Ark. governor criticizes Guard call-up, echoing Oklahoma and Ohio

[bigtree]

Wed, Apr. 11, 2007

Ark. governor criticizes Guard call-up
By JON GAMBRELL - Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. --
Sending Arkansas' largest National Guard combat unit back to Iraq for a second wartime tour amounts to "changing the rules" for its soldiers, Gov. Mike Beebe said through a spokesman. He's one of several governors voicing concern about the military's heavy use of Guard troops.

Arkansas' 39th Infantry Brigade spent 18 months in Iraq just two years ago.

Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said Tuesday that the Democratic governor is concerned because the 39th and brigades from Indiana, Ohio and Oklahoma that were notified this month of a possible new deployment fall into what Gates described as a "transition period during which those guidelines would be violated."

Beebe's "big concern is that he was hoping the military was going to look elsewhere instead of changing the rules and calling the 39th back again," DeCample said.

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry also has criticized how much the military is leaning on Guard troops, and on Tuesday, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland protested the move. "This is a significant departure from the commitment made to Ohio soldiers and their families, and I believe it is a breach of faith," he wrote in a letter to President Bush.

DeCample said the National Guard fills a vital role at home in Arkansas during natural disasters and other emergencies. After tornadoes struck Dumas and the surrounding area in February, members of the Guard were assigned to help local police.

"We've got no doubt they'll go and do their duty and make Arkansas proud," DeCample said. "We just wish they didn't have to go back a second time. We need them here too."

http://www.thestate.com/361/story/32962.html

[phillysuse]

1. So coincidental that all the called up Guard Units are from

states with Democratic governors - Ohio - Strickland, Oklahoma - Henry and Arkansas - Beebe.

[PVnRT]

2. Indiana - Daniels is a Republican

Doesn't quite check out.

[Blue_Roses]

3. I don't think it's that

these are very poor states. It's called, "taking advantage of the poor."

I lived in Arkansas under repub governor Huckabee (before Beebe) and he could have cared less. Thank-goodness for Beebe.