Reply #194: Red tape keeping much of military on sidelines Camp Casey MISS

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Saturday, September 3, 2005 - Page updated at 12:29 AM

Red tape keeping much of military on sidelines




CAMP SHELBY, Miss. — A tiny fraction of the active-duty U.S. military is engaged in rescue and relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a situation that frustrated senior military officers are attributing in part to complex relationships with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"There is a tremendous amount of frustration here, that we have assets stacked up ready to go," said one officer who asked not to be identified. "All we can do is nudge the folks at FEMA and say, 'How about if we do this or that?' "

But a difficult command structure inside the military seemed equally cumbersome as officers wrestled yesterday with having to coordinate any movement of forces with dozens of supervising commands and agencies.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002468593_katmilitary03.html