Seattle Times: Be afraid — be very afraid (Eugene Robinson)

[brooklynite]

WASHINGTON — "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees."

George W. Bush said those words to Diane Sawyer last Sept. 1, when desperate people in flooded New Orleans were still being rescued from their roofs. Now we know that just four days earlier, in a videoconference briefing, one of the nation's leading hurricane experts had explicitly warned that failure of the protective levees was "a very, very grave concern."

We also know that in his final briefing before Hurricane Katrina hit, the president did not ask a single question. He did, however, reassure local officials that help would soon be on the way. "I want to assure the folks at the state level that we are fully prepared," Bush said.

Given what happened over the following week, all I can say is, be afraid — be very afraid.

...snip...

Oh, and health authorities agree that it's just a matter of time before the avian flu pandemic reaches U.S. shores. The administration says the government is prepared to provide all necessary help to local officials.

Be very afraid.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002848392_eugene07.html