bloganovel

There have been elections in Iraq before today, and I'm not just talking about the ones earlier this year. For example, prior to the 2003 invasion, there was an election with 100% of the vote going to a particular candidate. Yup, the winner got every single vote. Last I heard, that guy was on trial for crimes against humanity. Maybe that's how he got to be so popular.

Given their history and the current conditions, I would say the Iraqi people deserve a big, purple "Thumbs up!" for their courage. Instapundit has lots of links to various round-ups, most notably Pajamas Media with reports from Iraq the Model.

Also via Instapundit, there is this from a reporter on the ground.

Think about everything you’ve heard about the conditions in Iraq, the role of U.S. forces, the multi-layered complexities of the war.

Then think again.

I’m a journalist. I read the news everyday, from several sources. I have the luxury of reading stuff newspapers don’t always have room to print. I read every tidbit I could on Iraq and the war before coming.

Everything I thought I knew was wrong.

Read the whole thing, as the Professor writes.

I asked my 10-year old at bedtime if she knew what historically important event had happened today. With a little prompting, she came up with the elections in Iraq. I tried to explain to her why it's important, why it matters to her and to me. I tried to explain how creating a stable democracy in the Arab world would fan the desire of average Arabs for self-rule. I hope someday she understands.

Oh, and women voted, too. A scandal in the Islamist world.

Perhaps I can give the Arab News the last word:

It will be some time before it is known which of the 6,655 candidates from an astonishing 307 different political parties has won one of the 275 seats in the first freely elected Parliament in Iraq’s history. What is clear, however, is that all Iraqis won a victory yesterday — a victory of peace over violence, of negotiation over nihilism, of brotherhood over bigotry.

No one should pretend, of course, that the violence will now end rapidly. But the display of determination by all Iraqis to participate in the democratic process must have made a deep impression on all but the most hardened terrorists. The fact that so many Sunnis trooped to the polling stations for the first time, having boycotted the previous two national votes, sends the clear message that the community which most of the insurgents pretend to represent wants peace, not violence. Nor are they prepared to be intimidated by the killers in their midst. They want to become part of the political process.

Whatever the final composition of Parliament, this was a vote for peace. The next stage is for the newly elected politicians to form a government and an opposition, which will fairly reflect the views of all communities. As we saw over the constitution, there will be protracted horse-trading and indeed further adjustments to be negotiated to that very document. Such negotiations must be conducted in a spirit of fairness and compromise. Wherever possible, Iraq’s new legislators must seek consensus and avoid entrenched positions.

Beginning today, this is democracy’s chance in Iraq. Massive hopes are riding on the success of the political process. Nevertheless, providing men of moderation can hold the center ground and bring more extreme politicians at least to its edge, the new Parliament can work. A muscular broad-based administration will only emerge if politicians are prepared to work together for the greater good. Now is not the time for individual political aspirations to come to the fore. Future Iraqis will honor all those who today focus on stability rather than their own ambitions.

Hat tip: Instapundit.

A company in S. Carolina, The Polymer Group, has developed a blanket for use in disaster situations. It's lighter, warmer, and dries faster than traditional wool disaster blankets. It is also designed to stay cleaner and to require less water to wash, an important factor in many disaster situations.

The good news: They're shipping them free to Pakistan, the Gulf Coast, and the Tsunami region. The bad news: You can't get them in Wal-Mart. Yet.

You probably don't know it (or maybe you do), and it probably hasn't affected you personally (or maybe it has), but piracy on the high seas is in vogue in certain parts of the world. This AP story tells of a thwarted attack on a cruise ship. What powerful defensive weapon was used against two boats of attackers using RPGs and small arms?

Sound waves, dude. So cool.

The crew of a luxury cruise ship used a sonic weapon that blasts earsplitting noise in a directed beam while being attacked by a gang of pirates off Africa this weekend, the cruise line said Monday.

The Seabourn Spirit had a Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, installed as a part of its defense systems, said Bruce Good, a spokesman for Miami-based Seabourn Cruise Line. The Spirit was about 100 miles off Somalia when pirates fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns as they tried to get onboard.

The subsidiary of Carnival Corp. (CCL) was investigating whether the weapon was successful in warding off the pirates, he said. The ship's captain also changed its course, shifted into high speed and headed out into the open sea to elude the pirates, who were in two small boats, he said. He had no further details.

Device maker American Technology Corp. (ATCO) said earsplitting "bangs" were directed by trained security personnel toward the pirates. That, combined with ship maneuvers, caused the attackers to leave the area, the company said.

Brad Mercer of Dallas was one of those who went to the aid of the hurricane victims. Taking a Duck (amphibious vehicle) all the way to New Orleans, he and an old college roomate set out to do what they could. His tale is broken into three parts: What We Did; What We Saw; What I Felt.

From What We Did:

Each person was allowed to bring one bag with them. Men in the group handed bags and toddlers to me from the side of the duck. I sat them all down, lowered the ladder on the back of the boat, and then helped the people up, some of whom were old or sick. Then we received a report of an old lady trapped in an attic 18 blocks away. We apologized to the 25 people we had, knowing they were tired, some of them sick, all of them eager to get back to the freeway where big helicopters would take them to the New Orleans airport, from where busses would take them to refugee centers in other cities and states. They emphatically agreed, though, that we had to go look for the old lady in the attic.

From What We Saw:

I’ve seen giant cargo or tanker ships in the Mississippi River pushed up at a 45 degree angle against the shore. I’ve seen big, fancy yachts tossed completely out of the marina and set down, apparently undamaged, in parking lots and out on the shoulder of the nearby freeway. I’ve seen a marina where boats were tossed together like a child’s toy box. Growing up in tornado alley, I’m used to seeing the relatively narrow swath of utter destruction that a tornado can cause. But this week, I rode through that kind of destruction for hours. Between New Orleans and Biloxi is a forest that now looks like a game of Pickup Sticks. The limbs are stripped bare, and big, strong, healthy trees are snapped near the base like dry twigs.

From What I Felt:

One of the most remarkable emotional experiences was just the spirit of the workers. We must have seen agencies from 20 states represented. We saw every possible law enforcement and military agency from every possible level of government, as well as countless private organizations like us. It could have been a bureaucratic nightmare, but every leader we encountered, no matter how harried and overworked, was kind and willing to help and be helped. Every one of them offered to share their food and drink (but not their gasoline), and looked for ways to keep structure and coordination intact while still incorporating unexpected offers of help. Every one of them was working as hard as they could to make it work and get the job done. One Louisiana Parks & Wildlife leader snapped dismissively at us when we pulled up and tried to ask a question, but I spoke to him affirmingly and encouragingly and sympathetically for no more than two minutes before he was nearly in tears, talking about the challenges that he faced, offering us food and drink and a place to park our duck. That was probably the first moment in our adventure when I actually felt useful and valuable. I couldn’t captain the boat and I wasn’t a mechanic, but I could reflect to people their own value in a way that made it possible for them to work with us.

Read all three. They're worth the time.

                 “NO SPIN” for Hurricane Katrina Victims
This is day 22 since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Southern Gulf States affecting Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. We have been crushed, and we are hurting.

In Mississippi alone, the lost of state revenues from the gaming on the coast amounts to 500 million dollars a day. The timber industry of Mississippi has been damaged to the price of 2 billion dollars! All this to a state that already was last in the nation in capital income. Yes, we are all hurting.

The spin game has started. This day I checked my e-mails, I have 4 e-mails attacking the city government of New Orleans, the Governor of Louisiana, ALL Labor organizations (what in the world do they have to do with this hurricane), and even Senators Kennedy, and Hilary Clinton. These e-mails continue on to boast on the fine job that FEMA and the federal government have done in Mississippi. Well, D’Ibervile on the coast still does not have tents, or any trailers for their towns people to live in. They still have not seen FEMA.

I simply want to say that in a storm of this magnitude, NO ONE, could have seen or predicted the vast annihilation that these areas would sustain. From my sister’s house in New Orleans, to my mother’s home in Ft. Morgan , Al., it’s a 3 1/2 hour drive (at 70 mph), and Katrina devastated the entire area. That’s how BIG Katrina’s damage extended. Now, some group, groups, etc., are “spinning” via e-mails, etc., to try to blame the New Orleans Mayor, Governor Blanco, and in the same sentence, praise the Federal Government. Why? Why are Americans attacking Americans? Why are southerners attacking southerners?

On the personal note, my family’s livelihood depends on timber. Our timber lands sit in the county that lost 80% of its timber. My sisters home is in New Orleans, she‘s yet to be allowed into her hometown to even view her life long earned processions. My Mother’s home is devastated on the Alabama coast. My family homes and businesses in Mississippi are under tons of debris, and I work all day until nightfall just trying to clear away the debris to get to the smashed structures. After days of no water, power, food, ice, etc., my little town saw no outside help. We all drew together. Helping each other. The churches, and faith based groups all helping.  All of us bonding together to help each other get through the terrible ordeal. No agenda of this political party verses that political party was surfaced. No party politics divided these efforts of people helping people. No church group was divided into Republicans and Democrats. No Liberal and Conservatives. Ted Kennedy and Bill Frist were both well received on the Mississippi coast, and we appreciate all who come to our aid.

To all of you out there that is trying to divide us at this terrible time. SHAME ON YOU!
 We are hurting, we are bleeding, we are crying, and we are southern proud people. Proud Southern God Loving Americans!

We are united. We simply do NOT need this division at this time of such pain and destruction. Any “spin machine” tactics that anyone might be receiving via e-mail…. please delete! Please do NOT send on to any of us down here who are simply trying to hang on, to pull together, and to unify during this crisis.
To all the wonderful non-partisan folks that are sending aid to our area, God Bless You. To the entire partisan playing folks, we, have and remain that very right as set forth in this great country, but PLEASE do not send “spin” to the weakened and hurting friends and family folks of Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. We draw our strength from hearing from you. Your encouragement, your compassion, your understanding, your assistance, but, please leave your negative energy behind. Let the negative “spin doctors” eat on themselves. Let those of us already hurting draw our good energy from your positive and caring communications.

Thank you, for caring for our region, our beautiful southern peoples, and our deeply rich heritage.
It will be with your love, your prayers, and much financial assistance, that …
                                                                 We Shall Rise Again,

                                                                  Chandler Mitts

Okay. I do have one comment. E pluribus unum!

I'm getting a lot of hits on the search string "clothes for Katrina victims". Blessings to all who are helping. It's a good thing. I've looked into it myself, and what I'm finding is that the major agencies, such as the Red Cross, are discouraging donated goods. The shipping, sorting, and distribution is apparently more than they can handle.

Anyway, here's a thought: local shelters and agencies across the country, including here in Kansas City, are taking families every day. I read earlier today that they're shipping 1,200 busloads of victims from Houston to other locations. If you have clothing or other items to donate, you might contact your local Red Cross chapter, Salvation Army Corps, homeless shelter or other agency. They're much more likely to take the goods.

Following the Red Cross' lead, I still highly recommend giving cash. As I've said before, many agencies leverage their buying power and get much more for the money than you or I could. But we each do what we can, and it's all appreciated.

Blessings on all. Keep the faith, keep working together and just be patient. This thing won't go away any time soon.

Consider the following evidence:

This Opinion Journal article by Louisiana Senator Bobby Jindal highlights some of the difficulties encountered in delivering aid. He follows up with this:

The first responders, in combination with our military forces, saved 9,500-plus lives, assisted 102,800 people, and evacuated 22,000 refugees. More than 9.9 million Meals Ready to Eat and 6.6 million gallons of water were distributed. As I write this column, 1,200 buses are in transit taking refugees to shelters across the country.

This entry from Instapundit covers a number of other instances of insanity. Da Professa quotes a Salt Lake Tribune article at some lenght, but I think these two quotes point to part of the problem.

They already have had background checks and meet the qualifications to be sworn as a federal employee.

"They've got people here who are search-and-rescue certified, paramedics, haz-mat certified," said a Texas firefighter. "We're sitting in here having a sexual-harassment class while there are still [victims] in Louisiana who haven't been contacted yet."

The problem appears to be bureacracy and red tape instituted by well-meaning but overzealous government officials over the years. Layer upon layer of rules and regulations are getting in the way.

I'm sure there are lots of other reasons - incompetence, political infighting, point-scoring, etc. But if we're ever going to be able to respond to a disaster, we've got to pare the procedures to the essential. No qualified emergency worker responding to a catastrophe should ever have to go through background checks or harassment training.

But that's just my opinion and I'm not running things. 

If you're looking for a good way to give to hurricane relief agencies, consider giving cash. Here are some good reasons:

• Most reputable agencies, including Nazarene Disaster Response, channel 100% of the money collected to the relief effort. Overhead is covered by their operating budget.
• Many agencies, such as Heart to Heart International, can multiply your cash gift many times over through matching funds, bulk purchases, and other means. Our local high school glee club is collecting for Heart to Heart. In the grocery line yesterday, they had a flyer that indicated the can multiply cash gifts as much as 25x.
• Cash can be spent on-site by people familiar with the exact needs, or given to families to start putting their lives back together.
• It's a lot cheaper to give cash, given the price of gas.
• Cash contributions are more likely to receive a tax break, allowing you to give even more.
  

Those are just some reasons off the top of my head. I know a lot of agencies are taking donated goods and that's fine too. It just makes more sense to me to give cash if you can. For a list of agencies, check out Instapundit's round up.

Glenn Reynolds has a round-up of posts on the blame game surrounding Katrina evacuations and disaster relief.

This echoes where I stand:

As I've noted before, it's not like calling Domino's. I think that all the efforts at politcal point-scoring now are misplaced. There's plenty of blame to go around, and plenty of opportunities to figure out how to do better in the future. Those are likely to get lost in the fog of name-calling.

Read the whole thing, as the Professor says.

You can spend your time placing blame in the wake of a disaster, or you can dig in and try to help, then come back later and do a post-mortem.

Pastor Scott Cundiff in TX has an entry about his church's clothing collection for Katrina victims.