Posted on 09/27/2005 10:26:28 AM PDT by Rennes Templar
WASHINGTON (Sept. 27) - Former FEMA director Michael Brown aggressively defended his role in responding to Hurricane Katrina on Tuesday and put much of the blame for coordination failures on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
"My biggest mistake was not recognizing by Saturday that Louisiana was dysfunctional," two days before the storm hit, Brown told a special congressional panel set up by House Republican leaders to investigate the catastrophe.
The storm slammed into the Gulf Coast on Monday, Aug. 29.
Brown's defense drew a scathing response from Rep. William Jefferson, D-La.
"I find it absolutely stunning that this hearing would start out with you, Mr. Brown, laying the blame for FEMA's failings at the feet of the governor of Louisiana and the Mayor of New Orleans."
Brown, who for many became a symbol of government failures in the natural disaster that claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, rejected accusations that he was too inexperienced for the job.
"I've overseen over 150 presidentially declared disasters. I know what I'm doing, and I think I do a pretty darn good job of it," Brown said.
Brown resigned as the head of FEMA earlier this month after being removed by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff from responsibility in the stricken areas.
Brown, who joined FEMA in 2001 and ran it for more than two years, was previously an attorney who held several local government and private posts, including leading the International Arabian Horse Association.
Brown in his opening statement said he had made several "specific mistakes" in dealing with the storm, and listed two.
One, he said, was not having more media briefings.
As to the other, he said: "I very strongly personally regret that I was unable to persuade Gov. Blanco and Mayor Nagin to sit down, get over their differences, and work together. I just couldn't pull that off."
Both Blanco and Nagin are Democrats.
"The people of FEMA are being tired of being beat up, and they don't deserve it," Brown said.
The hearing was largely boycotted by Democrats, who want an independent investigation conducted into government failures, not one run by congressional Republicans.
But Jefferson -- who is not a committee member -- accepted the panel's invitation to grill Brown.
Referring to Brown's description of his "mistakes," Jefferson said: "I think that's a very weak explanation of what happened, and very incomplete explanation of what happened. I don't think that's going to cut it, really."
Committee Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., cautioned against too narrowly assigning blame.
"At the end of the day, I suspect that we'll find that government at all levels failed the people of Louisiana and Mississippi and Alabama and the Gulf Coast," said Davis.
Davis pushed Brown on what he and the agency he led should have done to evacuate New Orleans, restore order in the city and improve communication among law enforcement agencies.
Brown said: "Those are not FEMA roles. FEMA doesn't evacuate communities. FEMA does not do law enforcement. FEMA does not do communications."
In part of his testimony, Brown pumped his hand up and down for emphasis.
Brown said the lack of a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans before the storm was "the tipping point for all the other things that went wrong." Brown said he had personally pushed Louisiana Gov. Blanco to order such an evacuation.
He did not have the authority to order the city evacuated on his own, Brown said.
When asked by Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky, whether the lack of an ordered evacuation was "the proximate cause of most people's misery," Brown said, "Yes."
Brown is continuing to work at the Federal Emergency Management Agency at full pay, with his Sept. 12 resignation not taking effect for two more weeks, said Homeland Security Department spokesman Russ Knocke.
Knocke said Brown agreed to stay at FEMA up to four weeks after he resigned to advise the department on "some of his views on his experience with Katrina." He said Brown, who is in a "transition" period, does not have any decision-making or management responsibilities.
"There is an important public benefit to ensuring that any pending projects, initiatives, commitments or records be properly passed off to staff," Knocke said.
Brown ran FEMA for more than two years.
Why? Every panel needs an imbecile that they can make jokes about in the cloakroom. His guilty defensive posture was delicious!
I'm glad Brown is sticking to his guns on this one.
He needs to be as tough on the Dims as he is on Al-Queda. Well maybe not that tough but you get my point.
If Bush blasts Blanco, he gives up a part of his ability to help the people of Louisiana.
He is putting the people of Louisiana above his desire for vindication.
He is a Christian and a great leader.
Apparently the first truck got stuck, so they ordered a second truck to his residence to rescue the first truck, as well as delaying a rescue helicopter for 45 minutes. They say he then emerged with a laptop computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small refrigerator, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck. Okay...they found money in his freezer in the FBI sting and then he rescues a box the size of a small refrigerator? Robert Mueller...please pick up the courtesy phone...
Legal documents indicate that one area of the inquiry centers on whether [Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA)] violated a 1997 act that bars payments or attempted payments of cash or other items of value to a foreign official."
Good point gentlemen. I didn't recognize the congressman's name. Brown couldn't afford politically to do it but wouldn't it have been cool if he could have said something like part of the problem was local congressmen more concerned with covering up evidence than surveying the damage and helping the people.
Knock that witch on her stuck-on-stupid @zz when she does Mr. Brown.
Matter of fact he does speak up and did so recently after Billy Jeff attacked him. If I fing a link I will post it
"Is willie jefferson the politician who used the national guard to visit his home while people were waiting to be rescued?"
He's the same guy that stashes cash in his freezer.
I think he was worried his ice money would melt.
"Is willie jefferson the politician who used the national guard to visit his home while people were waiting to be rescued?"
He's the same guy that stashes cash in his freezer.
I think he was worried his ice money would melt.
the public will have a decidedly different view, because we all saw it in living color for five days.
You're absolutely right. But who listens to us. Afterall, were just 'the public' so what do we know?
Preach it.
I know why Liberals/Dems jumped on him, to blame Bush and cover Blanco & Nagin.
I'm absolutely disgusted at "conservatives" and "Republicans" that jumped down his throat without a little something called TRUTH on their side. I have yet to see ANYONE come forward with proof Brown & FEMA failed to do their job as it is described. And I don't think they will because they can't. It didn't happen. FEMA did what they are obligated to do. Anything else was either resticted by red tape, not put up by FEMA, or it being out of their job descriptions.
Blast them all Brown. They deserve it. And while you are at it, take a shot at National Review too. I'm still furious at their self righteous denouncements and betrayal, and their bet on when your head would roll was disgusting.
Brown is right. The fault of this whole thing lies entirely in the hands of nagin and blanco. Two of the most inept people in any position of responsibility. Even Christopher Shays agrees with that.
Why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you think Bush and Brown are liers?
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.