Monday, March 06, 2006

AP "clarifies" Katrina story that used videotaped briefings of Bush

Sure, it's doubtful the MSM will even discuss the AP's clarification, but it's nice to know that the blogosphere can still effectively be the fact-checker of the MSM. Now if only we could get them to pay us for it, we'd be all set.

Clarification: Katrina-Video story

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) _ In a March 1 story, The Associated Press reported that federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees in New Orleans, citing confidential video footage of an Aug. 28 briefing among U.S. officials.

The Army Corps of Engineers considers a breach a hole developing in a levee rather than an overrun. The story should have made clear that Bush was warned about floodwaters overrunning the levees, rather than the levees breaking.

The day before the storm hit, Bush was told there were grave concerns that the levees could be overrun. It wasn't until the next morning, as the storm was hitting, that Michael Brown, then head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Bush had inquired about reports of breaches. Bush did not participate in that briefing.


I give lots of credit to Jason Coleman. He had a great post and discussion in the comments section on the subject. He alerted me to the breaking story, and oh, some other bloggers discussed it as well.