What Leadership?

I listen to NPR as I drive to work this morning. The governor of Louisiana has now given the National Guard the order to shoot to kill looters. I also learn that communications are down; rescue workers are unable to communicate. Then I remind myself that yes, today is Friday; four days after Katrina struck Louisiana and Mississippi. Four days. Four days?!

Unlike our national governing officials, I had access to a TV and weather forecasts days prior to Katrina's strike. Unlike these so-called leaders, I could see that this storm was unlike any this country had ever seen as she grew to a monstrous Category 5 with winds of 175 mph. Common citizens with access to TV's were told that Katrina could strike as a Category 5 and that there was a possibility that she could strengthen further. Unlike our governing officials, if this storm had swung my way - I reside in one of the earlier projected paths - I would have evacuated; I have the means. Unlike this country's leadership, I, a mere common citizen could see that this storm was an impending catastrophe. I ask myself, often, where was our leadership? Why didn't our governing officials have every emergency resource ready to move before Katrina actually hit? Perhaps our leadership couldn't be bothered. They were on vacation. I've always been told that leaders lead their people from the front, by example, and sacrifice their personal comfort so that their people are cared for first. I have yet to see leadership in Washington DC without A/C, food, water, no shoes, and only the clothes on their backs.

It has never been a secret, despite what our mentally clogged President may say, that New Orleans was a disaster waiting to happen. Unlike our ignorant leader who obviously doesn't read or listen to anything intelligent, I've seen and read many things about what a Category 3 hurricane could do to New Orleans - let alone anything higher. No, Mr. President, you along with the other selfish leaders in this country have chosen to ignore this issue and are now trying desperately to save face. You could have made a valiant start if you had cut your vacation short prior to Katrina's strike and had every emergency resource ready and waiting to deploy. Mr. President, I ask you, why are there no communications available for rescue efforts on this day, Friday, September 2, 2005 - FOUR DAYS after Katrina's landfall? I know the military have wireless communication networks that would have worked well if they had been employed. If you had actually cared about your constituents. If you had any grain of foresight in your being.

This country's other idiotic leadership in Washington DC also decided to cut their vacations short by two days - days following the aftermath - not prior to. They are just as at fault.

Mr. President, I am angry. I am very angry. The devastation in our nation's gulf is atrocious and your lack of foresight has cost hundreds their lives. Is it because their lives aren't worth as much as the oil fields beneath the sands of Iraq?