by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright September 16, 2005
All Rights Reserved.

romising to rebuild the Gulf Coast in the wake of hurricane Katrina, President George W. Bush committed the government to the biggest reconstruction project in U.S. history—only eclipsed by the blank check given to Iraq. Speaking to the nation in a primetime address, Bush left little doubt he intends to pony up massive largesse to bailout New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. “There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city will rise again,” Bush told a national audience, hoping to reverse sagging polls stemming, in part, from the government's ineffectual response to the crisis. Four years after Sept. 11, Osama Bin Laden remains at large and America is committed to a costly Iraq War, draining federal resources and contributing to record budget deficits. It's doubtful the government can subsidize both Iraq and Katrina without disastrous consequences.

      Critics of the Iraq war frequently cite the unending hemorrhage to the U.S. treasury and loss of American lives, leaving the country spread too thin. Before the Iraq war, Bush argued persuasively that Saddam Hussein's arsenal of weapons of mass destruction threatened U.S. national security. When no WMD were found, Bush again argued that the lack of democracy threatened the stability of the Middle East, which, in turn, threatened U.S. national security. Now Bush argues that insurgents and foreign terrorists fighting U.S. occupation threaten to take the battlefield onto U.S. soil. Bush also argues that withdrawing U.S. troops weakens the cause and dishonors the dead, emboldening America's enemies. Faced with another massive rebuilding project in the Gulf Coast, the U.S. finds itself running out of resources, questioning the feasibility of long-term commitments in Iraq.

      Responding to criticism in the Gulf, Bush said he accepted “responsibility” for the government's ineffectual response to Katrina. Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] Director Michael Brown already resigned in disgrace. There's nothing wrong with Bush's unequivocal commitment to rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. But there's something terribly wrong with not reassessing current commitments in Iraq. “Four years after the frightening experience of Sept. 11, Americans have every right to expect a more effective response in a time of emergency,” Bush told a national audience, accepting responsibility for the government's inadequate response. Yet raising Sept. 11 in the context of Katrina once again falsely justifies current commitments in Iraq. By accepting responsibility for New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, Bush must reexamine miscalculations in Iraq.

      New Orleans and the Gulf Coast deserve the full commitment of the government's resources. Unless there's an overwhelming, unavoidable national security issue in Iraq, the U.S. must find a coherent exit strategy. If New Orleans is really the biggest reconstruction project in U.S. history, the government can't justify spending nearly as much on Iraq. Bush's primetime address sought to correct nagging insensitivity toward New Orleans' African American community. Handing out debit cards or depositing cash in checking accounts won't reverse years of unanswered racism. “That poverty has its roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America,” said Bush, directly addressing his critics. “We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action,” announcing concrete steps to resurrect the decimated Gulf Coast.

      Hurricane Katrina brought into clear focus the absolute necessity of safeguarding the nation's most valuable resources. Squandering tax dollars and human lives on an unnecessary foreign war complicate the picture as the U.S. faces the monumental task of rebuilding the Gulf Coast. Watching gruesome images of daily suicide bombing in Iraq reminds the American public that tax dollars are best spent at home. It's not unpatriotic for the White House to end costly wars that jeopardize the resources needed to fund domestic priorities like dealing with natural disasters, health care and retirement of 70 million baby-boomers. Since hiking taxes aren't an option, Bush must do a better job of prioritizing expenditures. Funding an endless war in Iraq depletes the treasury, leaving less tax dollars for urgent domestic priorities. It's not un-American to reassess prior commitments.

      Bush did the right thing speaking to the nation about the sacrifices ahead in the wake of Katrina. New Orleans and Gulf Coast residents need urgent assurance that the federal government values commitments to its own citizens. Rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure won't improve New Orleans' defective levees and flood control system, leaving the city a disaster waiting to happen. Years of negligence and wishful thinking resulted in the worst disaster in U.S. history. There's nothing the government could do to stop Katrina. But there's plenty local, state and federal authorities could have done to build a better infrastructure to withstand deadly natural disasters. Hurricane Katrina highlighted that the government's resources remain too thin. Once the dust settles, the White House must reassess its commitments, admit its mistakes, set the right priorities and make some tough choices.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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