Katrina & September 11th

I am not sure what I can add to the discussion. Many newspapers and web sites and other outlets have done a great covering the disaster as it unfolded and the faltering response. Katrina has ripped away the Bush administration’s pretenses and shown that we are not today safer than we were before September 11th. George Bush came into office in 2000 proudly proclaiming that the U.S. was the world’s sole superpower. Now in 2005, the U.S. is burdened by debt and mired in a pointless war in Iraq while American citizens in New Orleans starve on a freeway bridge, and the Superdome, and at the New Orleans convention center waiting for relief to come.

The rebuilding of New Orleans will be a challenge for all Americans. A challenge to ensure that the people of the rebuilt City will be protected and that all citizens will have confidence that they will not be abandoned in the event of natural disaster or a terrorist attack. One thing is certain, the movement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency into the new Department of Homeland Security has been an utter failure. One of the biggest questions in the formation of DHS was whether such a large and sprawling agency would adequately be able to carry out its responsibilities. It is clear today that DHS isn't up to the job.  ¶ 4:03 PM