Columnist and writer, Stephen Grant always has something interesting, well-informed and well-researched to say. Here are some excerpts from his current piece including his thoughts on Katrina. I've put it under an lj cut as it's quite long. There are a few reasons to definitely read through it if you have a few minutes, chief amongst them being the facts that

(1) The money needed to fi the levees so that they would withstand more than a level 2 hurricane was in fact approved in 2002 but funds were then diverted to the Iraq Invasion.

(2) One third of New Orleans National Guard are posted overseas in Iraq, despite being formed to guard the homeland against natural or human threats.

(3) Barbara Bush joked about Houston being the right place for so many refugees, saying it had so many poor already that the refugees would be right at home.

(4) Cuba managed during their own recent brush with a Katrina level Hurricane to evacuate the area in question entirely without looting, armed gangs or endless back and forth on what should be done.

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