That's something that the city could have done.
Marshall law? Would that be Marshall Dillon? Marshall Earp? Marshall Tucker? Marshall McLuhan? Marshall University?
Others with thoughts on this:
Protein Wisdom: Jeff Goldstein has Billy Jack's reaction.
The World According to Nick: Only a U.N. sanctioned peace keeping force can be in New Orleans...
The Political Teen: She’s Back - And This Time Bashing Our Troops in New Orleans
California Conservative: Katrina be damned. Cindy wants attention.
Tigerhawk: ... calling for an end to the occupation of ... New Orleans.
Right Wing News: ... should tell you how out of touch she is with reality.
Sortapundit: "I pity the fool who builds a large settlement on a flood plain."
Reaganites Unite: I give you the crazy words of a CRAZY woman:
Sister Toldjah: Mother Sheehan has called for an end to the troop "occupation"...
Right Wing Nut House: These are truly the bottom feeders of American politics.
JunkYard Blog: The Cindy is perhaps the only person who can now bridge the gap between David Duke and Calypso Louie. (Calypso Louie?)
Picking Nits: She has been to New Orleans, and she has seen the hand of Fascism!
Obligatory Anecdotes: Cindy Sheehan A Parody Of Herself!
Smack My Booty: That said, this article clearly shows that she's gone off the deep end.
Political Musings: I’m not sure what is worse, that our left takes Cindy seriously or that the media showers her with hours of unquestioning acclaim.
Kesher Talk: Because Michael Moore tells me so.
My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy - Weekend Assignment
Basil's Blog: Covered Dish Supper
Jo's Cafe: Saturday Specials
Stop the ACLU: Weekend Trackback Party
Outside the Beltway: Beltway Traffic Jam
Cafe Oregano: Friday Specials
WizBang: Carnival of the Trackbacks XXIX
bRight & Early
TAGS: Hurricane Katrina, Cindy Sheehan, Ray Nagin, Kathleen Blanco, Malik Rahim, blame game
No comments:
Post a Comment