>I saw news reports that some of the Asian governments admitted they could have warned people before it hit, but they didn't.

Well, what does this tell us ??

1. They knew that there was an earth quake?
2. They knew that there was an earth quake and that there would be some high waves reaching the shore sometime.
3. They knew that there was an earth quake and that there would be some high waves reaching the shore within a specific time?
4. They knew that there was an earth quake and that there would be some high waves reaching the shore within a specific time and knew how to warn people in time ?
5. They knew that there was an earth quake and that there would be some high waves reaching the shore within a specific time and knew how to warn people in time, knowing what the consequence were going to be?

I think you should be carefull in drawing conclusion from 'news reports'. Think about the following.

Data <> Information, Information <> Knowledge, Knowledge <> Understanding.

Too often people think they understand something from limited data.

Walter,