National Guard chief says units at home and abroad need $20B for equipment

[wicket]

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/351/wash/National_Guard_chief_says_unit:.shtml

The National Guard needs $20 billion in vehicles, radios and other equipment over the next three years to perform all the overseas and homeland security missions it is being assigned, the chief of the Guard said Thursday.

Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum told reporters at the Pentagon that the Army Guard is seeking $7 billion in equipment in an emergency spending measure to pay for U.S. military operations overseas.

Blum insisted that troops going into Iraq are receiving equipment on par with their counterparts in the regular Army. It was a member of the Tennessee National Guard who last week challenged Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld about armoring vehicles in the unit.

Blum said the Tennessee unit would not enter Iraq without every vehicle having some kind of armor. The unit's commander reported to Blum personally that the armoring was completed, he said.

[saigon68]

1. To hell with prescriptions for seniors

Food stamps for the hungry.

We need more weapons to kill the "RAG-Heads", he continued </sarcasm>

[Benhurst]

2. Enough with this money pit. Bring 'em home. NT

[jimshoes]

3. How about another tax cut

for the really wealthy.

[malachi]

4. That'll work.

[Blue_Tires]

5. FUCK THAT SHIT!! ALREADY SPENT $200+ BILLION

ask halliburton to cut a check, since that's seemingly where the financial black hole is

[mhr]

6. Calmer Minds Predicted All This Before Bush Bumbled Into Iraq

Hate to say it, but many of us can honestly say "we told you so!"