Bush: 'I take responsibility' for U.S. failures after Katrina
Bush to address nation Thursday about Katrina
Tuesday, September 13, 2005; Posted: 12:20 p.m. EDT (16:20 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush said Tuesday he takes responsibility for the federal government's failures in responding to Hurricane Katrina.
"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government and to the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility," Bush said during a joint news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
Earlier in the day, the White House said the president will address the nation Thursday night about the Hurricane Katrina disaster.
The 9 p.m. ET address is the latest administration reaction to Katrina, which roared ashore on August 29, flooding most of New Orleans and forcing evacuations across much of the Gulf Coast.
"The president will talk to the American people about the recovery and the way forward on the longer-term rebuilding," White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters, according to Reuters.
Bush is expected to make his address from storm-wracked Louisiana, where the president toured damaged New Orleans neighborhoods on Monday.
News of Bush's televised address comes a day after the resignation of Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Brown, who quit after questions were raised about his qualifications and for what critics call a bungled response to Katrina's destruction. (Full story)
Bush chose David Paulison, director of FEMA's preparedness division, as interim director.
Paulison said Tuesday he planned to focus on getting people out of shelters "and into some type of either semi-permanent or permanent housing."
Speaking at a news conference, he also pledged to help victims by working with state and local officials.
"This has to be a partnership, because ultimately the communities are entitled to take responsibility and empower themselves," Paulison said.
Paulison, who is also administrator for the U.S. Fire Administration, was a former fire chief in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
Brown's resignation came three days after Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff recalled him to Washington and replaced him as point man for Katrina relief efforts.
Since then, Vice Adm. Thad Allen, the Coast Guard's chief of staff, has been leading FEMA's mission along the Gulf Coast.
Chertoff said he expects to make other appointments to FEMA in coming days, "including a permanent deputy director to augment the resources available to assist with FEMA's vital mission."
Asked Monday about the resignation as he toured the devastated city of Gulfport, Mississippi, Bush said he had not talked with Chertoff and could not comment.
Brown's fall came quickly. On September 2, Bush told the 50-year-old lawyer, "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." (Watch Brown's interview with CNN on September 2 -- 2:11)
Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, applauded the latest development. "I think it is clearly in the country's interest," Kennedy said.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said he was not surprised.
"Things didn't go as well as it should have," said the Tennessee Republican. But Frist added, "Now, I am very pleased where we are." |
