In today's report on the disastrous cyclone that swept through the small Asian country of Myanmar (formerly Burma) it looks like ABC News is trying to start a new meme: The cyclone "was Asia's answer to Hurricane Katrina." How long do you think it will be before the idea takes hold and all manner of comparisons will be made between Katrina and the cyclone in Myanmar? If this idea takes hold it won't be long before the media's Bush Derangement Syndrome starts claiming that the military junta that is preventing relief supplies from reaching the Myanmarian people are just like Bush and FEMA's failures in New Orleans.
It was Asia's answer to Hurricane Katrina. Packing winds upwards of 120 mph, Cyclone Nargis became one of Asia's deadliest storms by hitting land at one of the lowest points in Myanmar and setting off a storm surge that reached 25 miles inland.
"When we saw the (storm) track, I said, 'Uh oh, this is not going to be good," said Mark Lander, a meteorology professor at the University of Guam. "It would create a big storm surge. It was like Katrina going into New Orleans."
But, in truth, cyclone Nargis was much, much stronger and more deadly than Katrina and any comparisons is superficial at best. Winds during Nargis, for instance, got up to 135 mph upon landfall and may have killed up to 100,000 people -- already ranked as the 8th deadliest cyclone in recorded history. (Katrina's winds were measured at 125 mph at landfall and killed about 1,836 people)
Naturally, it's all because of global warming, too.
Some environmentalists suggested global warming may have played a role. Last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that warming oceans could contribute to increasingly severe cyclones with stronger winds and heavier rains.
Yes, "some environmentalists" think its all because of global warming. And "some" people think the Earth is flat, and "some" people claim to have had sex with Bigfoot, too.
Keep on the watch for this "Asia's Katrina" narrative. It may begin to get wider notice among the MSM. Next thing you'll know, the military junta in Myanmar will be called the "Bush administration" of Asia!
(Photo credit: Huffingtonpost.com)
(H/t Newsbuster reader John)
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Interesting how they left
May 10, 2008 - 15:36 ET by ckc1227Interesting how they left out that some scientists disagree with the global warming hurricane theory. Surely it was just an oversight.
Have no doubt, this will happen. And the koolaid drinkers will consume pitchers full of the stuff.
This should be really, really intertaining
May 10, 2008 - 15:49 ET by Captain RepusIt will probably take the media several hours to pick up on this theme. Unfortunately, they will leave out certain facts when making the comparison. For example, they will leave out the fact that Katrina did comparatively little damage to New Orleans but the failed Levee's caused virtually all the havoc and destruction, and that the LOCAL and STATE (dem) government is far more to blame for the mess than GWB, and the fact that massive destruction and loss of life from Katrina was instead mostly in Miss. and Alabama, and that the local as well as Federal govts did a fairly good job in dealing with this unprecedented wide-spread destruction.
They will, of course, accurately make the comparison of the dictatorial government of Burma to Herr Bush and his black helicopter armada of his big-oil controlled secret conspiracy to take over the world.
Oh there's plenty of
May 10, 2008 - 15:55 ET by taterOh there's plenty of comparisions...Bush knew the hurricane was coming but didn't tell the people in New Orleans to evacuate. The government run media also knew and didn't tell anyone. There was no way for people in N.O. to get aid because the government wouldn't allow it. The US gave a middle finger to everyone around the world who wanted to help because they didn't want to expose Bush's dictatorship.
Yeah dripping in sarcasm how much time before Bush is blamed for the cyclone...thanks a lot Karl Rove weather machine.
"They need to have a course in college called common sense and everyone should take it. Problem is there isn't too many people that could pass or teach it." -my grandfather
There is already a nit-wit
May 10, 2008 - 16:46 ET by bigtimerThere is already a nit-wit poster on NewsBusted today that is blaming the Bush administration for not getting relief to Burma today because there is no oil there...
It never ends with these brain-dead leftists with an agenda.
Unreal.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
An extra 10MPH
May 10, 2008 - 17:18 ET by sarcasmoMight not seem like much, but it is. Force = Mass times Velocity SQUARED. 125 squared is 15,625 but 135 squared is 18,225 -- so those few extra knots of wind speed can make a big difference when objects which should not be flying are taking flight.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
You're right
May 10, 2008 - 20:42 ET by CobraManYou're right. Most people don't understand that, unless you ride a bicycle a lot, that is. That extra energy also adds to the storm surge and results in greater flooding, which is what killed so many people.
Thanks...
May 10, 2008 - 21:09 ET by sarcasmoI have a rather simple rule for myself when it comes to Florida hurricanes, born out of an unpleasant Andrew experience where I stayed in Miami due to preparation exhaustion. If there's a greater than 50% chance that winds of 100MPH or more will hit near me, I'm going to run away. A hurricane is the worst possible very loud storm, followed by what seems like the worst camping trip of your life, only the lousy camping trip comes to YOU.
JMR
The tax & spend drug war looks racist in the real world.
The only thing missing in
May 10, 2008 - 20:51 ET by ThisnThatThe only thing missing in the MSM's minds will be the names of the Generals on the care packages. Maybe the MSM will hire/encourage people to scribble Bush's name on the FEMA trailers?
___________________________________
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Burma's government=Nagin and Blanco
May 10, 2008 - 20:51 ET by nkviking75It's not a bad analogy if you compare Burma's government to Mayor Nagin of New Orleans and Gov. Blanco of Louisiana. As for the lefties claiming Bush is ignoring them because of oil, they'd be whining if we ignored Burma's sovreignty to force relief supplies into the country. With BDS, whatever Bush does is wrong. When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
I can see the comparision
May 10, 2008 - 23:52 ET by shawn228Yes many more people died, but these are the most powerful natural disasters to ever hit either country.
Yes the cyclone forces were not as strong as the one in Burma, but regardless it has done the most damage than any storm in US history because of the Levys collapsing.
The whole downtown core and city were closed down for months. Food was scarce and many people lost their homes. I would say the comparision is fair.
ROFLMAO! You have got to
May 10, 2008 - 23:59 ET by bigtimerROFLMAO!
You have got to be kidding shawn.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
nope
May 11, 2008 - 00:07 ET by shawn228Both storms were the worst natural disasters in their respective countrys history, when you are talking about it from a lost property, financial and infrastructure damage.
No shawn... Let's start
May 11, 2008 - 00:24 ET by bigtimerNo shawn...
Let's start with deaths.
Zilch for any comparison.
Btw..all people in NO's had plenty of warning to get off their rears and leave....days of it.
I am going to stop here because I have been through this here forever with you on the left about Katrina not long after it happened....same old BS too now.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
this a different argument altogether bt
May 11, 2008 - 00:34 ET by shawn228I'm not talking about if the Government could have got supplies to people sooner this time, we are talking about comparing the worst natural disaster to hit the United States and the worst natural disaster to ever hit Burma.
I did say at the beginning if we are not comparing the death toll, we're talking about damage to the city itself.
Here we go folks
May 11, 2008 - 00:34 ET by HumblepieHmmm, lets see. Warming notices were given, people stayed. Hurricane strengthens, people stayed. People told to evacuate, people stayed. Levy canals undermine by previous dredging. Gov. and mayor would not give permission for federal gov. to step in... People died.
Best part that I love. As a previous homeowner in Florida, I was required to have Flood Insurance. Most in NO had none. Please don't go on a rant about not having the money. They just didn't think it would happen to them. Guess what, it did.
Next issue, stop flogging a dead horse.
During this time with political correctness at its zenith, I reserve the right to let you know you're an idiot.
Shawn
May 11, 2008 - 00:36 ET by well99I agree with BT.The lose of life is the most important thing.What happened in Burma you cant compare to in this country.Just a note
Most deadly hurricanes in this country
http://searchwarp.com/swa58077.htm
no problem well
May 11, 2008 - 00:39 ET by shawn228You have a right to your opinion. I said right at the begiinning you can't compare the death toll.
You can however compare the financial cost and infrastruture damage it has cost to the city.
Shawn
May 11, 2008 - 00:42 ET by well99Well..um...ahh I missed that..Doh Guess I need another cup of coffee.
shawn,
May 11, 2008 - 00:45 ET by R D HelmThe people of NO had at least four days warning (some would argue five) that Katrina was heading their way.
The unfortunate residents of Burma didn't have a clue that they wre in danger until the storm was right on top of them.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
RD
May 11, 2008 - 01:00 ET by shawn228Very good point, yes the cyclone came out of nowhere. Yes I concede that point.
shawn, lol.
May 11, 2008 - 01:09 ET by R D HelmI was jezz tryin' to point out that the Burmese people are living in what is pretty much the dark ages compared to us in the West. I think it is obvious for all to see that the hideous oppressive regime they live under doesn't care if the Burmese live or die.
What that "government" has done to those people is beyond criminal, and I am not just referring to their inaction since the cyclone.
Sad, too, as the people of that sad land were a huge help to the allies in WW II.
What the American people are looking for is somebody who can solve their problems. - Barack Obama, April 27, 2008
It is sad RD
May 11, 2008 - 01:25 ET by shawn228If New Orleans had the infrastructure Burma did, the death toll might not be as high, but I can see it, in the tens of thousands.
Burma/Myanmar
May 11, 2008 - 03:20 ET by UnsaneUm, I would say that New Orleans beats even Burma/Myanmar in the infrastructure department.
Did you know that, before the current regime took over, that Burma was one of the largest exporters of rice in the world?
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Galveston 1900
May 11, 2008 - 03:18 ET by UnsaneYou clearly have not been to TX. The 1900 hurricane, which made Galveston Island disappear for a period, killed 6000 people and otherwise leveled the island and everything on it, was FAR worse. That made Katrina look like a Sunday picnic.
Before then, Galveston was the largest city in TX and its most important port. It did recover, but never had the momentum that it had previously. A decade later, when Buffalo Bayou was widened to form the Houston Ship Channel, the nearby podunk town of Houston exploded in population, and eclipsed Galveston.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Comparison
May 11, 2008 - 05:59 ET by ToddonCapeCodShawn
Katrina didnt do all the damage to New Orleans; it was the levies breaking that caused it.
Think before you post, man!!!
Your right Todd
May 11, 2008 - 08:31 ET by shawn228and what caused those levies to break? What happenned after the levies broke?
Sort of like saying if there was a huge earthquake in cali and big building caught on fire, It was not the earthquakes fault, it was the ruptured gas line.
It was the storm that caused the levies to break, and after the levies broke, it flooded a lively city and brought it to its knees.
The economic impact it had on a American city was huge.
Apples to Artichokes comparison
May 11, 2008 - 00:30 ET by Captain RepusKatrina was not the worst natural disaster in the US - Virtually all the destruction in New Orleans was a man-made disaster, the failure of man-made water barriers. You know, those pesky little things that were NOT built by George Bush, and whose predicted failure was known by, and ignored by, GWB and all prior administrations, even Mr. Hillary's eight year ignore-the-terrorists, peace, phony internet prosperity and free-love pajama party.
...and the palms that were
May 11, 2008 - 00:36 ET by bigtimer...and the palms that were greased by each district/person that was involved in all the levy situations in their areas for years and years...that were known to need work and nothing done about it.
Democrat controlled.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
I said right at the beginning Captain
May 11, 2008 - 00:37 ET by shawn228This is the worst disaster in US history when you talk about homes lost, damage to city. It also is the biggest financial storm hit the USA ever took because of a storm. Heck, the city still isn't in full swing yet.
It's all in the wording
May 11, 2008 - 00:49 ET by Captain RepusMy issue was your use of the operative word 'natural'. As far as financial hits, I would need to do an inflation-adjusted study of prior events like the mega-floods of a few years ago, etc.
At any rate, the subject is the usual attempt to find a way to degrade Bush.
Heck, the city still isn't
May 11, 2008 - 00:53 ET by bigtimerHeck, the city still isn't in full swing yet.
So the hell what...whose fault is that shawn? President Bush and Crew?
Who runs the city? Sure as heck been enough money thrown their way.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
bt and captain
May 11, 2008 - 00:59 ET by shawn228You both are seeing something that is not there, I did not once blame this on Bush, I am just saying comparing the two disasters is no unreasonable. I also do not see the original article where anyone blamed Bush either.
I was mentioning the financial impact of the disaster hence, the city not in full swing yet comment.
shawn... I am seeing very
May 11, 2008 - 01:11 ET by bigtimershawn...
I am seeing very clear what you were attempting to do with all of this from the beginning with your post here.
Didn't work either did it?
Good try though.
"Never murder your opponent when he is committing suicide." ~ W. Churchill
bt
May 11, 2008 - 01:17 ET by shawn228I thought I was making a comparision between the two disasters, if you think I have an ulterior motive, I woud love to hear about it.
Not saying that Shawn
May 11, 2008 - 01:11 ET by Captain RepusNot saying you are blaming bush Shawn, just that the subject of Huston's posting was that the media's attempt to compare GWB's response to Katrina with the Burmese military government deliberate denial of aid to the storm victims. No comparison either in the severity of the two storms or the government's response is fair or even rational.
It is although quite obvious that global warming was caused by George Bush in order to enrich himself and his big-oil secret comrads.