September 07, 2005

Well, Well, Well: The BBC Comes Around

Sort of. In this article, the BBC admits that perhaps there is plenty of blame to go around in the Katrina aftermath mess:

What, one wonders, was Fema/the mayor's office/the governor's office doing while all that was played out on live TV?

One lesson agencies might want to learn is that someone senior should do nothing but monitor TV.

[...]

The president's defenders point out that it was he who urged an evacuation of New Orleans (he has no legal power to order one) and that he did acknowledge the "unacceptable" pace of the relief effort. Further, they say that aid is now flowing and reconstruction will take place.

[...]

And an Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman, Connie Gillette, said there had never been any plans or funds to improve those floodwalls which had failed.

Update: a reader has pointed out a quote in the New York Times indicating that the failed floodwalls had in fact previously been strengthened.

This is certainly the most honest report I've seen to date. They should really do this kind of balanced reporting more often.

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