Is There a Link Between Iraq and New Orleans?
http://www.conyersblog.ushttp://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001051313http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/30/AR2005083002162.htmlClose readers of the blogosphere -- and the mainstream media -- will see that some are reporting that the disaster in the Gulf has been compounded by our diversion of resources to the Iraq war. Editor and Publisher references a series of articles in the New Orleans Times Picayune -- before Katrina -- detailing that the Corps of Engineers was forced to short change flood preparedness for Iraq. Even the Washington Post picks up on the theme, with an article today (albeit on A, 14) regarding how the lack of adequate National Guard personnel and resources may be hindering the relief efforts. Today I heard a caller on the Ed Schultz show suggest that the underfunding of flood preparedness dates to the Reagan Administration.
Obviously, we all need to do everything we can to save lives and bring about recovery to the Gulf. But at some point, these long term funding and resource issues need to be examined. Decisions do have consequences.