National Guard/Reserves question in regards to Katrina..

[HardWorkingDem]

Anyone have any information that more people could have been evacuated if Nat'l Guard or Reserves had been availiable? Or why they weren't availiable?

Were they all ready deployed to Iraq?

[magellan]

1. I don't know if this is true

But I heard some RWer phone into Washington Today this morning and say that infantry NG, like are in Iraq, are NEVER deployed on domestic natural disasters like this. Anyone know about this?

[iamjoy]

2. Don't Think Numbers Are The Issue

I think mobilization and logistics are.

I know the temptation for some Democrats is to blame Bush for this, just like some Republicans are blaming the (Democratic) LA governor & mayor's "slow" response.

I think right now we need to stop thinking about politics and worry about people dying. I think afterwards we can play the blame game. We will probably find failures at federal, state and local levels.

In my opinion, this is in many ways like 9-11. I know this was nature, not terrorism, but just like 9-11, we ignored what now seem like obvious warnings and did not take steps to protect our citizens.

And has it occurred to anyone, if a levee breach is so catastrophic, that this could be something terrorists now consider as a method of attack?

[HardWorkingDem]

6. Not trying to start the blame game, but....

I would have to look at the reasons behind the creation of the National Guard, but I tend to believe the word "National" says it all - that it was created to protect the Nation while other issues were facing the regular armed forces and reserves.

Next, this Hurricane has shown a tremendous weak spot in our national security, especially during a time at war. And what does this say about other parts of the country as well?

As for terrorists, I'm more concerned with the chemical plant industry and angle.

[melissinha]

3. I think its about the equipment

National Guard equipment is there too and could have been very helpful with respect to evacuation efforts.
Rachel is talking about it right now, and how Louisiana National Guard had asked for their people and equipment back on August 1st.... so when your federal government tells you that we have enough people, then why are they borowing vehicles from other states' vehicles.

[wtmusic]

4. 3000 Lousiana NG deployed to Iraq

about 35% of the total.

[BamaGirl]

5. They use MP's for this kind of thing

plus any kind of hazmat, rescue, medical units they can access. Bama has a bn of MP's that have been mobilized. They are in or enroute to MS. My husband is one of them, and he left here about 4 am yesterday morning. (It does take some time to get these ppl going. And keep in mind most of them are civilian law enforcement, adn coming from all over the state.) I have no idea where they are right now, and probably won't hear from him in awhile. No working cell towers. As far as numbers, don't get me started. They don't have the numbers available they say they have, and my husband's bn was augmented with infantry troops during Dennis. Probably this time too.