Was the Red Cross Prevented From Entering New Orleans?

      Some truckers and rescue workers are claiming they were ready to bring in supplies to New Orleans as early as Monday, but were kept from entering the city.  It seems incredible, but appears to be corroborated on the Red Cross’s own website.  Their FAQ page for “Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?” states:

• The original plan was to evacuate all the residents of New Orleans to safe places outside the city. With the hurricane bearing down, the city government decided to open a shelter of last resort in the Superdome downtown. We applaud this decision and believe it saved a significant number of lives.

This is all well-and-good; but also on the page is:

• The state Homeland Security Department had requested–and continues to request–that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

    I’m sorry but I do not understand the logic. I guess I can see why the Red Cross was not expected to wade or swim house to house — but what was so complicated about bringing food and water to the Superdome?  It seems like a no-brainer: the greatest number of the needy were already in one place.&nsp; So why were so many allowed to die from hunger and dehydration, begging for food?…especially when, according to reports on ABC News [awaiting confirmation] and Sadly No! (as well as BlondeSense and Daily Kos), relief was already there waiting.  Why was there a five day delay before that relief was delivered?  And, now that I think of it, why did that relief finally show up simultaneous to the President’s arrival?  Is it possible that our government actually allowed people to die just to time it right so Bush would look good on TV?  Or do they want poor blacks to die so land developers can use eminent domain and snatch up the coastal land?  Or is it that Republicans simply want to kill off several thousand Democratic voters before next year’s midterms?
    Yes, those scenarios are abhorrent, and I hate to even consider them; but after five years of this administration not one of them would surprise me.
    And what the hell does “Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city” mean?  Do they seriously think their MREs are that tempting?  Do they imagine there’s some refugee saying “You know, I really should get out of this chest-deep sewage, but damn this jerky is so tasty!”