by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright August 30, 2005
All Rights Reserved.

resident George W. Bush had his extended vacation rudely interrupted at his Crawford, Texas ranch, as Hurricane Katrina decimated the Gulf Coast, leaving New Orleans submerged in a murky water-world. Peeling himself away from clearing brush, the president decided to stage two photo-ops in California, touting his war on terror and new developments in Iraq. Speaking to sailors at Naval Air Station North Island, Bush linked the Iraq War to the great struggle against tyranny in World War II. Telling sailors and marines he would “fight foreign enemies to victory,” Bush promised to complete the mission in Iraq—thought it's not clear what completion means. Drawing parallels to WW II is the same Orwellian logic used to justify toppling Saddam, despite the fact that Iraq had nothing to do with Sept. 11. Instead of shelving the propaganda, Bush poured it on while New Orleans drowned.

      When the hurricane hit, Bush should have postponed his PR offensive designed to rehab support for the Iraq War. There's nothing wrong with public relation stunts but there's something very wrong with putting politics over worst natural disaster in U.S. history. Announcing his return to the Oval Office, Bush signaled his willingness to get involved, chairing an emergency management task force designed to coordinate the federal government's response to the Gulf Coast disaster. With the National Guard and other armed services stretched thin because of Iraq, resources are limited. Unexpected events like hurricane Katrina highlight how foreign wars can imperil homeland security by stretching federal resources in terms of tax dollars and personnel to the breaking point. With New Orleans under water, all federal resources should be directed toward saving a great American city.

      Bush's poll numbers have dipped to 38% precisely because respondents believe his priorities are upside down. Reconstructing Iraq won't improve the crumbling infrastructure seen in America's big cities. Watching Lake Pontchartrain empty into the streets of New Orleans reminds anxious viewers that American cities remain vulnerable to natural disasters, not just terrorist attacks. “It's devastating. It must be doubly devastating on the ground,” Bush told reporters flying over the Gulf Coast aboard Air force One en route to the White House. With people trapped in rising floodwaters, there more than past devastation but active rescue efforts attempting to save desperate lives. “It's totally wiped out,” observed Bush, viewing an amusement park submerged under water, yet expressing the same helplessness and exasperation realizing the federal government has no quick fix.

      Mobilizing federal resources will help local and state authorities begin the insurmountable process of rebuilding. Local communities aren't begging for help. Their resources are stretched to the breaking point needing immediate help. “We are certainly going to do everything from the standpoint of the federal government to assure the needs are met. This is a time when all Americans need to come together and do all we can to support those in the Gulf state region,” said White House spokesman Scott McClellan, emphasizing the vital role in recovery efforts by the private sector. What McClellan doesn't get but what's clearly implied is that the federal government already has its resources spread too thin. That's precisely the argument why there has to be compelling national security reasons for the U.S. to engage in foreign wars. There's no room to squander precious lives and tax dollars.

      No country can escape the ravages of Mother Nature. Hurricane Katrina highlights the absolute necessity of preparedness, but, more importantly, consolidating resources before disasters hit. Even with the Army Corps of Engineers busy trying to plug the 500-foot hole in Lake Pontchartrain's failed floodgate, the Pentagon will have to mobilize a fleet of support ships to provide emergency medical and engineering help. ”The logistical problems are impossible and we have to evacuate people in shelters,” said Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco. “It's becoming untenable. There's no power. It's getting more difficult to get food and water supplies in, just basic essentials,” recognizing the overwhelming task of rescuing desperate human lives. Like the South Asian tsunami, there's unspeakable pain and tragedy watching human beings crushed by unstoppable earthly events.

      Hurricane Katrina must alert Washington to the vigilant necessity of controlling man-made disasters. Squandering human lives and resources on avoidable military adventures shows disregard for the finite nature of help needed to fight natural disasters. There's a linkage between fighting wars and depleting the resources needed in times of emergency. Even under the best of circumstances, New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast will take months to stabilize and years to rebuild. When Congress returns to session after Labor Day, it's not a bad idea to reassess the feasibility and long-term mission of rebuilding Iraq. It doesn't dishonor the dead or living soldiers to reevaluate the costs and benefits of current U.S. commitments. Hurricane Katrina drives home the inescapable reality of having enough resources and personnel to deal with ongoing crises in the homeland.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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