Please comment or add sugggestions, its a struggle to consolidate this much anger into 500 words or less.
Thanks
To the editor,
In Mr. Bray's column Monday, he suggested perspective was in order before assigning blame to the tragedy that is affecting the lives of millions along the Gulf Coast. I'm not going to address the failures of the City of New Orleans or the States of Louisiana. They do not represent me, as I am not a citizen in their jurisdictions. The President of the United States, however does represent me. The response of President Bush to the events that unfolded on August 29th was delayed by inaction and hampered by inadequate planning leading to the needless deaths of many of my fellow American citizens.
More below the fold.
Unlike the attacks of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina gave adequate clear warning to mount an effective response. The track the storm followed was not a surprise. The intensity of the storm was not a surprise. The storm surge that topped then weakened the levees was not a surprise. The flooding of the city was not a surprise. The incomplete evacuation of the city was not a surprise. The failure of the President and his Administration to react in time to save as many lives as possible, was an unforgivable surprise.
It takes very little perspective to see many failures of the Administration which could haved saved American lives. Mr. Bush failed to prepare by continuing his vacation even as warnings of the storm grew increasingly dire. Mr. Bush failed to react by continuing his original itinerary, eating cake and trying to Social Security privatization, the day the most massive storm in his lifetime was pummeling the Gulf Coast. Mr. Bush failed to take an active interest in the federal response on the day after the storm hit, still on vacation in Crawford. Mr. Bush failed to give orders to the Navy, Air Force, and Army personnel who were ready to provide rescue assistance in time to prevent the needless death and suffering of many of their fellow American Citizens. Mr. Bush failed to appoint qualified and competent officials to head FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, positions critical for preserving the lives of American Citizens in the event of a natural disaster or attack. Mr. Bush failed to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security was capable of performing its missions. Mr. Bush failed to communicate honestly to the American public by making statements to the American public that were obviously false. Finally, Mr. Bush took virtually no actions to protect the lives and welfare of tens of thousands of American Citizens when it became obvious the State and Local Governments were overwhelmed.
These failures resulted in countless avoidable deaths of American Citizens. Mr. Bush failed to do his duties as the President of the United States and as the Commander in Chief of the United States Armed Forces. Mr. Bush no longer deserves to be called the President of the United States.