Bush faced the nation at a vulnerable point in his presidency. Most Americans
disapprove of his handling of Katrina, and his job-approval rating has been
dragged down to the lowest point of his presidency also because of
dissatisfaction with the Iraq War and rising gasoline prices. He has struggled
to demonstrate the same take-charge leadership he displayed after the September
11 terrorist attacks four years ago.
In his speech, the president called for a congressional investigation besides
the administration's self-examination. But Democrats want an independent probe
similar to the one conducted by the September 11 Commission instead of reviews
that will be led by the Republican-controlled Congress and White House.
The president said the federal government will pay most of the costs of
rebuilding the Gulf Coast, including New Orleans.
"There is no way to imagine America without New Orleans, and this great city
will rise again," Bush said.
In an unrelated development, Bush on Thursday approved an independent panel's
recommendations for an ambitious round of domestic base closures aimed at making
the US armed forces leaner and saving the Pentagon an estimated US$37 billion
over 20 years.
Bush accepted the recommendations contained in a report by the Base Closure
and Realignment Commission to close 22 major US military bases after a
requirement that he either reject it or sign off on it in full.
Congress is not permitted to make changes to the final report. The
recommendations will go into effect in 45 days unless Congress rejects them in
full.
(China Daily 09/17/2005 page7)
