Red Tape - Newsweek Hurricane Katrina Coverage - MSNBC.com

Red Tape - Newsweek Hurricane Katrina Coverage - MSNBC.com:

" (Gov.) Richardson said that when he asked his guard commander to explain the delay, he was told the New Mexico troops were not being allowed to travel to the region because of “federal paperwork,” which the National Guard bureau at the Pentagon insisted had to be completed. According to Richardson, this paperwork included various authorizations and certifications as well as “transportation waivers.” “I remember saying to [the New Mexico guard commander] it’s going to be too late” by the time state guardsmen reached the disaster scene, Richardson recalled."