All Governors should criticize this administration on NG deployment....

[Wetzelbill]

The state of Louisiana has 35 percent of its National Guard units fighting in an unnecessary, optional war, with no end in sight. It has help perpetuate the slow response to the disaster in NO.

This policy of extending NG units in this manner is damaging to Homeland Security, and disastrous in the case of NOLA.

Now, in order to make up for the depletion of the LA NG, the state has to get commitments from other state's guard forces. What if those other states, already depleted by Iraq and Katrina, have a security problem? They're screwed.

Now, in Montana, for example, nearly 50 percent of the NG are in Iraq and they have a relatively troublesome fire season. Fires in MT this summer were a nagging problem, more so than usual, because of this foolish deployment policy. Bush and the Pentagon have steadfastly refused to rotate MT NG so that they could be in MT during fire season. They also refuse to allow Governor Brian Schweitzer to go over to Iraq and visit his own NG troops. That's off topic, however.

The issue here is, besides Iraq being a dumb and even evil action, the deployment policy of NG troops make states vulnerable to disasters. And, in the event of one, it makes other states even weaker because they have to further deplete their Troops in order to make up for the disaster stricken state not being able to handle the effort on its own. It's stupid. Dumb. And, detrimental to national security. Only a few governors, starting with Schweitzer, have criticized the administration on this. Now, you'll see some more of it, you probably already have. But, every governor - party shouldn't matter because safety goes beyond politics - should be concerned about and vocal on this issue. It is important.

[satya]

1. This is how we REALLY lose our 2nd amendment rights.

Folks always worried that the guv'mint would come take away their personal weapons. Who would have thought that they'd take away our militia?

[Wetzelbill]

2. yeah no kidding

[laugle]

3. I predicted the lack of troops here at home

2 years ago. I don't see why it is a surprise. We all know damm well Bush is desperate for troops in Iraq and called up every reservist, including police officers, and national guard, to fight his lousy criminal war. Anyone who finally doesn't get the fact that we are NOT SAFER in this country, is either stupid or a christian radical.

[Wetzelbill]

4. you are spot on

it's no surprise, it's just common sense. That's how dumb these people who vote Republican are. They can be convinced of anything. Jeez, and the rest of us have to pay for this shit in treasure and blood too. It'a miserable.

[laugle]

5. I guess my only question now is

will we have a major investigation of this disaster and why it took sooooo long to help the people? And will we ever really find out the truth? Well I can only hope. What more will it take to wake up the people in this country.

Do you think maybe now the red states will become blue?????

[Wetzelbill]

6. I hope so

but I never have too much faith in justice and what is right nowadays. Red states turning Blue would be nice. Some of the RWers I've heard are beyond reason. Facts just don't matter to them. You have to hope a great number of people are within reach and not totally encompassed by spin and propaganda.