Ex-FEMA Chief Blames Homeland Security (Brownie)

[sabra]

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060209231609990004&ncid=NWS00010000000001

Ex-FEMA Chief Blames Homeland Security
Timeline Indicates White House Knew Earlier of Levee Breaches

WASHINGTON (Feb. 10) - Decisions and policies by the parent Department of Homeland Security doomed FEMA to "a path to failure" that led to the government's slow response to Hurricane Katrina, former disaster chief Michael Brown said Friday.

...

"There was a cultural clash that didn't recognize the absolute inherent science of preparing for a disaster," he told the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee. "Any time you break that cycle ... you're doomed to failure."

...

White House spokesman Trent Duffy said the president and his top aides were fully aware of the massive flooding -- and less concerned whether it was caused by levee breaches, overtoppings or failed pumps, all three of which were being reported at the time.

...

Democrats said the documents showed there was little excuse for the tardy federal response.

"The first communication came at 8:30 a.m.," said Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. "So it is inexplicable to me how those responsible for the federal response could have woken up Tuesday morning unaware of this obviously catastrophic situation."

[Warpy]

1. He's got a point

FEMA's manuals had all been rewritten by the GOP goons running Homeland Security to reflect a city's need after a major biological attack with a fast spreading virus: contain and quarantine. That's why NGOs were stopped at the city limits by the National Guard, why people with boats were prevented from searching for trapped survivors after that first day, why trucks of water and desperately needed diesel fuel were turned back. Their stupid manuals and procedures killed a lot of peole.

The whole thing was a monstrous clusterfuck accomplished by men who were playing think tank games without considering that the most likely disasters were all natural ones.

Brownie just failed miserably to make any of it any better.

[DELUSIONAL]

2. This is another "let it happen on purpose"

Which tells us that the plan for any disaster is to cut off the victims from help -- and let the strong survive without assistance from the Feds.

But even strong people will die without water -- or if they are left in contaminated environments.

The bushie gang can only do one thing right -- loot the National Treasury -- and they are the only ones to benefit.

[Not Sure]

3. Katrina is how I found DU, after looking for some real information

It was the most important thing on my agenda at the time it happened. No amount of blame these people try to pass off on each other will make me forget them standing around, grinning, rolling up sleeves, ordering a No. 1 with cheese, but doing nothing to help the people stranded and letting so many die. There is no reason why I should have known what the situation at the Convention Center was like before Heckuva Job Brownie knew. They, stood there and did nothing, until the military arrived and rolled through the flood waters. For that each of these government heads needs to beg forgiveness until the day they die. Anytime anyone of them speak or testify, it's like someone is shitting in my coffee. So, Brownie, Chertoff, Bush, et al, get off the fucking TV and fix the problem or get the hell out of the way of someone who will.

I am so tired of these damn looters - the Bush Administration, that is.

[sarcasmo]

7. Kick and Nom #4 and wlecome to D/U twominuteshate

[MichiganVote]

9. Welcome to DU and for the record, I'm tired of these bastards too

[converted_democrat]

10. Welcome twominuteshate..

:hi:

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. Yes, there were many of us here on DU and other sites

who followed and posted throughout the storm and the events that followed. All these asshats had to do was to log on here if they wanted to know what was going on.

I was so horrified by the events, I couldn't get much else done for 2 weeks except to rant and rave here until I could hardly type anymore. We saw what happened. We know what they did. We witnessed the whole thing.

Glad you found us :hi:

[ninkasi]

15. Welcome to DU...

I hope you've been able to find the information you were looking for. I, too, am tired of the Bush Administration and their crony looters. All they can think of is robbing the treasury, and they don't give a damn who lives or dies while they do it, either.

[Auntie Bush]

21. "Looters", Yes, but MURDERERS is much more accurate.

Bush is the Executioner-in-Chief!

[rodeodance]

4. k and n

[MagickMuffin]

5. Unholy Trinity: Katrina, Allbaugh and Brown

I'm trying to get the real story out there for everyone to read. I have started a thread in GD. Go check it out and recommend it! IT IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION

We may expect revelations in coming months and years about the process through which FEMA awarded contracts. But it is likely that even the most cursory examination will uncover high-level decisions that carried little obvious public benefit. One such example might be the agency’s abrupt 2003 decision to award an exclusive contract for water supplies in emergencies. 

Prior to the Allbaugh-Brown reign, FEMA had handed out water contracts to a variety of companies. One of the recipients, not surprisingly, was Nestle Waters North America, easily the continent’s biggest producer, with 15 brands of bottled water and 23 bottling facilities in the U.S. and Canada. 

Then, without explanation, FEMA went sole-source, picking a little-known, family-run firm called Lipsey Mountain Water. The company, based in Norcross, Georgia, had just 15 full-time employees, no production capacity and no distribution network. Instead, it was aggressively soliciting other companies to supply its needs.

http://realnews.org/rn/content/index4aaa.html?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&itemid=9&limit=1&limitstart=0

[zbdent]

6. Question - is he under oath?

if he is, woo hoo!

[Catchawave]

8. Yes, he was sworn in !!!!

[ginnyinWI]

11. And as for the Senators on the Committee--

Some of the Repubs (noteably Coleman) seemed intent on making Brownie the scapegoat for everything that happened. Finally Brownie lost it and slapped him down. Coleman was carrying a lot of water for * today.

Brownie was incompetent, but is no way the only one to blame. The Dem Senators pointed toward the WH and the fact that FEMA is now inside the Dept. of Homeland Security as part of the failure.

[worldgonekrazy]

17. Coleman is such a fucking snake

Even for a Republican.

[dflprincess]

19. Normie would run over his grandmother if he thought it would

gain him any points with Bushco. He is such a weasel.

[superconnected]

13. Wow, he finally turned on his own. How Republican.

I was getting sick of how it was the governer,mayor, redcross, and finally the poorest black peoples fault.

Yes HLS is responsible, but Michael Browne you spineless jelly fish, so are you. You were incharge of the Disaster. Normally I call people who won't take responsiblity weasles, but frankly you're too much of a wuss to raise to be a weasle.

[Raine]

20. Rats

deserting a sinking ship, let them turn on each other none of them know how to stand up cause they believe in nothing.

[funkybutt]

14. "I feel abandoned"

Oh. YOU feel abandoned?? Join the club Brownie. Nice JOB...good work...

[ninkasi]

16. Like the people of New Orleans were abandoned?

Not quite the same thing, Brownie. Their abandonment in too many cases led to their deaths. You are still alive, and must accept your share of the guilt for their deaths. The Bush administration is made up of robbers and murderers, and is driving this country into ruin. I only hope we can have fair elections in 2006, and get a majority of Democratic leaders with the courage to impeach Bush and Cheney, and turn this country around again.

[Disturbed]

18. LIHOP- Criminal Negligence.

Indictements must be served!