Thursday, March 02, 2006
Center for American Progress: NO QUESTIONS ASKED
Here is a complete reprint of the Center for American Progress talking points on the new revelation that the President was in fact fully briefed about potential Hurricane Katrina related levee breaks before the hurricane hit.
No Questions Asked
March 2, 2006
Yesterday the embattled residents of the Gulf Region received yet another slap in the face as the Associated Press released a leaked video of high-level government meetings before Hurricane Katrina. The tape reveals that the President was fully aware of potential catastrophe when the Hurricane reached the Gulf Coast region. On the tape, government officials insistently warned the President and others of ensuing havoc, and even the maligned former FEMA director Mike Brown had the foresight to predict the coming atrocities if the Superdome were used as a refuge. Nevertheless, despite incontrovertible evidence, the White House stands by its 228 page report entitled, “Lessons Learned”, where the Administration admits few mistakes but concedes no failure.
The video confirms that the White House was well-informed, but failed to act. The video reveals an administration that was given all of the facts prior to the Hurricane’s landfall, yet their incompetence proved the biggest obstacle in protecting the residents of the Gulf Coast Region. Even after the Hurricane Bush insisted, “I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” This we now know is patently false.
Even in the face of indisputable evidence, the White House denies that it knew of the serious nature of the storm. They failed to take appropriate action and continue to blame others. It does not matter whether the Administration is talking about Iraq, Social Security, Health Care or Katrina – it is never wrong.
The White House has not budgeted enough money for emergency preparedness, and their solution to the failures of Katrina is inadequate. President Bush’s budget cut "funds for state and local programs by nearly 10 percent. Despite a promise to make the levees stronger in New Orleans, the Bush budget called for a 34 percent cut on the construction budget for the Army Corps of Engineers" and a 13 percent cut to flood prevention. The White House solution to Katrina problems is to create more levels of bureaucracy. They would create local offices of DHS which would replicate the regional FEMA offices that, when managed properly, worked fine.
No Questions Asked
March 2, 2006
Yesterday the embattled residents of the Gulf Region received yet another slap in the face as the Associated Press released a leaked video of high-level government meetings before Hurricane Katrina. The tape reveals that the President was fully aware of potential catastrophe when the Hurricane reached the Gulf Coast region. On the tape, government officials insistently warned the President and others of ensuing havoc, and even the maligned former FEMA director Mike Brown had the foresight to predict the coming atrocities if the Superdome were used as a refuge. Nevertheless, despite incontrovertible evidence, the White House stands by its 228 page report entitled, “Lessons Learned”, where the Administration admits few mistakes but concedes no failure.
The video confirms that the White House was well-informed, but failed to act. The video reveals an administration that was given all of the facts prior to the Hurricane’s landfall, yet their incompetence proved the biggest obstacle in protecting the residents of the Gulf Coast Region. Even after the Hurricane Bush insisted, “I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” This we now know is patently false.
Even in the face of indisputable evidence, the White House denies that it knew of the serious nature of the storm. They failed to take appropriate action and continue to blame others. It does not matter whether the Administration is talking about Iraq, Social Security, Health Care or Katrina – it is never wrong.
The White House has not budgeted enough money for emergency preparedness, and their solution to the failures of Katrina is inadequate. President Bush’s budget cut "funds for state and local programs by nearly 10 percent. Despite a promise to make the levees stronger in New Orleans, the Bush budget called for a 34 percent cut on the construction budget for the Army Corps of Engineers" and a 13 percent cut to flood prevention. The White House solution to Katrina problems is to create more levels of bureaucracy. They would create local offices of DHS which would replicate the regional FEMA offices that, when managed properly, worked fine.
