While many have placed the blame for Hurricane Katrina's destruction solely on the Bush administration, there are several other parties that deserve part of the blame.

The Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency responses to Katrina have been woefully inadequate, despite the practice last year specifically to prevent this kind of disaster.

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco failed to prepare her state for the impending disaster from the very beginning. Prior to the storm's arrival, she neither requested federal assistance, nor activated the Louisiana National Guard.

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin also failed his constituents. Despite Hurricane Ivan's near-miss last year, no contingency plan had been established. Nagin issued the evacuation order just 10 hours before the storm came ashore, and now blames the federal government for the chaos that ensued.

I understand that it's popular to blame the president for Katrina's destruction, but there are many other people at fault.