Project Katrina

President Bush claimed earlier this month that “the American people can be rest assured this administration understands the task, and understands the challenges, and understands our obligation to protect you, to protect the American people.”

The Bush administration’s failed response to Katrina proves these statements are nothing but empty political speak. In the face of the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, the White House did not appreciate, much less understand the gravity of the situation, showed a total lack of leadership, and demonstrated how incompetent they are to handle future emergencies unless dramatic changes are made.

All of this is why Congress is looking into the government’s response. From today’s NY Times:

The White House was beset by the “fog of war” in the crucial days immediately after Hurricane Katrina, leaving it unable to respond properly to the unfolding catastrophe, House investigators said Friday after getting the most detailed briefing yet on how President Bush’s staff had handled the events. […]

“We are left with a picture of a White House that was plagued by the fog of war,” said David Marin, the Republican staff director to the House committee investigating the government’s response to the hurricane. “The committee is likely to find a disturbing inability by the White House to de-conflict and analyze information—and that had consequences.”

But even now, the White House is stonewalling the investigation with claims of executive privilege. Of course this means “it will be hard” for investigators “to pinpoint where failures occurred within the White House.” And it also means we won’t be prepared for future diasters and terrorist attacks. Thanks President Bush.