[UPDATE #5] Levee repairs faked for Bush photo-op?

Well, according to a statement released by Senator Mary Landrieu, yes. Yes it was.

Courtesy of AmericaBlog, the money quote;

"But perhaps the greatest disappointment stands at the breached 17th Street levee. Touring this critical site yesterday with the President, I saw what I believed to be a real and significant effort to get a handle on a major cause of this catastrophe. Flying over this critical spot again this morning, less than 24 hours later, it became apparent that yesterday we witnessed a hastily prepared stage set for a Presidential photo opportunity; and the desperately needed resources we saw were this morning reduced to a single, lonely piece of equipment.

You can read more extensive coverage at KTAL-TV or at BayouBuzz.

Jump with me...

While this may be just another outrage in a very long line of outrages, I think this deserves a little attention. Sen. Landrieu is pissed... and she's talking.

What does she want?

"Mr. President,  I'm imploring you once again to get a cabinet-level official stood up as soon as possible to get this entire operation moving forward regionwide with all the resources - military and otherwise - necessary to relieve the unmitigated suffering and economic damage that is unfolding."

A US Senator begging the administration for help while the President stalls relief and repairs for a photo-op. Pretty pictures, indeed.

Update [2005-9-3 21:43:21 by themis]: When I first diaried this, the press release was not yet posted to her site. It is now, and you can get it here. Thanks to reader Cannabis for the reminder.

Thanks to reader QuickSilver, we have unconfirmed reports of a relief station (food, water, and other frivolous things) being dismantled after the royal visit. If anyone speaks German and can find the info, start here.

Update [2005-9-3 22:4:33 by themis]: UberKossack fpc provides a rough translation of the German news report.

Clearing work only for Bush?

In the parts of the disaster area where the US president visited, auxiliary troops [National Guard] cleared up properly beforehand - but only there. ZDF correspondent Claudia Rueggeberg quoted desperate inhabitants asking, "Why is Bush bringing loud bodyguards and his assistants here in his cars, instead of provisions?"

Along the President's route, troops had cleared debris before Bush arrived and would have hidden corpses. Then Bush left, "and with it", said Rueggeberg, "so did the troops". In Biloxi, the situation remains unchanged - everything is still lacking.

Update [2005-9-3 23:8:50 by themis]: Commenter vanguardia tracked down a different German report from the German Tagesschau, with video linked here. Rough synopsis, as per vanguardia's translation;

Bottom line: When the convoy of the President arrived, hectic activity broke out for the first time, bulldozers appeared and cleared areas that didn't need clearing because nobody was still living there, and when the President disappeared, so did the bulldozers and workers.

Christine Adelhardt, the reporter, said, that the fake scenario shocked her as much as the destruction she had seen.

Update [2005-9-4 1:1:13 by themis]: No solid proof yet, but Knight Ridder reporters Chris Adams and Carol Rosenberg report, via the Mercury News (registration may be required, but a GoogleNews search may bring it up);

If there is no more rain, the breaches in New Orleans' all-important levees could be closed by Sunday, said engineer Don Basham, chief of the engineering division, from headquarters in Washington.

This is interesting. If the 17th Street levee (the one mentioned in Landrieu's press release) is scheduled to be fixed Sunday, then why was no one working on it Saturday? I'd think that if they finished it, it would be big news.

Also a heads-up from several commenters - Sen. Landrieu is scheduled to appear on This Week with George Stephanopolous, and on 60 Minutes. We may hear much more about this. However, with Judge Rehnquist's passing, that may change.

Update [2005-9-4 1:42:22 by themis]:Vanguardia has a transcript and translation for the video link above.

note, this is a live report from Biloxi.

TRANSCRIPTION

Zum letzten Stand jetzt live aus Biloxi Christine Adelhardt

Vor 2 Minuten ist hier gerade der Präsident in seinem Konvoi vorbeigefahren. Was sich hier in Biloxi aber während des Tages abgespielt hat, ist wirklich unglaublich. Plötzlich tauchten hier Bergungstrupps auf, plötzlich waren hier Räumfahrzeuge, die hatte man die ganzen Tage hier vorher nicht gesehen, und das in einem Gebiet, indem es wirklich nicht notwendig wäre, groß aufzuräumen, weil hier lebt weit und breit kein Mensch mehr, die Menschen sind weiter innen in der Stadt. Der Präsident reist mit einem Pressetross. Dieser Pressetross hat damit sehr schöne Bilder, die da sagen sollen, der Präsident war da und die Hilfe, die wird auch kommen. Das Ausmaß der Naturkatastrophe hat mich geschockt aber das Ausmaß der Inszenierung hier heute schockt mich mindestens genauso. Damit zurück nach Hamburg

TRANSLATION

On the last state of things here's Christine Adelhardt live from Biloxi

2 minutes ago the President drove past in his convoi. But what has happened in Biloxi all day long is truly unbelievable. Suddenly recovery units appeared, suddenly bulldozers were there, those hadn't been seen here all the days before, and this in an area, in which it really wouldn't be necessary to do a big clean up, because far and wide nobody lives here anymore, the people are more inland in the city. The President travels with a press baggage [big crew]. This press baggage got very beautiful pictures which are supposed to say, that the President was here and help is on the way, too. The extent of the natural disaster shocked me, but the extent of the staging is shocking me at least the same way. With that back to Hamburg.