If you've read my comments to Mark, you'll know I'm willing to look at the record of all past Administrations, in the spirit of examining our entire approach to disaster planning; and also disaster prevention, from the standpoint of looking at first causes like sea level rise due to climate change to see if we can head off those problems early. The whole subject is much broader than politics, because it requires looking at the science and a broad range of contributing factors, including group decision-making processes.

I have been amazed at how suddenly the Corps of Engineers became the "thin line of heroes."

Ahh, you know it's just human nature to take people like the Corps, and firefighters and the police, for granted until we're suddenly reminded how important they are. It's even possible that a greater appreciation of the ACE might lead to political reappraisal of how they're too often an instrument of pork. If they're important, they're a finite resource that has to be used wisely.

Thanks for posting those links up the page in a root post. That's good info.

There is much more. I'm too damn tired to go over it all again.

It's been a long day, it's after 9 here on the Left Coast, and you have my permission to go offduty, soldier. Tomorrow is another day.