Laurie Garrett - Hurricane Katrina Analysis
Worse, there is real danger that the only overt sign of leadership will be military, in the form of anti-looting enforcement and armed personnel. While bringing law and order to the situation is essential, the absence of obvious civilian leadership and information means many local refugees will view themselves as an occupied or policed population. Given overtones of racism, this could be explosive. [1]
America, and this government, is going to witness an enormous political backlash from these events, stemming primarily from the African American community, if steps are not boldly taken to demonstrate less judgment, and greater assistance, for the black poor of the region. Cries of racism will be heard. In every disaster we have been engaged in we have witnessed a similar sense by the victims of disasters that they were being singled out, and ignored by their government, because of their ethnicity, religion or race. The onus is on government to prove them wrong. [2]
From the 2full letter by Laurie Garrett, Senior Fellow for Global Health -- Council on Foreign Relations
