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By Nasr-Al-Deen Al-Bahra

Edited By Rob Gibran

September 6, 2005

Home Page (Arabic)

It is clear that the extent of the damage incurred by Hurricane Katrina, both in property or in loss of life, will not reach the levels of the tsunami that hit South East Asia a few months ago.

Are We Upsetting Mother Nature?

Regardless, this latest hurricane brings to attention the recent slew of devastating natural disasters upon the earth, and one cannot help but make the connection between them and the constant assault by economic interests against the environment, the climate, and Mother Nature in general. This has been underlined by news of more ozone layer depletion!

The tsunami struck poor, developing countries in Asia. Katrina (I have no idea where they got that name from), on the other hand, struck a developed nation; arguably the first among developed nations. This damaging blow was a good opportunity for the Americans to discover a few of the Achilles’ heels within their land.

The 8th Century Poet Homer

The [Greek] tale only spoke of one heel. It was the only vulnerable spot on the body of Achilles, a legendary figure described in the epic poem The Iliad by the Greek poet Homer. Achilles’ mother held him by the heel and dipped him in the river Styx, thereby making him immortal … except for the heel that remained dry.

The United States is nearly invulnerable, but it has more than one weak point. One of the more dangerous “heels” was pointed out by a political analyst who disclosed that Hurricane Katrina would pass, but the ensuing political storm would be even more hazardous.

A teacher from the destroyed city of New Orleans in the state of Louisiana said: “It was known well in advance that the storm would hit. Why didn’t the authorities take the necessary precautions to prevent all these deaths?”

An African-American man exclaimed: “There have been other dangerous and harmful disasters in areas that white people live. How come they quickly rushed help to these areas, but took their time in helping us?”

In another comment that points squarely at the “heel,” a commentator was quoted as saying: “This is the second major disaster to hit the U.S. since the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and it is clear that the American government is not prepared to face such a major crises.”

Castro, Chavez Discuss Pat Roberton Last Month.

Another “heel” was targeted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He had recently been in the news when an American preacher [Pat Robertson] called for his assassination, and the U.S. administration had no comment. “Would it not have been more useful and noteworthy for the American government to protect its own nation instead of killing people in occupied Iraq?” asked Chavez. But despite U.S. hostility against him, President Chavez declared his readiness to send humanitarian aid.

That is exactly what Cuban leader Fidel Castro did when he said that he is prepared to send 1,000 doctors and tons in medical and humanitarian aid to the affected U.S. areas. Castro was clear in making the distinction between humanitarianism and his political disagreements with the U.S. administration.

How’s that for an assault on an Achilles’ heel?

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British MP George Galloway

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