Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hypnotist]

Yes, I know it's The Observer, but still. I almost posted this to the donations thread, but.

I've not bolded any of it, but it's not hard to guess what jumped out at me.

[matthewwoodford]

First, I notice that the BBC reports the first British survivors to return home criticizing the British embassy for it's complete lack of helpfulness.

Second, I wonder what reasons the police could have for not evacuating non-Americans. It seems incredible. However, they would still have been rescued if their lives had been in immediate danger.

Third, where were the American survivors being evacuated to? The rest are probably better off in the hotel than in the Superdome for the time being at least.

Last, I note that they 'ransacked' rather than 'looted' the hotel. As who wouldn't.

[dulouz]

[blackbird]

It is standard policy to take care of US citizens first. The US has the same policy in Korea. If something were to happen here, no allies would be evacuated until all US citizens were accounted for.

[dulouz]

I disagree. I've lived in disaster zones - Florida Keys, Seattle and Galveston Texas. All the evac support and non support was offered to everyone. Evac support in all of these places is simply a message to get out. None of these places ever once offered to ferry me out in anyway. This is a jurisdiction matter. Outside the US, its different. Inside, even illegal aliens get help.

If this extra soveriegnty policy is UK policy as well... well darn them to heck for not reporting it.

[hypnotist]

Well, these are eyewitness reports. I put more store in them than in the dismissals of some random guy on a message board. Not that I'm saying they're correct, but if they somehow misinterpreted what they saw, I'd like to hear it explained..

It gets better, too.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/katrina/story/0,16441,1563466,00.html

[Gopher]

Someone cited "standard policy," and I'd like a specific policy reference from them to be sure I know what they're talking about. Whose policy? Who wrote it, etc.? Evacuating U.S. citizens from South Korea is not the same thing as not evacuating foreign nationals from a disaster area within the United States.

I don't believe that resecuers would condition the rescue of women on their willingness to flash them. I find the allegation that rescue workers discriminated based on nationality equally ridiculous...were they checking for passports or state-issued IDs?

[rapier]

Time and again I have found the British embassy, and embassies in general, about as useful as a butter teapot.

Embassies appear to be staffed by imbeciles in smart uniforms who come to work at about 11am, have a fancy lunch break from 12-2pm, pose briefly behind the glass telling everyone to come back next month, before packing up to go home at 3pm.

If you were on fire they'd tell you to fill in the proper form.

[Been Here Years]

The Brits weren't the only ones treated like this. The following from the Sydney Morning Herald is not the complete article but sections from it. It does appear that the US govt prevented Diplomatic officials from entering New Orleans. One group of tourists was smuggled out by Australian TV crews who came across them while filming. Another group was taken out by ones and twos by an Army sargeant who requested they leave all their belongings and just walk out as though going to look outside. They then made their way to a vehicle which took them to an emergency police post. They walked out with only their passports and wallets. The sargeant told them it would start a riot if they were seen being helped. There were special buses standing by to evacuate tourists they were told. If that is true then where were the buses for the rest of the population.



Rude, uncaring bureaucrats left us in the lurch, complain families

By Cynthia Banham Foreign Affairs Reporter
September 6, 2005

The Federal Government has been attacked over its delay in coming to the aid of Australians caught up in Hurricane Katrina, with Labor yesterday accusing it of turning its back on its own nationals, and families complaining of rude treatment by government staff.
The first Australian consular official entered New Orleans on Sunday, five days after the hurricane hit, and was only allowed to stay for two or three hours until sunset to look for Australians feared to be still in the area.

Some of the trapped Australians have criticised the Government's tardiness in responding to their plight. A Brisbane woman, Fiona Seidel, said the Prime Minister, John Howard, "pretty much wasn't there for me when I needed him".

Mr Howard accused Labor of "cheap populism" and said if the Government had ignored a US ruling banning consular officials from entering New Orleans, it could have resulted in "chaos and bloodshed".

Mr Howard said he understood why Australians caught up in the devastation would feel abandoned, and he apologised if they felt let down by the Government but he said it had done all it could in the circumstances.

Mr Downer defended his officials, saying diplomatic representations had been made "every four hours" to be let into New Orleans.

[peemil]