Heckuva Failure

Worst. Administration. Ever.

Sens. Take Homeland Security Chief to Task

WASHINGTON -- The Republican and Democratic leaders of a Senate committee chastized Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff on Wednesday as a congressional inquiry found that thousands of Hurricane Katrina's victims could have been spared though better planning and faster action.

For his part, Chertoff acknowledged missteps on his watch, "many lapses" and said he accepted responsibility. He called the storm "one of the most difficult and traumatic experiences of my life."

[snip]

The Department of Homeland Security's performance in responding to the hurricane "must be judged a failure," said the panel's chairwoman, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

She called it "late, uncertain and ineffective."

Forgive me if I find it hard to feel Mr. Chertoff's pain. Those who suffered because of his incompetence have experienced far more trauma and difficulty than someone in his privileged position can possibly imagine.

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