In a Larry King interview on Sept 2nd, Red Cross CEO Marsha Evans explained that the Red Cross were not in New Orleans because it was unsafe.

“It was unsafe to be in the city.”

“…it was not safe to be in the city, and it’s not been safe to go back into the city.”

According to other reports, Red Cross workers could have been shot or infected by disease if they entered New Orleans in the first days after the storm.

In addition, Evans mentioned concerns that relocating in the city would delay evacuation.

“They were also concerned that if we located, relocated back into the city, people wouldn’t leave, and they’ve got to leave.”

However, many reporters and news sources have failed to acknowledge the safety/security aspects of Marsha Evan’s explanation (an exception being Bill O’Reilly at Fox News).

It is not yet clear whether or not the Red Cross would have entered the city early on, given these serious safety risks, even if they had not been asked to stay out by the National Guard, the city and State emergency management.

A relevant video clip from the Larry King interview can be found here:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200509090002

MP

I’m beginning have this odd suspicion. The Red Cross are beginning to remind me of the pathetic movie character who shouts ‘hold me back’, ‘hold me back’ to his cronies in the face of a superior foe.

His friends hold him back and that gives him the opportunity to pretend to the foe and to HIMSELF that he really would have actually battled the superior foe, if it weren’t for the friends who were holding him back.

Meanwhile WE observers know perfectly well that this character would not have had any chance against the superior foe, and he may indeed have run away in cowardice, had his friends not actually been successful at holding him back.

In the Red Cross case the ‘friends’ might be the National Guard, the City, and the State, who supposedly ‘blocked’ the Red Cross from entering New Orleans.

Their blocking the Red Cross from coming in, may have given the Red Cross the opportunity to get ‘macho’ about just how much they were DYING to get in, how prepared they were, how truly ‘ready’ they were – to FIGHT …

Do you see the similarity?

But would they actually have entered New Orleans ANYWAY had they been not been ‘held back’ – that is denied permission – given how unsafe it really was?

Would they have had to finally admit: “Actually, we don’t want to risk the lives of our members, so we are going to have to wait until the city is safe before we can enter”.

But of course, I could have it all completely wrong…

Anyway – when all is said and done – it seems that safety WAS an issue for the Red Cross.

And that’s not being reported on (enough).

MP

I can see the reasoning behind not allowing the aid BEFORE the situation became so terrible—wanting people to leave if at all possible. And like you said….if they had been using the buses, that would have been smart.

I’d love to get a real anwser regarding the buses.

Hindsight is 20/20.

This whole ordeal has “agenda, agenda” written all over it. Even many victims are simply touting their agenda.