Amusing Anomalies

Tape: Bush, Chertoff Warned Before Katrina

The headline above about says it all. Despite White House statements that no one could have anticipated levy breaches in New Orleans, there is compelling, okay more than compelling evidence that Bush and Chertoff both were well aware of the possibility prior to the time Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. The more than compelling evidence? uh, it's kind of like...uh, video tape of them being told that this just might happen...

But let's rewind a little bit. First we turn to Michael Chertoff, Director of the Department of Homeland Security. Here is what Chertoff told reporters on September 5, 2005:

"That 'perfect storm' of a combination of catastrophes exceeded the foresight of
the planners, and maybe anybody's foresight," Chertoff. He called the disaster
"breathtaking in its surprise."

Just 4 days prior to Chertoff's statement of surprise, on September 1st, the President discussed how completely surprised he was about levee's breaching in New Orleans. Here's what President Bush had to say when interviewed by Dianne Sawyer:

"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees. They did anticipate a serious storm. But these levees got breached. And as a result, much of New Orleans is flooded. And now we are having to deal with it and will."

So what do we find in today's Washington Post? A story describing how Bush and Chertoff were both warned by Brownie et al., about levee's breaching and catastrophes at the Superdome. Who wudda thunk it? More astounding? It's all on tape.

So the following questions naturally arise: Were Bush and Chertoff lying? Was their attention focused on a hand held version of Grand Theft Auto during their briefing and they missed what was said? Or did they suffer a Scooter Libby memory lapse in the extreme? My gut tells me they are lying...but one could never overlook the possibility of gross incompetence when speaking of these two.