I took a lot of heat (and will continue to get it) from many of my GOP friends for pointing out former FEMA head Michael Brown’s abysmal performance during and after Hurricane Katrina. Unlike many conservatives, I was unimpressed by his CYA testimony before Congress last September. He overpromised. He under-delivered. He assumed instead of taking command. He failed to anticipate the worst and let key duties–including summoning the military–fall through the cracks.

Well, guess who’s repeating those exact same criticisms? Michael Brown himself.

Via AP, “Brown Now Says He Deserves Much of Blame:”

Former FEMA Director Michael Brown on Wednesday accepted a greater share of the blame for the government’s failures after Hurricane Katrina, saying he fell short in conveying the magnitude of the disaster and calling for help.

“I should have asked for the military sooner. I should have demanded the military sooner,” Brown told a gathering of meteorologists at a ski resort in the Sierra Nevada.

“It was beyond the capacity of the state and local governments, and it was beyond the capacity of FEMA,” said Brown, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Brown’s remarks Wednesday stood in contrast to his testimony at a congressional hearing in September, when he blamed most of the government’s failures on Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin — both Democrats.

He specifically targeted them for failing to evacuate New Orleans, restore order and improve communication.

“These are not FEMA roles,” Brown told the congressional committee. “FEMA doesn’t evacuate communities. FEMA does not do law enforcement. FEMA does not do communications.”

In an interview after his speech Wednesday, Brown told The Associated Press: “I think it’s important to realize that all of us made mistakes. … After a while you get a different perspective.”

He added: “I still do believe that things weren’t working too well down there.”

He also told the gathering of broadcast and National Weather Service meteorologists that he failed to delegate responsibility, saying he tried to attend to the details himself…

Like his TV appearances, dining arrangements, and fashion accessories?

Brown is right, of course, that Nagin and Blanco were screw-ups. But as I noted repeatedly, their failures never excused Brown’s. Glad to see he finally realizes that now.

Heckuv an epiphany, Brownie.

***

Link Mecca is on the same wavelength.

***

12/06/05 Blanco, Brown, and the bus bungle
11/4/05 Michael Brown: Fashion god, FEMA fool
10/21/05 The damning FEMA e-mails
9/27/05 Katrina aftermath & backlash
9/27/05 Screw up, move up
9/15/05 Michael Brown speaks
9/9/05 Michael Brown relieved of duty
9/4/05 Memo to Bush: Fire Michael Brown

comments (0)   trackbacks (3)