"I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees."

- George W. Bush on Good Morning America, 9/1/05 (via SF Gate) -

At the risk of politicizing the tragedy wrought by hurricane Katrina, I must point out that Bush really ought to add a few letters to his name - a couple of Ls directly following the U, and an I and a T after the H:

In 2001, a FEMA report ranked hurricane damage to New Orleans as one of the three most likely catastrophes facing the country. . .

The New Orleans Times-Picayune published a five-part series in 2002 that began with the words: "It's only a matter of time before south Louisiana takes a direct hit from a major hurricane. Billions have been spent to protect us, but we grow more vulnerable every day. ...'' The stories quoted flood experts warning specifically of the potential damage from rising water levels and broken levees.

Despite the warnings, money was cut from flood control as the federal government's focus shifted to terrorism. The Bush administration routinely provided less than half the money the Army Corps of Engineers requested for New Orleans flood prevention.

- ANARCHY, ANGER, DESPERATION THE RESPONSE, Marc Sandalow, SF Gate -

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