MONTANA is burning; power grid threatened: Pentagon ignored Governor

[Bluebear]

MISSOULA -- The Tarkio wildfire burning west of here along the Interstate 90 corridor is kicking up and firefighters may not be able to keep up with it, a fire official says.

"We're in a very active firefight as we speak," fire boss Bob Sandman told area residents Tuesday night.

"We're throwing everything we have at it. I'd hate to venture at how big this fire will get," said Sandman, incident commander. He said the latest breakout by the Tarkio fire might outrun efforts to stop it.

The Tarkio fire, named after a nearby community, and the West Mountain fire, northwest of Alberton, are known at the I-90 fires, and both potentially threaten a major Bonneville Power Administration transmission line that supplies electricity to the Pacific Northwest. Fire officials said an air tanker has been assigned to help protect the transmission line.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?tl=1&display=rednews/2005/08/10/build/state/20-i90-fires.inc
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HELENA — The Pentagon has turned a deaf ear to Gov. Brian Schweitzer's request to return more of the state's National Guard members to Montana for the heart of the wildfire season, the governor said Tuesday.

Schweitzer said the Defense Department not only ignored his March plea to reduce the number of Montana Guard soldiers deployed, but has since increased its demand on state units.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, the Army general in charge of National Guard forces, provided information this week showing that 44 percent of Montana's Guard members were mobilized as of July 12. That is the third highest rate in the country; only Hawaii at 50 percent and Idaho at 46 percent have more soldiers activated.

Schweitzer said he's aggravated that Montana's figure is that high four months after his request. ‘‘They're saying, ‘We at the Pentagon don't care what you're thinking in your state. We'll do what we want for as long as we want and you'll get used to it,''' he said. ‘‘This is not cooperation. They don't listen to governors at all. This is zero response to governors.''

http://www.helenair.com/articles/2005/07/20/montana/a01072005_03.txt

[Swede Atlanta]

1. This could back-fire on the Neo-cons

They are only doing this because Montana dared to elect a Democratic governor. But this may backfire on them. Schweitzer needs to continue to hit home the fact there was a request for a scaling back of Montana
Guard forces in Iraq to attend to the types of domestic exigincies for which the Guard was designed and have historically been used. Montanans who normally vote on the conservative side may well see the arrogance of this Pentagon and by association this Administration and may well think hard next time they enter the voting booth. Granted Montana's electoral numbers and therefore Congressional representation is small based on a small population it is still a good example of how arrogance and disregard for the home front may cost them in the 2006 elections.

[Trillo]

2. Is this fire in the plains, or the forested north western?

Love the "This is not cooperation" quote.

[PearliePoo2]

5. western Montana

It is breathtakingly beautiful. Heavily forested, mountains, lakes, rivers and incredible stream fishing. I-90 is the main west/east highway that starts on the coast in Washington State and runs interstate along the northern tier. The continental divide is east of Missoula atop the Rocky Mountains.
This area on fire brings tears to my eyes. Damn you Bush and your phony "war" while America burns. Believe me, Montanans will be paying attention!

[htuttle]

6. Forested North West

Based on where Tarkio is, it looks like it's the Lolo National Forest that's burning.

[Rebellious Republican]

3. He belongs to the wrong party, to bad you fucking liberal...

that ought to teach you. Now if there were a good Republican running that state I am sure the Pentagon would be a little more helpful.:sarcasm:

[kestrel91316]

13. They are punishing MT for electing a Dem governor the same way

they set up the energy "crisis" to screw California to punish US for electing Dem governor (Davis) and daring to be such Commies out here. Welcome to the Pariah State Club, MT!

[spuddonna]

4. But see, Schweitzer is a democrat...

Therefore, his needs are not as great as Jeb's in FL...

You know, those poor people in Montana have to face the 'consequences' for electing a Democratic Gov. I'm sure that we'll hear the cry: "Why does God hate Montana?" Obviously, God is trying to cleanse it of Democrats with fire... oy...

Obviously, Mr. Schweitzer is under the impression that this govt is supposed to be responsive to the people. What a silly, silly man! :(

[elperromagico]

7. Don't worry. The extra month of Daylight Savings Time

will fix all those problems.

:sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

12. I forgot about that

Silly me. :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. I hope folks there will be safe. Also hope they vote against Repubs

for this.

[evil eggplant]

9. Pray

They will pray for rain. Who needs airplanes and water and manpower when a simple request to the Lord will square things?

[louis-t]

10. This is the EXACT same thing that happened in CA

N'est ce pas?

[wli]

11. any Natl. Guard deployment stats showing partisan bias?

[Hippo_Tron]

14. So why isn't Conrad Burns calling Bush out on this?

I think that Montana is starting to realize how much the Republican party really gives a shit about them.