I heard William Cohen on CNN yesterday talking about how this disaster is little different in its effect from a terrorist attack — the end results, mass chaos, destruction and injury are much the same — and how this event has shown how ill-prepared the Dept. of Homeland Security is to deal with a massive emergency of any sort.

He suggested that there should be little distinction between natural disasters and terrorist disasters when it comes to getting aid to people post facto. And while clearly a terrorist attack would require evidence collection and other police and intelligence activities not typically seen with natural disasters, the human factor is remarkably the same. What have we been doing these last four years? Oh, right, attacking other countries. I almost forgot. Almost.

Did you see the Times-Picayune has called for the resignation and/or firing of every FEMA/Homeland Security official involved? I say bravo.

I agree with your assessment about the rebuilding of New Orleans. My fear is that what you suggest is not, in fact, what will happen.

I do suspect, however, that the levee reinforcements and other work requested by the Corps will magically happen. In most cases, I’d say better late than never, but that certainly doesn’t apply here. It was an expensive and tragic, heartbreaking mistake Congress and the President made here (not funding levee improvements).