Obviously, terrism is still the real problem.

After the blistering terrist attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent storm of fear, minor attacks and major retributive and preventative strikes, there were a few people (myself included) who quitely suggested that natural disasters -- hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc -- might be a much bigger threat that terrism.

Now that we've had some major disasters -- earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, hurricanes, major floods and the near destruction of New Orleans -- our politicians have been quick to remind us of the bigger terrist threat. Forget, for the moment, that natural disasters have caused orders-of-magnitude greater economic disruption, loss of life, and damage to our infrastructure. Also forget that natural disasters happen more frequently than terrist attacks. No, the real threat is not nature (and, by association, God), and our own hubris in the face of natural forces. The true danger is still those rag-tag mountain-dwelling donkey-riding freedom haters on the other side of the world.

The president was asked whether people should be worried about the government's ability to handle another terrorist attack given failures in responding to Katrina.

"Are we capable of dealing with a severe attack? That's a very important question and it's in the national interest that we find out what went on so we can better respond," Bush replied.