Posted on 09/09/2005 7:20:15 AM PDT by ExitPurgamentum
Fri Sep 9, 6:06 AM ET
Colin Powell, the former U.S. secretary of state seen as a potential leader for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, has joined the chorus of Americans criticizing the disaster response at all levels of government.
"There have been a lot of failures at a lot of levels -- local, state and federal," Powell said in an ABC interview for the "20/20" program to be broadcast on Friday evening.
American political figures from both major parties have assailed the slow response to the hurricane's assault last week on the U.S. Gulf Coast, which devastated New Orleans and killed hundreds, possibly thousands, in the region.
"There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans. Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I just don't know why," Powell said in excerpts on ABC's Web site.
He said he did not think that race was a factor in the slow response, but that many of those unable to leave New Orleans in time were trapped by poverty which disproportionately affects blacks.
Powell was the highest-ranking black official during U.S. President George W. Bush's first term and chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1991 Gulf War. He is among various names mentioned in Washington as a potential "hurricane czar" to take over the long-term recovery effort.
Two senators from Bush's Republican party on Thursday proposed that such a job be created. White House officials have not ruled out the option, saying it is among several being discussed.
Some black leaders, including Democrats in Congress, have charged that racism contributed to the misery of New Orleans' predominantly black storm victims.
"I don't think it's racism, I think it's economic," Powell said. "But poverty disproportionately affects African-Americans in this country. And it happened because they were poor."
Some people would not be shocked if Powell switched sides, officially. He was created by the elder Bush, let elder take the fall when he does.
I remain unpersuaded that there weren't WMDs. Saddam said he had them, so did the UN and most international figures. If they were moved, so be it. We could use the same reasoning used to say there were no WMDs to say that Natalee Holloway was never in Aruba, that there never were any businesses in New Orleans, and that Colin Powell was never Secretary of State.
I don't disagree with anything Colin Powell said. I don't think he's running for President. His wife means more to him than that.
I don't think that's entirely true, Pappy. I read a lot of posts where Bushbots didn't like or trust the guy.
You're absolutely right. Powell was saying something measured. It was the headline writer who wrote a sensational headline that did not match what Powell said - just to get attention!
But, over-all, Powell is still smarting from having gone before the nations and saying there was evidence of weapons of mass destruction - and then being proved wrong. I believe that is why he no longer supports President Bush. He blames Bush for looking foolish.
Powell will Never run for office of President because he loathes that office and Perhaps those that are in it!
Determining "causation" is futile when the relationship is a self-pollinating Catch-22.
Trying to bury the problem with federal welfare dollars is not the answer.
Instead, barriers to private sector development, which would enable the people to pull themselves out of the quagmire, must be lifted.
Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has abandoned this conservative approach to salvaging our nation's urban centers. Instead, he undermines our domestic efforts with his agenda for economic globalization.
Indeed, they add to the problem if not actually cause it in totality.
Instead, barriers to private sector development, which would enable the people to pull themselves out of the quagmire, must be lifted.
Unless of course they don't do anything which would insult the sensibilities of those who use government to feather their own beds. Like do business overseas, outsource, trade with Chinamen, work for less than the government set wage scale, work in the same field as union members, etc etc.
Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has abandoned this conservative approach to salvaging our nation's urban centers. Instead, he undermines our domestic efforts with his agenda for economic globalization.
That bad ole Bush, he wants free trade so our citizens can benefit from it's blessings.
Methinks the NO locals did not want the Feds in looking over their shoulders. The levies were little fiefdoms where a lot of money fell into pockets. If the Feds were in there coordinating the process of upgrading the levies to withstand hurricanes, the money would be watched closer than was wanted.
Well, well..he finally got his chance.
I believe he was quite honest in that declaration...
He's running his own program...with a few well chosen backers...
imo
I agree. His statement is also probably much like the presidents. I think he was correct in his assessment. Poverty and dependence killed those people not their race. Since they were so dependent on the system they expected help from the system in a time of crisis. The mayor and governor knew how poor the people were and did not try to help them in the last 48-72 hours of their life.
In reading the quotations, I don't find the "Slam" of the headline. I think that this is a case of a reporter going way further than the quotations would permit.
And, fwiw, I am no fan of Colin Powell.
There are reports that Bush signed papers saying the Federal government would oversee the evacuation. This was supposedly signed on 08/27. I don't know if it is true but this is what many are referring to when they say the Federal government made mistakes. Also, there is the issue of taking away funding to help repair the levee. I'm not advocating the feds made mistakes but I have had discussions that included these issues as reasons. My biggest blame is on the local government and especially the governor.
True... Powell is a RINO(republican) which is a Donkey with a faux horn rubber banded its nose ACTING like a Rhino in order to hang with Elephants.. Disgusting really.. but funny..
And Powells son (once head of the FCC) allowed cBS to investigate themselves for sedition.. in Rathergate..
How is that?
He criticized everybody, all levels of government. So he didn't "Stand up for Democrats" either. He didn't take a partisan line one way or the other. Sorry about that.
Bookmark
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.