Has Shrub's damn war left San Diego's fire without National Guards to assist?

[RiverStone]

My heart goes out to all down there who are either being faced with evacuation or are trying to fight the horrendous fires.

I wonder how compromised our National Guard response is to this disaster because so many of them (and guard resources) are stuck in the Iraq quagmire? Guard units not only assist with fire fighting, but evacuation, safety and security, transporting food and water, transporting fire fighting personnel and equipment, setting up temporary housing, and many other items critical to maintaining a support system to help those in harm's way or displaced as a result of the fires.

We already know Katrina's response was woefully mismanaged; now I wonder even if we wanted to do it right, has the BushCo Iraq war machine simply left us with too little resources to take care of our own emergencies?

[Bonobo]

1. Isn't it obvious?

[bluestateguy]

2. This is the most anti-California president in history

He and his fundy whackjob friends probably think that them libs are just getting what they deserve and that this is God's punishment. And while Malibu is a well to do town, it is also a liberal community, and I don't think Bushco is shedding any tears at all for them.

[aquart]

4. Uh, he's anti-AMERICAN. Doesn't matter where we are. He hates us.

[AspenRose]

16. Too true

For reference, see "Katrina."

[aquart]

3. Ask your representative where the CA Nat'l Guard are.

Ask if YOUR state is similarly unprotected in the event of emergency. PLEASE. Let them know you don't think it's just California's problem.

[RiverStone]

5. Good point.

It is important to ask where ever we live; and better to know before an emergency necessitates the question!

[Bobbieo]

6. This is a national problem!!!! Bush and his GD oil war in Iraq

When are these stupid freepers going to catch on to what the hell is going on in this country. Chances are when they do they will blame Bill Clinton.

[Richard D]

7. Yes

It's already being talked about.

[suffragette]

8. From May 2007

"State National Guard warns it's stretched to the limit"
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/05/11/MNGRIPPB2D1.DTL
As state forestry officials predict an unusually harsh fire season this summer, the California National Guard says equipment shortages could hinder the guard's response to a large-scale disaster.

A dearth of equipment such as trucks and radios -- caused in part by the war in Iraq -- has state military officials worried they would be slow in providing help in the event of a major fire, earthquake or terrorist attack.

From just a few minutes ago on CNN:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2108508&mesg_id=2109068

This is absolutely unacceptable.

And more units have been placed on alert to deploy overseas:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003963446_guard20m.html

[RiverStone]

10. thanks for the links

What a tragic and sad cluster-fuck Shrub and his lock-stepping war mongers have created. We can't even put out fires abroad in Iraq, how can we expect to put them out at home?

[suffragette]

12. It is tragic and sad

And clearly, people were alarmed about just this type of tragedy occurring and warned that this would be an issue. Yet, there are plans for even more of the western NG to deploy overseas.

Enough is enough. Bring them home.

[rodeodance]

9. arnold said he was pulling 800 guards off the border for the fires

[galileo3000]

11. Remove the poisonous arrow before trying to figure out

from whence it came. (I.E. LETS GET THE FIRES OUT BEFORE WE START BLAMING).

[RiverStone]

13. We can do both...

It has also been said: Those that do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

We must as a nation hold the war mongers accountable not only for a failed and wasteful policy in Iraq, but that we remain very under-prepaired for any kind of national or regional disaster. How many more Katrina's or fires will we need to force a more rational choice - bring em home!

More than blame, I want all those war enables to pay the fuck ATTENTION to what on-going support of this tragic mistake is doing to us --- well over 500 billion $$$ dedicated already!

[Disturbed]

15. Duncan Hunter: RWing Asshole, Pres. Candidate S. CA.

Any statements from that Asshole?

[aquart]

17. Absolutely, let's get the California Nat'l Guard in there working!

[Didereaux]

14. Nat'l Guard in general still have men...NO equipment! n/t