Story of the Day

On Sept. 1, Bush lies, "I don't think anyone anticipated the breach of the levees." (Incidentally, you have to love the echo of Condi's infamous, "I don't think anybody could have predicted that they would try to use an airplane as a missile....") Today, damning evidence reveals the White House not only ignored an August 29th Homeland Security report warning of disaster, but also the findings of a preparedness exercise that began in July of 2004, more than a year before Katrina hit. The results "warned that a Category 3 storm would overwhelm the New Orleans area with flood waters, killing up to 60,000 people and destroying buildings and roads." This story is out there in the mainstream press, but what is being emphasized varies greatly. Take, for instance, The New York Times version (so important it was printed on page A14!), where the preparedness exercise is more an afterthought or supporting point, and then The Associated Press version, where the proceeding year of inaction (what should be the focus) is front and center:

Pre-Katrina Warnings Not Heeded, by Lara Jakes Jordan
The Associated Press