Rita, our chance to do it right

Trouble is far from over in the Gulf. This week reconstruction tasks in N. Orleans were abandoned as newly found Rita showed up. In a way, it's better left that way, as the city is still empty and nothing is left for looters.

But focusing on what's ahead, I'd say that this is the opportunity for the administrations to show a little more coordination for emergency situations. Both Katrina and Rita were predicted, but the administration wasn't prepared. "it's gonna be just another one", only they didn't counted on the people of New Orleans stubborn attitude and the very force of the elements that brought devastation to the region.

Incompetence, was then the exact word to define what was going on. Incompetence from the Mayor for having let his citizen stay, and not to order a forced evacuation in force. Incompetence from the Governor, who simply disappeared, leaving the job to the Mayor and the Interior secretary, and incompetence from President Bush himself for not seeing it coming.

All this is to be avoided this time, it is being avoided, as the results of Rita's short living have been forseen quickly and action has been taken. I must admit that the initiative shown by Rick Perry, Texas Governor, is impressive. It has made that Houston is collapsed with traffic, what can you do against that, but at least the people is on the move, fearceful more of their lives than their property, who's going to be paid off by insurances, if somebody still has a little sense of charity, up there.

Reconstruction will always be hard, always been. But this time, we won't have to mourn the dead, as we did in New Orleans, and that means that this time, the government and the institutions have done what they are supposed to do.

Miguel Vinuesa