White House is restricting lawmakers from visiting Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands,

As a follow-up to my previous post in this forum regarding Google's sidelining of the Puerto Rico story, comes this from the Washington Post:

White House is restricting lawmakers from visiting Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, aides say

At the very least the WH and its congressional rivals are battling for control of the disaster's political blowback.

Personally I just pray the relief -- food, water and fuel/power supplies -- get to the people with out delay. If I were a member of Congress, I'd certainly want to see how bad it is for myself.

a reply to: Namdru

Go there and find out that mobs/gangs own the cities and you are in grave danger.

Go to the Virgin Islands and you are not in Kansas anymore.

a reply to: Namdru

If true....and you never know, because as usual, the Amazon Washington Post quotes their unnamed sources: "according to multiple congressional aides"....limited resources are needed for rescue and recovery.

But since Monday evening, permission to use military aircraft to make the trips has been denied by the White House and Pentagon, the aides said. One Republican aide familiar with the back-and-forth said that the administration and military officials had indicated that they need “resources for rescue and recovery, thus member travel will be restricted.”

originally posted by: Namdru

As a follow-up to my previous post in this forum regarding Google's sidelining of the Puerto Rico story, comes this from the Washington Post:

White House is restricting lawmakers from visiting Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, aides say

At the very least the WH and its congressional rivals are battling for control of the disaster's political blowback.

Personally I just pray the relief -- food, water and fuel/power supplies -- get to the people with out delay. If I were a member of Congress, I'd certainly want to see how bad it is for myself.

according to multiple congressional aides

Hmmmm.

Who should we actually believe ?

a reply to: Namdru

Do they really need any of them to go there just for a photo op?

originally posted by: TDawg61
Puerto Rico needs rescue,supplies,electricity ect.Not a bunch of politicians looking to get a photo op.

Dam,Razor stoe my thunder!

We have the same problem on the dutch part of Saint Martin. Navy send logistics vessel with peace keeping troops and relief goods. Its not enough, but atleast they can keep the peace. It's the biggest vessel our navy has, 160 souls. Don't laugh

Anyway the point is, don't you guys have militairy assets comming out the ying-yang, including Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands?

I don't really blame them. The USVI and PR are incredibly dangerous places to be right now. Between continuing floods, filthy conditions, gang rule, lack of supplies, damaged buildings....it's not a place a pampered politician needs to be.

I should think it in the best interest not only of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but also the U.S. itself, to restore these ravaged lands to functionality as soon as possible.

After all, as we have seen in Somalia, Sudan, and Iraq, as well as countless other destroyed places, destruction and desolation breed resentment and terrorists, right?

Does the U.S really want to risk the creation of another “terrorist breeding ground” just off our very own shores?

a reply to: Namdru

I know someone over there that's a ATC.

The airport is open and he's working.

However he's saying looting is happening.

And lines for food and gas are very long.

Hopefully things don't spiral out of control and they can get enough food and water into the island.

a reply to: seasonal

Been there -- and to PR, and to Dominica. Lots of people are going to be desperate and hurting, and hungry.

On a good day those islands are alright, but definitely not Kansas. The first time I went to St. Croix was a year after a mass-murder of golfers at the local golf course. Rentals were cheap and plentiful, even at Christmas.

originally posted by: Excallibacca
I don't really blame them. The USVI and PR are incredibly dangerous places to be right now. Between continuing floods, filthy conditions, gang rule, lack of supplies, damaged buildings....it's not a place a pampered politician needs to be.

And without reestablishing a PR infrastructure...where do you think the gang members will eventually settle?

The US perhaps...Miami, NY, etc.

a reply to: Jubei42

well looks like something is happening

101st Airborne headed to Puerto Rico to help with hurricane relief

Well I know people are getting out of PR. The gvt has already relocated around 10,000 to parts of Florida and Georgia. Horrible situation there.

a reply to: olaru12

I hope you're not suggesting that US lawmakers are actually going to HELP rebuild infrastructure.

originally posted by: RazorV66
a reply to: Namdru

Do they really need any of them to go there just for a photo op?

Exactly. It won't be just one government official. They'll have their advisors, secretaries, interns, lobbyists , followed by TV network journalists. And they won't be staying in yurts, they'll be wanting to live in five star hotels with fresh towels in each room each day, satellite TV, restaurant, swimming pool and sauna. Then they will need taxi drivers, security guards, roads to be cleared. The lobbyists will be there to make sure their companies get the reconstruction contracts.

These are military transport planes - needed for transporting jeeps, food supplies, water, medical kits. Every person is 80kg less supplies.

a reply to: xuenchen

The sad part are the elderly and infirm who are not capable of walking over the destruction, the distance and then wage the crowds to get the aid, that and when exhausted emotionally and physically drained even a small bottle of water would weigh a million pounds. I would LOVE to see a BUNCH of large generators brought in to help cool and bring lights. It is a tragic situation and it makes me sick to see the energy going into the wrong things in logistical priority.
I feel so sad every nation in the world can belly up for war in an instant and without provocation but let a disaster happen and they hide in the shadows waiting to point fingers.

a reply to: antar

Well, at least on a small hopeful note... Many of the elderly and infirmed as well as those requiring long term health care and support are going to be brought to the U.S East Coast temporarily. The USS Comfort is set to depart within the next day or two and is tasked, in part, with bringing some of those people here. They will be housed in apartments and hotels, and the Federal government will be assisting with outsourcing of medical support for them.

originally posted by: RazorV66
a reply to: Namdru

Do they really need any of them to go there just for a photo op?

No. They could do that with Photoshop

But seriously, the more observers, the more accountability. Lawmakers get votes by being credible representatives of the people's interest. If the disaster is compounded by incompetence or the federal government's failure to act in a timely way -- resulting in casualties and death, not to mention protracted human misery -- it reflects badly on the current administration. Or it can be made to reflect badly. So even if all they want is starring in disaster porn to make themselves look compassionate and get votes, it might also bring a measure of accountability to those with the real power.