Gulf War III

Amid all the big stories coming out--from Michael Brown's resume of last resort, to Billmon's eulogy, to the horrific task that now awaits...one thing I couldn't get out of my head was watching the city gradually take on all the aspects of being under occupation. The military presence is now massive, people are being "non"-forcibly relocated in searches eerily reminiscent of...last night on Nightline Russel Honore used the term "shocked and awed" in describing the devastation--and then there was the looting or foraging, depending on who was doing the looting or foraging...

So, New Orleans is now sort of a substitute fusion of Baghdad and Fallujah...and the rebuild, if it actually happens (as opposed to being just another financial grab bag) should be interesting to watch: Team Bush truly has GOT to make something happen in NOLA, and happen quick--because if they can't, how on earth--or, more appropriately, how in hell--can they possibly fix the rather large mess on the other side of the planet.

Now, there are some differences between the destruction in Iraq and that along the Gulf Coast, to be sure: in the former, Bush was itching for action (remember the "Saddam and his sons must ride out of Dodge in 48 hours speech")...in the latter, he couldn't be disturbed...But it's hard not to look at some eerie parallels...for example, the whole 48 hours stuff...Bush, like Saddam, had 48 hours to act...but chose to do nothing (well, actually he chose to take a vacation from his vacation). "Mission Accomplished," meet "Dodged a Bullet." Fake turkey in Baghdad/Fake aid station in New Orleans--and so on.

However, they might stand a real chance in New Orleans: they've managed to clear out most of the city, they don't have an insurgency more or less constantly harrassing convoys (no, I'm not denying that some criminals shot at police/guard...however, I don't think THAT is comparable to the experience in Iraq), etc. etc. etc. There's the added benefit of not needing translators (despite the highly distinctive New Orleans accents)--and, finally, while the city IS distinctive to the extent I've referred to it as "its own universe," the truth is that at least certain American values (including many stuffed away in closets elsewhere) are also NOLA values...in other words, a genuine recovery/rebuild might work, provided it's not of the Disneyland variety...

Of course, there are a LOT of loud voices these days describing just how we should proceed--and my opinion is, if those voices continue to dominate the debate, we'll have yet another comparison to the disaster overseas that's apt. My own opinion, for what it's worth, is that New Orleans itself should be the overriding authority--who better than those who live(d) there?

However, when I realize who will actually run the show--Team Bush--I get a sinking feeling, no pun intended. Their track record isn't exactly that of a winning horse (which might be the one thing Mike Brown DOES know anything about). In their own, crude way, they've managed to engage in either foraging or looting (take your pick) of a massive chunk of the Federal Treasury--but, like Sollozzo once said, "blood is a big expense." And they haven't yet shown any talent for creative effort, or inclination towards even long term investments/solutions.

In fact, the only thing they seem to know a good bit about is (the ever more absurd) photo-opping...the latest involving Dick Cheney--and we all know what transpired. There's talk of a "Katrina Czar," although the word coming out is that she/he has to be more of a provincial grand duke, lest the dauphin get red-faced with anger and experience a rise in blood pressure. No, I don't have a good feeling about his one, unfortunately, even if the conditions on the ground are less overtly violent. And, while there are no IED's or DU in the area, the ground is still a toxic and septic hazard...which, if you think about it...