Bush Policies Are Weakening National Guard, Governors Say (NYT)

[Up2Late]

(And what will Rummy say, "That's a ridiculous thing to say...")

Bush Policies Are Weakening National Guard, Governors Say

By ROBERT PEAR
Published: February 27, 2006

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 — Governors of both parties said Sunday that Bush administration policies were stripping the National Guard of equipment and personnel needed to respond to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, forest fires and other emergencies.

Tens of thousands of National Guard members have been sent to Iraq, along with much of the equipment needed to deal with natural disasters and terrorist threats in the United States, the governors said here at the winter meeting of the National Governors Association.

The National Guard, which traces its roots to the colonial militia, has a dual federal-state role. Governors normally command the Guard in their states, but Guard members deployed overseas in support of a federal mission are under the control of the president.

The governors said they would present their concerns to President Bush and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Monday. In a preview of their message, all 50 governors signed a letter to the president opposing any cuts in the size of the National Guard.

(more at link below)

<http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/politics/27govs.html?ex=1298696400&en=a7ec19fa9b989f54&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss>

[Mythsaje]

1. Chalk one up

for the "no shit" category.

[Erika]

2. As Governor Kempthorne (R-Idaho) said

Our National Guardsmen must leave their helicopters, etc. in Iraq when they return. There are no appropriations to replace this equipment.

[roguevalley]

3. is there nothing he HASN'T harmed?

[Pachamama]

23. His Family's and his cronies' bank accounts?

:shrug:

Seems to me, that's the only thing he has not harmed and actually helped....at all of America and the World's expense ofcourse....

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

4. Complete misuse of the military - again

Deploying these guys overseas for years at a time was never their purpose.

Nobody wants to join b/c this. The loss of equipment is minor in comparison to what it's done to their recruiting.

[xxqqqzme]

5. doesn't this belong in the

'well, duh!' category?

[Up2Late]

6. Maybe in the "do they actually think they still give a sh*t" catagory...

...since the story is actually about the Governors who are going to "...present their concerns to President Bush and Defense Secretary..." on Monday.

[thereismore]

7. Well, duh. nt

[Hardrada]

8. Yuh think??

[silverweb]

9. That's the whole point, isn't it?

If the NG is decimated, then when there's an emergency in any state where the NG would normally be used, FEDERAL troops will have to be sent in.

It makes perfect sense that that's part of _georgie's overall plan.

:shrug:

[Shelor]

10. Proposed National Guard cuts raise governors' ire

The winter meeting of the National Governors Association opened here Saturday with state executives determined to challenge the Bush administration over proposed Pentagon cuts in funding for the National Guard.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will meet privately with the governors Monday amid escalating concerns among the governors that the states have been shortchanged by long Guard deployments in Iraq and by what they see as disproportionate cuts in Guard funding.

Earlier this month, the governors signaled their displeasure with the Pentagon's new budget, which called for a reduction in National Guard troop strength, by sending a letter of protest. That brought a quick decision to rescind the proposed cut. But governors said they still have many questions about what the Pentagon is planning.

Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, a Republican who met earlier with Rumsfeld and encouraged him to speak with all the governors at the NGA meeting, said states might not be able to respond adequately to natural disasters or terrorist attacks at home if the equipment shipped to Iraq with state Guard units is not replenished and if other Guard funding is reduced. "This is a formula for disaster," he said in an interview Saturday.


http://www.newsobserver.com/114/story/411819.html

[Earth_First]

11. Support The Troops

I think I have a little more room on the hood for one more magnet... :eyes:

[lovuian]

12. He cuts our National Guards leaving us more vulnerable for

disaster... Americans wake up!!!

[OKthatsIT]

16. Exactly..the break down of Posse Comitatus

The National Guard is our local security. Made up of citizens who live and work among us, in our own states. The Bush Administration has revamped everthing to allow the Military Industrial Complex to dominate, isolate and conquer.

[screembloodymurder]

26. It's part of the plan.

The Guard might turn on them when they declare martial law.

[FloridaPat]

13. Who are they going to get to fight all these invasions?

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. the ones we initiate, or the ones that rummy says he defends against?

"cause, except in our ports, I see no sign that anyone will be invading us soon.

[FloridaPat]

17. The ones our idiot in chief and Rummy dream up to further democracy

around the world.

[BadGimp]

15. BuschCo does not want the States to be able to defend themselves

This will make a federal takeover easier and less bloody.

The junta does not want to face armed soldiers when they declare Marshal Law and march into the streets of your town to take the dissidents off to the detention camps that Haliburton is building as we speak.

[FloridaPat]

18. Scary point.

[Judi Lynn]

19. No doubt! There was already a trial run when he wanted to force

La. Gov. Blanco to turn over ALL control of her state to him during disaster relief. I really don't doubt it for a minute.

[sarcasmo]

20. This administration does not want States to respond to natural disaster.

Martial Law is what this administration craves.

[rodeodance]

21. Rummy will dazzle them with his propaganda (and Rummy will not know

it is propaganda)



......Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will meet privately with the governors Monday amid escalating concerns among the governors that the states have been shortchanged by long Guard deployments in Iraq and by what they see as disproportionate cuts in Guard funding.

Earlier this month, the governors signaled their displeasure with the Pentagon's new budget, which called for a reduction in National Guard troop strength, by sending a letter of protest. That brought a quick decision to rescind the proposed cut. But governors said they still have many questions about what the Pentagon is planning.

[tecelote]

22. It took the Governors and the media three years to come this conclusion?!

If Katrina didn't wake them up, what will?

But, of course, Republicans cut Veterans Benefits and the sheep continue to believe that the Republicans are strong on Defense.

If there isn't Kool Aid in the water then there is no other logical explanation for the stupidity in our country.

[progressoid]

24. No shit? Wonder how that happened.

[Voltaire99]

25. Here's the solution: completely defund the National Guard.

Replace this archaic institution with a demilitarized Civilian Emergency Corps for dealing with fires, floods, and other disasters.

Keep only a token force for quelling riots.

In short, state armies have proven too useful to irresponsible imperialism. We don't need a Bush deploying them to Iraq or a Hillary deploying them to Venezuela. So get rid of them. Close shop! Those who need to play soldier can do so on their own dime or simply join the federal military.

The key to a prosperous American future is broad demilitarization; and don't let liberal warmongers tell you otherwise.

[Mr Blonde]

27. I disagree there

National Guardsmen are not "playing soldier." They are soldiers, and many have died in Iraq.

I've been thinking of joining the Air Guard. The possibility of duty in the sandbox however, is keeping a lid on that for the time being.