Bush Policies Are Weakening National Guard, Governors Say

[burythehatchet]

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

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/27/politics/27govs.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1141052874-SmQNwOpo0HYlAqO1ifyHKQ

[Frustratedlady]

1. Gov. Vilsack's Comments Are Good, but Scary....

..."the administration, might reduce the resources for the National Guard so they can redirect resources to pay for more boots on the ground, more full-time military."

The Iowa National Guard units have been used quite often in both Gulf War situations (as have many others) and it wouldn't surprise me if they were called upon to return before we leave Iraq. They are also used so much for local disasters or spend their training time in building or repairing infrastructure for cities or counties. Without their equpment, those projects will also fall by the wayside.

However, this part of his statement immediately raised another question... "redirect resources to pay for more boots on the ground, more full-time military." If we are trying to leave Iraq asap, what ground are these boots going to tread?

I realize we have to be prepared and that the full-time military has been stretched thin, disabled or killed, but the National Guard needs to be at full strength, too. Last year was a good example of how much we depend on them with hurricanes, tornadoes, forest fires, etc. It was always my understanding that the NG wasn't supposed to be used in foreign countries. I must have been all wet.

[FloridaPat]

2. I thought about 1/2 of the soldiers in Iraq were NG. Wonder how

many are mercenaries getting paid big bucks to do the same thing. And when they get rich they can leave anytime, unlike the poor soldiers stuck forever in this evil invasion.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. Absolutely Correct

There will be another Katrina - inevitable - maybe not in Louisiana, but inevitable.

Loma Prieta Quake - The One That Hit During The World Series in 1989

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The primary mission of the National Guard is DISASTER RECOVERY - NOT AGGRESSIVE WARS OF CHOICE