Powell says Katrina recovery process problematic

Colin Powell, the former US secretary of state seen as a potential leader for Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts, has joined the chorus of Americans criticising the disaster response at all levels of government.

You know, Colin, I always liked you and trusted you. That is, until you told one of the biggest congeries of lies of the 21st-Century, which led to tens of thousands of deaths and a global disaster with long-term consequences. Your loyalty in general is to be greatly admired, but your judgment and loyalty to a presidential lie is not. Not one of us should listen to what you have to say on Katrina or otherwise. Yes, it's a mess. We knew this a week ago.

What the Katrina disaster recovery needs is not Bush cronies in positions of so-called leadership, nor Colin Powell coming to New Orleans as a Bush PR move and rehabilitation for Powell's reputation. And, frankly, what does a man whose job as a general is to destroy bring to disaster relief? What's needed are experts from the UN, NGOs, and even the World Bank who have long experience with disaster relief. Some of these people may be American, others French or British or German, others Ghanaian, Thai, Paraguayan, whomever.

The point is: this is not for show; this is for real and it requires real experts. This is not about how to gain political advantage or obtain some extra benefits for corporate pals. Get the people there who actually know something about disaster relief and reconstruction. And do it now before things are wrecked even further.