Blame game escalates in aftermath of slow response

WITH the death toll expected to surge into the thousands in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the blame game has escalated among local and federal politicians struggling to come to terms with the desperately slow disaster response across the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Local officials begged for help last week, demanding reinforcements as their cities were obliterated by flooding.

New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin issued a “desperate SOS” and Louisiana officials claimed the White House had blocked some aid efforts.