Bush tours stricken states, says relief falls short

Grim tour
Just a day earlier, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin had lashed out at federal officials: “They don’t have a clue what’s going on down here.”

Anticipating a grim day, Bush said, “I’m not looking forward to this trip” as he began his inspection tour. “It’s as if the entire Gulf Coast were obliterated by the worst kind of weapon you can imagine.”

There were calls from Republicans for Bush to name a prominent official to oversee the recovery. Gingrich suggested former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Rep. John Sweeney, R-N.Y., suggested Giuliani, former Secretary of State Colin Powell or retired Gen. Tommy Franks to take charge.

In Biloxi, Miss., Bush comforted two weeping women on a street where a house had collapsed and towering trees were stripped of their branches. “My son needs clothes,” said Bronwynne Bassier, 23, clutching several trash bags. “I don’t have anything.”

“I understand that,” Bush said. He kissed both women on their heads and walked with his arms around them, telling them they could get help from the Salvation Army. “Hang in there,” he said.

Asked later how the richest country on Earth could not meet the needs of its people, Bush said: “I am satisfied with the response.  I am not satisfied with all the results.”

‘Plenty of resources’ for war and hurricane
The White House announced Bush had approved federal disaster aid for Texas and Arkansas, which also sustained hurricane damage. Bush urged people to donate money to the Red Cross.

The president rejected suggestions that the United States could not afford both the war in Iraq and the hurricane cleanup. “We’ll do both. We’ve got plenty of resources to do both,” he said.

While some states have suspended state motor fuel taxes as prices have jumped at the pump, Treasury Department officials in Washington said there was no discussion about reducing the federal tax on gasoline. However, some members of Congress have raised the idea.

Also Friday the Bush administration announced it will offer some 30 million barrels of crude oil from its emergency stockpile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, for sale, in addition to loaning 9.1 million barrels to specific refiners, to help stabilize the hurricane-hit oil market. The strategic reserve holds 700 million barrels of crude oil.

In his tour, Bush has tried to respond to Katrina in a way that evokes the national goodwill he cultivated after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — and that does not recall the criticism his father, former President Bush, endured after Hurricane Andrew slammed Florida in 1992.

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