Powell condemns hurricane-relief failures

Former US secretary of state Colin Powell has joined the criticism over the response to Hurricane Katrina at all levels of government…

Former US secretary of state Colin Powell has joined the criticism over the response to Hurricane Katrina at all levels of government.

Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I just don't know why.
Former US secretary of state Colin Powell

"There have been a lot of failures at a lot of levels - local, state and federal," Mr Powell said in an ABC interview to be broadcast this evening.

"There was more than enough warning over time about the dangers to New Orleans . Not enough was done. I don't think advantage was taken of the time that was available to us, and I just don't know why," Mr Powell said in excerpts on ABC's website.

He said he did not think that race was a factor in the slow response but that many of those unable to leave New Orleans in time were trapped by poverty that disproportionately affects blacks.

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Mr Powell was the highest-ranking black official during US President George W. Bush's first term and chairman of the military Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1991 Gulf War.

He is among various names mentioned in Washington as a potential "hurricane czar" to take over the long-term recovery effort.

Political figures from both major parties have attacked the slow response to the hurricane's assault last week on the US Gulf Coast, which devastated New Orleans and killed hundreds, possibly thousands, in the region.