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report news . . . .
I must, for the first time in a very long time, congratulate CNN on their coverage of the tragedy in New Orleans. The willingness to not only confront FEMA representatives regarding their misrepresentations of the situation but to also air the interview with Mayor Nagin in it's entirety is commendable.
I am not, however, seeing at this point coverage of the biggest tragedy of all. The fact that much of the disaster in New Orleans could have been prevented. No, I'm not referring to changing the weather, I'm referring to reinforcing the levees. There were plans to do so, but the funding was cut and the money utilized for other things, such as the war in Iraq. The funding to reinforce those levees was cut by 80%.
When FEMA was absorbed into the Department of Homeland Security, we were told it would be more efficient. Yet, the people placed in charge of FEMA have no experience whatsoever with emergency management. They are businessmen.
This information MUST be publicized, the American people deserve nothing less than the whole truth. The disaster in New Orleans could have and should have been minimized or averted. Instead, the money was used for war and tax cuts for the wealthy.
The truth must be told, and so far, it looks like your response to the crisis is at least making the attempt. Please continue with your coverage and do so with the candor you've shown thus far.
I look forward to seeing CNN return to the days of yore when it was real, hard news, all day every day.
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