'It wasn't a question of the ability to be effective - it was the attitude of the government and the government agencies that was a factor in how New Orleans was not given enough aid.'

That isn't so. The question then as now is why they weren't effective. Much of the aid required was there; much of it wasn't utilized. In fact, a SAR team, very skilled, was in NO before the head of FEMA knew there was a problem. Call a spade a shovel.