WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS
by Neva Chonin, SF Chronicle

..... Which brings us around to the real criminals in this scenario. Forget the looters. New Orleans' levees have been at the breaking point for a long time now. The federal government knew this, but deflected money meant for repairs to fund the war in Iraq. This is its interpretation of "homeland security." Behold the consequences.

"It appears that the money has been moved in the president's budget to handle homeland security and the war in Iraq, and I suppose that's the price we pay," Walter Maestri, emergency management chief for Jefferson Parish, La., told the New Orleans Times-Picayune in June 2004. "Nobody locally is happy that the levees can't be finished, and we are doing everything we can to make the case that this is a security issue for us."

Too late. But take heart! Last week, at the height of the disaster, President Bush felt his country's pain and cut short his holiday by two! whole! days! Maybe he really does care. Or maybe he just wants a chance to grab a free wide-screen TV.

Full story here.