What I am talking about is the National Guard. One of the major problems with the rescue efforts (but certainly not all) was the lack of evacuation of the poor in the city AND the lawlessness that occured following the levee break. You say they "begged" for help on Aug 28, YET the governor rejected Bush's offer to federalize the troops later on.
So, WHO was in charge of the National Guard before, during, and immediately after the disaster? The governor. By LAW, the feds CANNOT use or order a state's National Guard UNTIL the state allows it. How many of her 6600 troops did she activate PRIOR to the hurricane? 1700. Did she use the troops prior the hurricane as a way to get out the poor people of NO using buses? No. They sit submerged under water. Did she have enough troops to insert following the levee break? No, and she hadn't even activated ALL the troops she had. Has she EVER activated them all? NO.
There is plenty of blame to go around...law enforcement leaving their posts, etc....and the feds have their own issues to explain concerning how long it took to get food and aid to those in need.
BUT the governor should have spent less time in front of the cameras saying how "heartbreaking" it was, and more time getting her National Guard into the city for law enforcement.
Peter's principle. No one in high office has the experience or experise to command a military operation.