Honore.

This is coolbert:

General Honore, the man in charge of the military forces at work in New Orleans is being interviewed on the radio this morning.

Two aspects of the disaster relief were highlighted by the General.

One was that better communications needed to be had for such disaster operation.

With the various military and civilian agencies all at work in the same place at the same time, communications of an instant and reliable nature is a necessity. And this was not had in New Orleans.

Radios DO NOT net with one another. NOT the frequencies [high frequency, very-high, ultra-high, etc.], or the mode of communications [AM, WFM [wide band FM], NFM [narrow band FM]] is common across the board. Something better is needed. The general suggested that some sort of instant on demand satellite commo be in place for such disaster operations. Everyone can just be issued radios that can access the satellite and presto, you have instant and common and reliable commo.

Such a system was in place and maybe to some extent still is. This was the Motorola Iridium satellite system. About sixty satellites were put into low earth orbit and would guarantee instant telephone communications to anywhere in the world. This system turned out to be a boondoggle and most of the satellites have been brought out of orbit and burned up in the atmosphere. The radio-telephones were too expensive and too bulky for the average consumer. Cell phones came on line about the same time and became the commo mode of choice. I understand that the U.S. DoD [Department of Defense]had purchase about fifteen hundred [1500] of the Iridium handsets and planned to issue the radio-telephones on demand when needed. Never heard anything more about it after that.

[I would also suggest that large numbers of GMRS [general mobile radio service] and FMRS [family mobile radio service] radios be issued to relief and disaster relief workers. With appropriate relay stations in place [stations that can be presighted and maybe even installed], an effective commo system could instantly be in place too. Just issue the little walkie-talkie radios to the folks involved and you are set.]

General Honore also spoke about the need for Congress to consider rewriting or amending or abolishing the Posse Comitatus law. The law that PREVENTS the military from having a role in law enforcement operations. This law was originally written in 1876 and was at the time a sop thrown to southern states still under Union Army occupation. Removing the Union troops from a law enforcement role was part of the deal struck to ensure that Garfield would be elected President. In all likelihood, the law written in 1876 DOES need drastic rewriting. NOT only for now, but for the future too.

General Honore has struck me as a real DOER.

A man of action that gets things done. A LEADER who LEADS [lead, follow, or get out of the way!!!!!]. This man should be considered for further high position after this New Orleans disaster is cleaned up. A man of action that IS needed at the highest levels of command!!

coolbert.