Beyond the Pale

"I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." That's what the Prez said after Katrina hit, and today we learned that it was a bald-faced lie. Oh, sure, we suspected as much, but now we know for sure, and there's tape to prove it. He heard from a number of experts who predicted Katrina could do exactly that. Of course, we still can't prove Bush was actually paying attention (he asked no questions whatsoever), so maybe he really did think that. The AP has revealed transcripts and tapes of the briefings Bush and other administration officials received before and during the crisis.

In dramatic and sometimes agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, according to confidential video footage.

Bush didn't ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."

Or not.

Crooks and Liars has the video of the briefing described above.