unbelievable

... is the reaction of the federal government in the US towards the Katrina disaster in New Orleans. Apparently troops with supplies are starting to arrive now. Now? When CNN reporters have been there for 3 days?

I understand that weather phenomena are difficult to predict, and that preparing assistance for a million people is a difficult task that may have serious political costs if the alert comes to nothing, but the Major of New Orleans ordered an evacuation of the city, for God's sake! Federal agencies should have had an stand-by plan to act im-frigging-mediately if the damage was as bad as expected. And I don't consider 5 days pushing paper to be immediately. I consider it blatant NEGLIGENCE!

Why has Mayor Ray Nagin to cry in outrage for the Nation to help? This should not be necessary! The army should have taken over the organization of the relief effort and avoided much of the unnecessary death and suffering. How come the reporters got there before the federal help in what can only be described as the worst catastrophe in US history? Outrage does not even begin to describe the anger I -and many others- feel at this lack of action.

I hope the people in New Orleans will show their true strength in this moment of need and help each other survive this disaster. My thoughts are with you.

And to the people in positions of responsability in teh federal government I would like to quote Major Nagin "Get off your asses and let's do something".