New Type of Commander May Avoid Katrina-Like Chaos

[Flesh Thorn]

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Defense Department is grooming a new type of commander to coordinate the military response to domestic disasters, hoping to save lives by avoiding some of the chaos that plagued the Hurricane Katrina rescue effort.

The officers, called dual-status commanders, would be able to lead both active-duty and National Guard troops -- a power that requires special training and authority because of legal restrictions on the use of the armed forces on U.S. soil.

No one commander had that authority in the aftermath of Katrina, and military and civilian experts say the lack of coordination contributed to the nightmarish delays, duplications and gaps in the huge rescue effort.

Read More

[Jim]

This is another step in the integration of the "Total Force." Recently, DoD changed the ARNG and USAR from being a Strategic force to an Operational force. Don't know the impact at this time, but it is a major change in how we do business.

[Flesh Thorn]

Someone has to run the FEMA concentration centers. :D

[rgrokelley]

The only chaos created by the Katrina situation was having a totally fucked up mayor, not using his own emergency plan (what... we need bus drivers for our evacuation buses?) and then having a fucked up governor who waited too long to call in the Federal government.

It seems like this new policy may remove the power of a state governor to be the one to ask for Federal help. It seems to remove yet another obstacle in dismantling the Constitution and Federalism.

But hey... what the fuck do I know?

[Flesh Thorn]

But hey... what the fuck do I know?

I understand that you are pretty savvy with a Brown Bess. :)

[Rangerguru]

The only chaos created by the Katrina situation was having a totally fucked up mayor, not using his own emergency plan (what... we need bus drivers for our evacuation buses?) and then having a fucked up governor who waited too long to call in the Federal government.

It seems like this new policy may remove the power of a state governor to be the one to ask for Federal help. It seems to remove yet another obstacle in dismantling the Constitution and Federalism.

But hey... what the fuck do I know?

You make a good point rgrokelley, at first just reading the article I didn't really think of the actual consequences of having one commander. But if the Governor calls in for Federal aid for whatever situation he's ultimately giving authority for them to clean up the mess correct?

I also think that having a shit ton of people not evacuate when they were told to really complicated things. Not to mention the idiots rioting, looting and trying to shoot at the rescue helicopters.

[Jim]

I also think that having a shit ton of people not evacuate when they were told to really complicated things. Not to mention the idiots rioting, looting and trying to shoot at the rescue helicopters.

Did you notice how little rioting, looting and shootin at helicopters has been associated with the flooding along the Mississippi River? Location, location, location.

[Rangerguru]

I also think that having a shit ton of people not evacuate when they were told to really complicated things. Not to mention the idiots rioting, looting and trying to shoot at the rescue helicopters.

Did you notice how little rioting, looting and shootin at helicopters has been associated with the flooding along the Mississippi River? Location, location, location.

It must have something to do with being upstream. :?