Being in denial can lead start-ups over the cliff because if a CEO waits too long to take action, the start-up is likely to run out of money and decide to change strategy only after it is too late to salvage the venture.

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"My staff believes that DHS has engaged in a conscious strategy of slow-walking our investigation in the hope that we would run out of time to follow the investigation's natural progression to where it leads, " Lieberman said.

CNN: Lieberman: White House hindering Katrina probe