House panel subpoenas Rumsfeld on Katrina (more finger pointing....)

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

House Panel Subpoenas Rumsfeld on Katrina

By LARA JAKES JORDAN, Associated Press Writer 10 minutes ago

A House committee investigating the government's response to Hurricane Katrina issued a subpoena Wednesday to force Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to turn over documents but stopped short of sending a similar legal demand to the White House.

The subpoena commands Rumsfeld to produce internal records and communications about the Pentagon's response to the Aug. 29 storm, including efforts to send supplies to victims, stabilize public safety and mobilize active duty forces in the Gulf Coast. It requires the Pentagon to deliver the documents, spanning from Aug. 23 to Sept. 15, from Rumsfeld and eight other top military officials by Dec. 30.

Separately, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would comply with a judge's ruling that FEMA keep paying for hotel rooms for hurricane evacuees until Feb. 7. The agency also agreed to extend the program for eligible storm victims who have not been helped by that deadline.

The subpoenas were one focus of a House hearing that was marked by angry barbs between Gov. Kathleen Blanco, D-La., and Republicans who challenged her about why a mandatory evacuation for New Orleans was not ordered until the morning before Katrina hit. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for coastal parishes south and east of New Orleans before then.

"We had mandatory evacuations," Blanco said. "We got 1.2 million people out. We ended up saving another 100,000 people and we lost 1,100. That's the whole story. We got people out."

Rep. Jeff Miller (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., said Blanco's explanation was "a story that's not acceptable because 1,100 people is one half of the men and women we have lost in Operation Iraqi Freedom."

"You lost that many on one day," Miller said.

[digger48]

OOOooOOhhh! Did anyone get to see this?? I don't get C-Span 3.

[spinestein]

[House Panel Subpoenas Rumsfeld on Katrina]



Cue the DUers to start making predictions about how Donald's going to spill the beans about where the White House is hiding the weather machine.

[rocksblues]

I find it incredible that the Federal Government should be indicted for anything regarding response time due to Katrina.

Nagin and Blanco were so inept that people died.

[Enchante]

"Rep. Jeff Miller (news, bio, voting record), R-Fla., said Blanco's explanation was "a story that's not acceptable because 1,100 people is one half of the men and women we have lost in Operation Iraqi Freedom." "You lost that many on one day," Miller said."

Good point, but let us not imagine for one moment that the MSM or the 'Rats will ever allow this comparison except in contexts where they control the discussion, when they can dishonestly blame everything on the Bush WH. The libs continue to display their depravity as they refuse to acknowledge the extensive failings of local and state officials in LA, after making the entire story the absurd one of "Bush's fault!"

[Sub-Driver]

Don't tell anyone but it's in Karl Rove's garage....AP has pictues.

[Enchante]

"BLANCO LIED, PEOPLE DIED!!"

Ooops, I guess accountability cannot be a topic when it is 'Rat politicians at fault.........

[Unicorn]

BTTT

[shooter223]

everybody knows hurricanes are caused by global warming ........or was it tax cuts for the rich? .......the war in Iraq? ........the oil companies? .............Halliburton? .......torture at gitmo? ........can't remember ........has to be one of those ............Bush's fault

[Ann Archy]

WTF???

[NormsRevenge]

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin testifies on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, in Washington, before the House Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina. A House committee investigating the government's response to Hurricane Katrina stopped short Wednesday of subpoenaing the White House for documents, though lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration with the Bush administration. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

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Democratic Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco testifies in front of the U.S. House Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina, to defend the preparedness and response by the state of Louisiana after the damage caused to the New Orleans area by Hurricane Katrina, while on Capitol Hill December 14, 2005. REUTERS/Larry Downing

[NormsRevenge]

Supporter of New Orleans flood victims Jeanne Chutuape protests in front of the White House in Washington December 14, 2005. Chutuape and fellow protesters were calling on U.S. President George W. Bush to keep his commitment to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. REUTERS/Jim Young