In the eye of the storm over Katrina

7 May 2007 // WASHINGTON -- Watch for a congressional oversight committee to convene and investigate the handling of some $854 million in aid offered to the United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

That's because a Freedom of Information Act request has turned up records that appear to show vast amounts of aid were either wasted or rejected in the wake of the hurricane that devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005.

The documents, mostly from the State Department, were obtained by the public watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. They confirm offers of aid were pouring in faster than the water could be pumped out of New Orleans. But the U.S. lacked a system for accepting the help.

Over 100 countries offered cash, oil, food and water, medical supplies, beds and blankets. But only $40 million of the aid offered was ever used.

Foreign medical aid was routinely rejected for fear of liability issues and other bureaucratic red tape.

Canada was the only country whose help -- most of the time -- was accepted without question and according to embassy spokesman Bernard Etzinger, that was because of the pre-existence of many government-to-government working protocols.

Included in Canada's assistance package were one destroyer, two frigates and one Coast Guard vessel loaded with three Sea King helicopters and more than 100 tonnes of relief supplies.

GROUNDS FOR RESIGNATION

Consider the curious alchemy of Washington, D.C.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales infuriated members of Congress on both sides of the aisle with his lame testimony about the firings of eight U.S. prosecutors, but remains in charge of the Justice department. Paul Wolfowitz, being investigated for a possible breach of ethics for arranging a lucrative pay package for his sweetheart, still remains ensconced in his lofty position.

However, Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias -- after being told his phone number appeared in the records of a woman suspected of running a prostitution ring -- abruptly resigned his position and last week disappeared from public view.

Contacted by ABC News, Tobias confirmed he was a customer of accused "Washington Madam" Deborah Palfrey's escort service and got massages -- not sex -- from the women who worked for her.

Last week, through his spokeswoman, President George W. Bush said he was saddened by Tobias' resignation but added "it was the right decision."

LOOPHOLE CLOSED

The shooter who opened fire at Virginia Tech on April 16, and killed 31 people before turning the gun on himself, was able to buy a weapon in Virginia despite his history of mental health problems.

That's because -- having been treated as an outpatient -- his name was not in the federal data base of mental patients which gun dealers are supposed to check before selling a firearm.

This apparent flaw in the system was fixed Monday by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. He issued an executive order requiring the names of outpatients be included on the list of mental patients if their treatment has been court-ordered and they have been deemed dangerous. Seung-Hui Cho bought one of the guns he used in last month's massacre by producing ID and completing a form that asked if he had been treated for mental illness. His deception in checking the "no" box, went unnoticed because his name was never put on the list of state mental patients. He bought a second gun on the Internet.

ONLY IN AMERICA

A $65 million law suit has been filed against a local dry cleaner for allegedly losing a pair of trousers. According to public court filings, the plaintiff claims he suffered inconvenience, discomfort and mental anguish when his pants were lost by Custom Cleaners, and the case is scheduled to be heard in DC court next month.

Sound ridiculous? Make that ludicrous. The man who is suing, Roy Pearson Jr. is an administrative law judge in the District of Columbia. His court adjudicates civil infractions of D.C. rules.