Guess The Location!

If I were to ask you, where this photo was taken, what would you say?

Yeah, sure, I know you've been glued to your TVs in the past couple of days, but if you hadn't been, if you were from some backwater European country (or worse, Asian!), you might just as well say "Sudan!" or "Congo!" or any other place where black children and soldiers in uniforms are parts of the every-day scene.

But this was taken in the good old US of A, the most powerful country in the world, the only remaining "Superpower", the blessed union of states led by the great and enlightened government of Bush. He's got soldiers in almost a 100 countries all over the world, fighting for and defending the American ideals, the freedom the world so badly needs and the oil wells the yanks so badly need.

The area where I live has been hit hard by floods, twice in the past 12 years. I know it's hurricane season at least once every two years in the southern states of the US. I know these people prepare well when the weather forecasts predict storms, and they do their best to protect themselves, but there are some things against which all protection is futile. Katrina is an example of that. And for that, contingency plans must exist. For that, quick reaction, extensive help (not just promise of such!) and money must be prepared.

I can't help myself... despite the need of the affected people and the catastrophic situation I feel some malicious joy. Not directed against the people hit, but against the government of the most powerful nation in the world, having all their resources out of the country for this or that reason, instead of INSIDE the country, where it would be needed most.

If a backwater area like the one I live in can do it, why can't the mighty USA?

The mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, is right: "You've got to be fucking kidding me!!! [...] Get their asses moving to New Orleans!"

But where are they?

Yup, you're right. Not where they're supposed to be. Somewhere. Defending America against imaginary, real, or self-acquired enemies.

I've got friends in the US, real friends, and I'd hate for them to get the negative backlash of anything their stupid government does, but, fuck me running, it's an ELECTED government!

Maybe that will help a couple of guys 'n gals get their minds around to NOT voting for the guy with the biggest guns next time! I mean, (and to quote Ray again), you gotta be fucking kidding me, Wes Clarke was thrown out of the race as one of the first during the last election campaigns, and that's something I'm never going to understand, because this guy would've been GOOD! He was head of the fucking NATO, he knows how to lead people, he knows how to organize, for fuck's sake, he speaks MORE THAN ONE LANGUAGE!!!

But then again... maybe that's what gets the yanks suspicious at him.

If that were the case, I'd rest my case.