Re: "Did you know that New Orleans was a democrat utopia disaster long before the storm ever hit."

I am aware that New Orleans had her flaws prior to Katrina--crime, poverty, bad public schools, etc. But that does not absolve the government from its obligation to help her people rebuild in face of the fact that levees that should have been maintained by the government failed massively. The bumper sticker slogan, "Bush lied, people died" can apply not only to Iraq, but also to what happened to New Orleans' levees as well.

According to Mayor Nagin who was quoted in an article in USA Today today, the federal government has abandoned its obligation to help New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina. He said her officials are caught up in a Catch-22: they can't get money until projects are underway, but they're unable to issue contracts until they have the needed money. Which means New Orleans hasn't been able to begin critical repairs to roads, public buildings, power systems, or any other damaged infrastructure.

It's time for attention to be refocused on post-Katrina recovery. Because as long as stories out of New Orleans and other affected areas of Louisiana and Mississippi rarely if ever are aired by broadcast media, the Bush Administration will think it's O.K. not only to cut and run from its obligation to help New Orleans and the rest of the storm zone rebuild, but also to squander money overseas that should instead be used for this rebuilding. It's time for the mainstream media to start covering post-Katrina news out of Louisiana, Mississippi, and the rest of the storm zone regularly and often.

Hats off to an excellent interview. It is encouraging that, at last, America's most seasoned diplomats and wisest men are finally dealing with its most difficult dilemma. I opposed the decision to go to war, but it is important now that we do not look backwards but forward. It is critical that we unite as a nation. As thorny and complex as Iraq and the Middle East are, I am confident that if anything can find resolution here, it is Divine Providence, the Iraqis themselves, and the goodwill and commitment of a united American people.

I listened to Bush last night say that "WE" would take all the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group under advisement, yet hesitant to agree with any of 79 recommendations of this elite group!

Who are WE anyway.. Aren't WE, the People? Aren't WE the people, the ones he should consulting with? Aren't WE the people. the ones who issued a mandate at the polls this last November? Who are WE anyway?

Did you know that New Orleans was a democrat utopia disaster long before the storm ever hit?

Yeah if Bush had just converted to Islam when Ahmadinejad invited him to all this would be settled now. He also invited all of America to convert too. Well he's fulfilled his duties according to Islam anything they do now is "justified".These nut jobs think if they start the apocalypse the 12th Imam is going pop out of the well and save them.

We should be talking to the Iranian PEOPLE not their government.
Hope there isn't too much reality in this post to make it by the censors :-)

I appreciate your blog because it has given me a better understanding of how both the media and government operates.

I am in agreement with your comment "I think a huge percentage of the American people crave this kind of cooperation". American politics has become damaged/weakened by too much emphasis on negative attacks, including personal attacks. Candidates and office holders should try to be role models by treating each other with basic respect and by showing some real willingness negotiate and compromise. If American leaders cannot do this, then how can we expect our children, business leaders, the public, and leaders of other countries to do so?

The relationship between Former President Bush (41) and Clinton is, as you noted, wonderful, and, they are accomplishing important goals together.

Brian,
Great reporting, as usual. You earned my allegiance from your reporting on Katrina and your no-holds-barred questioning of President Bush several months ago. This President treats this war like a baseball game. It greatly saddens me to talk about "winning" or "losing" a war. These are people, on both sides, not "points" in a sports game. There IS no winning in a war, but possibly only containment or slowing of rampant evil and cruelty to others. However, I believe we cannot shove our political ideation down the throats of other nations, however well-intentioned that ideation may be. It is OUR ideation, not Iraq's or any other nation's. If they so choose to fight for a democratic government, then we can step in if they need help. But to go in and topple a government in an area so sharply fractured religiously and politically is suicide for us and them, as is so apparent from the outcome of this war. Other countries have an inalienable right to choose their form of government. Besides, no country who has ever attempted to win a war in those countries has ever "won." They've all been driven out. Too bad Bush didn't listen. Will he listen now? Keep up your superb reporting, Brian. America needs your honesty.

I couldn't help but think as I watched Brian's interview with the Co-Chairs of the Iraq Study Group: here we have two true thoughtful gentlemen, committed to the common good rather than partisan politics, with a tangible, visible integrity which obviously governs their lives. As I look at the Bush White House what I see are the scripted Cowboy Types, who have gotten us into a war with no winners,driven by the supposedly brilliant Mr. Rove. Sadly, the commitment and integrity I witnessed in last night's broadcast is simply not visible in the leadership of the current administration. And the big question is this: will President Bush allow the truth to filter into his hard-headed "Stay the Course" mentality? Frankly, diplomacy is not his strong suit...I'm not sure where this leaves us.

Nobody must have been more grateful for last night's extended coverage of the Iraq Study Group's report, with the only other news aired on NBC Nightly being James Kim's passing, than the Bush Administration and FEMA.

Did you know that FEMA--backed by the Bush Administration--is appealing a recent court order restoring housing assistance to homeless storm survivors deemed ineligible for such assistance in spite of the fact that they truly need it?

And did you know that, according to a report in yesterday's New York Times, the life of Katrina and Rita survivors in FEMA trailers is precarious and uncertain? The story cites the example of a Rita survivor living in a trailer park in Baker, Louisiana, who one day came home from church to find that people had moved into her trailer and changed the locks, and the meager belongings she had since the storm could not be found. The people who had moved in had left another trailer park that was scheduled to close next April. There also was the story of Katrina survivors in Austin, Texas, whose lives have been caught up in haggling with FEMA over whether or not they were eligible for housing assistance--which was desperately needed because they were expecting a baby. It mentioned how, soon after the woman had given birth and she was still on her hospital bed, they were on the phone to their lawyer and a caseworker in an effort to straighten things out. Those two examples are only the tip of the iceberg.

While I don't deny that James Kim's passing was tragic--why does what happened to him (which probably happens all the time--but rarely if ever gets such publicity--matter so much that NBC Nightly callously ignores the fact that Katrina and Rita survivors are subject to the sorts of tribulations as those described above?

Brian, a brief comment on this topic. Despite all the hard work of the study group I was astonished to hear Congressman Hamilton say during a television interview this morning, in response to a question regarding how long the military would be in Iraq, "We need American forces in the region to fight Al Qaeda". Oh, really? It has been explained many times that historical success against terrorism has best been achieved from accepting it as both an investigative police challenge, and a political challenge. We berate the FBI & CIA for not stopping the 9/11 attacks, not the Pentagon. On that count I'm sorry the Congressman still doesn't get it. Consequently, I believe that a neverending and monstrously expensive war in Iraq, and the death of countless brave soldiers, is NOT making you or I any safer here at home on a daily basis.

Thank you, Brian, for the unique way that you asked questions of the ISG co-chairmen. You brought out the feelings of concern and the true patriotism of these two men. As with others of the group, they come from different political and geographical backgrounds, opposing parties, yet recognize that this is the time when our generation must come together to solve a monumental crisis for our country.
As you so often do, Brian, you helped bring home the immense significance of the event.

Now that the study group’s report has been presented to the president, let’s hope that he has the fortitude to realise that this is the consequence of his bad decisions. He has let down the American people, albeit, they had given him two terms in office to make more mistakes, and as such must shoulder the blame. Mr. Baker is right on the mark with the comment about speaking to the enemy. Thanks for sharing a great interview.

Brian great interview. I do respect the opinions of the Study Group but my heart goes out to our troops as each day soldiers die while the discussions continue. This process has helped Bush and the GOP as we're in a no win situation now. I do remember the missal crisis with Kennedy and how he had to talk to the Russian President. Bush has made so many enemies it might be very difficult to now show real leadership by having talks. The President of Iran reached out and Bush put him down for it. Remember the letter he wrote to President Bush. Great American Presidents have always made the difficult choices and stood up with pride and confidence. After watching George W. Bush for 5 years he just isn't cut out for leadership when it counts. I pray I'm wrong but from what Bush has shown I don't think he has it in him. I appreciate the time and effort by all the Study Group in trying to find a solution to the Iraq mess we're in.

I'm very grateful to these good men who took the time and effort to investigate and report on Iraq. They have reached the same conclusions that most Americans reached before the election.

I believe that President Bush really wants peace and a democratic government in Iraq, but I think he wants it to be credited to him.

He sees himself as a western gunslinger and hasn't much use for diplomacy. He either doesn't know or he doesn't understand that talking can sometimes stop bullets.

Thank you for covering James Kim's death, I never heard of him until this week, but for some unexplainable reason, I have been crying all day. Maybe it's because he seemed to be such a happy, nice man who really loved his family. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Would it possible to have someone or a group, investigate why the terriosts organizations whom ever they are, dislike America so passionately. We can start talks with Iran and Syria, but these are not the people who weare fighting in Iraq. I know this sounds simplistic but why not try to have a dialogue and see if the USA can come to understand why this hatred. Also, maybe some thought should be given to an Irag divided into three separate states with their autonomy to govern independently.

Brian,
I finally got around to finding your blog tonight. Very enjoyable! I want you to know that I've been a Tom Brokaw fan for many years and then when he left, I continued with you. When Katie and Charlie joined the evening news crowd, I tried watching both of them from time-to-time but couldn't go a whole half hour with them - always bounced back over to you during commercials and then usually stayed there. Well, I've given them a good try, but nothing beats NBC and you. I'm home to stay.

Debbie

Mr. Williams,
As you say, it is heartening to see a panel of patriotic Americans, persons of stature derived from years of public service, come together to take on such a difficult and critical task. It is an example of collective statesmanship rarely seen in today's world offering hope that our nation's ship of state can survive these stormy waters and right herself before she runs aground. Let us all hope that the observations and recommendations of the Iraq Study Group don't fall on what until today have been deaf ears within the White House, a White House that has yet to exhibit any true understanding of what statesmanship and diplomacy really are.

What about the fact that the Baker Commission didn't have one Democrat or Republican who had opposed the war in Iraq. That doesn't sound like a balanced panel to me. Did you ask any questions about that?

Thanks for allowing us to hear the two most important members of that committee, it's good to hear the news from "the horse's mouth" as it were...nothing like some truthfullness of the split between our current leader's view and those who have seen this before and know it's seriousness to our citizen's in uniform.

If only this bipartisan flavor would reach the ferver that it did immediately after 9/11.... we'd have a much different country than it is today. I've not had time to pay much attention to what the Study Group had to say, but I do hope the president and our other elected leaders take it to heart and actually DO something with this report other than simply using it for political fodder.

Today ten Americans released a report suggesting a new course in Iraq. Discussion of this story took up nearly twenty minutes of the Nightly News. What barely even made the news was the fact that ten other Americans half a world away lost their lives. America's service men and women are caught in the middle of this political debate, and too many are paying the ultimate price every day. NBC News should show the faces, or at least the names, of the fallen instead of dehumanizing them by only mentioning the body count. It seems that in the endless debate over why we entered the war, what to call the war, and how to exit the war we have lost our basic humanity. Today ten families lost their loved ones--and no study group can ever bring them back.

I appreciate your reporting of Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va, for suggesting the Iraq Study Group and crediting him for his key roll in its formation. Otherwise I wonder how many of our viewers would have known this fact? He certainly deserve our admiration.

In addition to the politicians from different parties working together and befriending each other, it is enjoyable and fascinating to read about the leading anchors from separate networks all doing the same. You all do a great service to this country as well. Keep up the excellent work.

Bi-partisan politics is better but for Iraq, there is no solutions. Recently, ISG and Gates already said that all ideas are already out in public discussions. Bush chose the wrong fight. The worst is went war with no plan. May be that is why comedians labelled him as door-knob.