Home>News Center>World
         
 

Bush takes responsibility for blunders
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-14 06:20

WASHINGTON - President Bush for the first time took responsibility Tuesday for federal government mistakes in dealing with Hurricane Katrina and suggested the calamity raised broader questions about the government's ability to handle both natural disasters and terror attacks. AP reported.

President Bush reacts during a joint press availiblity with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005, in the East Room at the White House in Washington.
President Bush reacts during a joint press availiblity with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005, in the East Room at the White House in Washington. [AP]
"Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government," Bush said at a joint White House news conference with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

"And to the extent that the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong," said Bush.

Facing sharp criticism and the lowest approval ratings of his presidency, Bush scheduled a speech to the nation from Louisiana for Thursday evening. It will be his fourth trip to the devastated Gulf Coast since the storm struck two weeks ago.

It was the closest Bush has come to publicly faulting any federal officials involved in the hurricane response, which has been widely criticized as disjointed and slow. Some federal officials have sought to blame state and local officials for being unprepared to cope with the disaster.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (news, bio, voting record), D-La., welcomed Bush's conciliatory remarks. "Accountability at every level is critical, and leadership begins at the top," she said.
Page: 12



Afghanistan's President calls for increased support
Hurricane Ophelia
US Chief Justice nominee John Roberts sworn in
 
  Today's Top News     Top World News
 

President Hu: China to work with US on trade gap

 

   
 

Oil prices too high to stock strategic reserve

 

   
 

North Korea digs in as nuclear talks resume

 

   
 

China may ease limits on foreign banks

 

   
 

Bush takes responsibility for blunders

 

   
 

Bidding solution to textile quota conundrum

 

   
  Bush seeks China, Russia help on Iran
   
  North Korea digs in as nuclear talks resume
   
  Gitmo interrogators face accusations
   
  UN General Assembly OKs compromise document
   
  Ukraine president lashes out at ousted PM
   
  Bush takes responsibility for blunders
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Bush: Strikes may go beyond Afghan
   
Bush balancing agenda with storm response
   
Career firefighter name new FEMA director
   
Over 40 bodies at New Orleans hospital
   
Bush touring Hurricane-ravaged areas
   
Bush to get close-up view of New Orleans horror
   
Bush approval rating dips below 40%
  News Talk  
  Are the Republicans exploiting the memory of 9/11?  
Advertisement