The Department of Homeland Security's internal watchdog, the Office of the Inspector General, released a report today concluding that the widespread criticism of the government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina was largely deserved because FEMA, now under DHS, was too focused on terrorism response.

The report concluded that, among other things, FEMA's response was hampered by unreliable communication systems and poor coordination. In addition, confusing guidelines in the National Response Plan led to duplicated communications.

The report makes 38 recommendations calling for better training, coordination, and systems for ensuring communications among local and state emergency responders and between federal agencies providing aid.

Here's what Homeland Security Watch had to say about it:

"Based on this story, most of these recommendations seem familiar, similar to what's already been proposed by the GAO, the House Katrina Committee, the White House, and FEMA itself. But it's likely to be an important report nonetheless, because it's coming from the entity whose full-time job it is to keep DHS accountable, and which should have the deepest insight into the inner workings of the Department of any watchdog."