Straight from the Horse's Mouth

FactCheck.org has Former FEMA Director Mike Brown's infamous memo to Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff.

In the memo, Mr Brown doesn't seem worried about the mounting crisis, asking for 1,000 additional people -- but in no hurry, saying they can take 48 hours to get to the scene.

Mr Brown wraps up his request by calling Katrina "this near catastrophic event." (FactCheck.org)