This diary links to an earlier AP article in which Congressionally mandated funding for an evacuation plan was used for the building of a bridge. Also, one of the comments to that diary eluded to the possibility of a "Swiftboating".
Now, this AP article claims that
Former FEMA director Michael Brown said Monday he should have sought faster help from the Pentagon after Hurricane Katrina hit, and accused state and local officials of constant infighting during the crisis, according to congressional aides.
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Also, according to a Homeland Security Spokesman Russ Knocke,
Brown is continuing to work at the Federal Emergency Management Agency at full pay, with his Sept. 12 resignation not taking effect for two more weeks.
And Brown's job description will apparently consist of presenting
"some of his views on his experience with Katrina," as he transitions out of his job.
This story also claims that Brown
spoke to congressional aides from both parties a day before he is scheduled to testify in front of a special House committee investigating the government's response to the Aug. 29 disaster...and did not respond to several calls for response Monday.
Also,
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff removed Brown from his on-site role overseeing the disaster response on Sept. 9. Brown announced his resignation from FEMA three days later.
Now, a memo from a Republican staff member has apparently surfaced stating that
Brown expressed regrets "that he did not start screaming for DoD (Department of Defense) involvement" sooner. The first substantial numbers of active-duty troops responding to the Gulf Coast were sent on Saturday, Sept. 3 _ five days after the storm hit.
According to the memo, obtained by The Associated Press, Brown took several shots at Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. He said the two officials "sparred during the crisis and could not work together cooperatively."
Brown characterized Gov. Blanco as being
"indecisive" and refusing to cede control of the Louisiana National Guard to federal authorities because "it would have undercut her image politically."
The document being cited states that there were conflicts and criticisms during contact between state and federal officials. Also,
no official notes were taken and that Brown "just assumed that agencies would follow up on taskings resulting from the calls."
Is it just me, or does there appear to possibly be another "Swiftboating" in progress?