There are two excellent timelines just out concerning the historical decisions which led to Hurricane Katrina's devastation. The first is a neat interactive timeline (Flash, I think) from 1968 to just before Katrina. It takes a minute to load on my pokey 36Kb dialup connection so I figure most anyone can look at it. I didn't click through all the video clips that are a part of it so I don't know about how long they take to play. Go here to look at it.

The second is from Think Progress and shows in detail the progression of Katrina and the official response from Friday, August 26 through Saturday, September 3. It's a damning little recap which includes links to the source news report for each item . I'm hoping they will add to it in coming days since this is still an unfolding situation. Go here to see it.

Originally, I was not going to quote the Think Progress timeline but some of the items are quite stunning and I wanted to share.

From Friday, Sept. 2:

10 AM — PRESIDENT BUSH STAGES PHOTO-OP “BRIEFING”: Coast Guard helicopters and crew diverted to act as backdrop for President Bush’s photo-op.

BUSH VISIT GROUNDS FOOD AID: “Three tons of food ready for delivery by air to refugees in St. Bernard Parish and on Algiers Point sat on the Crescent City Connection bridge Friday afternoon as air traffic was halted because of President Bush’s visit to New Orleans, officials said.” [Times-Picayune]

BUSH USES 50 FIREFIGHTERS AS PROPS IN DISASTER AREA PHOTO-OP: A group of 1,000 firefighters convened in Atlanta to volunteer with the Katrina relief efforts. Of those, “a team of 50 Monday morning quickly was ushered onto a flight headed for Louisiana. The crew’s first assignment: to stand beside President Bush as he tours devastated areas.” [Salt Lake Tribune; Reuters]