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Iraq hampers Kansas tornado response Posted by Frank James at 11:53 am CDT With tornado season upon us and hurricane season not far away, the National Guard and its equipment will be in great demand as part of the disaster response and recovery operations. But there’s a problem. The availability of that equipment, or more accurately, its scarcity because of the Iraq War, is back in the news thanks to the Greensburg, Kansas tornado that destroyed the southwest Kansas town. This from an Associated Press report which carried comments by Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat: In Kansas, the governor said the state's response was limited by the shifting of emergency equipment, such as tents, trucks and semitrailers, to the war in Iraq. "Not having the National Guard equipment, which used to be positioned in various parts of the state, to bring in immediately is really going to handicap this effort to rebuild," she said. Sharon Watson, a spokeswoman for the adjutant general's office, which manages state resources during emergencies, said the state has a shortage of heavy equipment transport trailers, pallet-sized loading systems, Humvees, dump trucks and other large equipment that would be help move massive amount of debris. "We are never at 100 percent because we are allocated a certain amount from the National Guard Bureau. With the war, we are much shorter than we would be. We have about 40 percent of what is allocated," Watson said. The unavailability of National Guard equipment due to the war broke significantly into public consciousness after the federal government’s poor response to Hurricane Katrina and has been echoed after other natural disasters. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office, Congress’s investigative arm, has repeatedly cited the deployment of the guard troops and its equipment as a problem for domestic preparedness for not just natural disasters but terrorist events. It didn’t take long for Sebelius’s comment to be used by opponents of Bush’s surge strategy. An anti-war umbrella group called Americans Against Escalation in Iraq issued a statement this morning that featured the Sebelius quote. “Governors, the Special Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, and Retired Generals warned President Bush that his Iraq war strategy would push the already overstretched Guard to the breaking point. Bush ignored the warnings and plowed ahead with his escalation of the war in Iraq. Now Kansans are paying the price for the recklessness of our Commander-in-Chief,” said Americans Against Escalation in Iraq spokeswoman Moira Mack. “President Bush’s Iraq escalation strategy spurred ire from Americans coast to coast who are demanding a responsible end to the war. With this news, President Bush has inspired a new level of wrath for recklessly putting Americans at risk here at home in order to stubbornly continue his failed Iraq strategy,” added Mack.

in Iraq War | Permalink Comments Does anyone on here remember the "good ol' days" when a young guy from Texas could hide out in the National Guard and avoid "the war"?

Or how about when the NATIONAL Guard was stationed within the NATIONAL borders, so as to have the ability to actually GUARD it?

Heckova Job Commander Guy! Posted by: John E | May 7, 2007 12:16:56 PM Just wondering when Republics will blame the victims of the Greensburg, KS tornado for building their homes in Tornado Alley. You had no problem blaming the victims of the natural disaster in New Orleans Posted by: john | May 7, 2007 12:54:03 PM I take issue with "Americans Against Escalation". In my opinoin the National Guard has a duty to protect our shores from within the country or outside its boarders. If the threat comes from outside our boarders, the guard needs to respond by assisting the active and reserve forces of our military. Personally every citizen should serve some time in the military especially congresstional members. I believe the reason we're loosing the Iraq War is the Medias commentary and reporting of the war. Rarely does one read about President Bush's war accopmplishments. As in the VietNam War, the media has turned the country against the war effort. We need to win! The Guard is needed in the war effort. Kansas can obtain support from private enterprises and neighboring states all they have to do is ask. VietNam Vet Posted by: John Kostelny | May 7, 2007 1:02:21 PM Here is a non-prtsisan assessment given to the U.S House of Representatives last month as reported by Air Force Times "We have seen the readiness of our units here at home decline over time, to the point today where it severely limits our ability to fill our homeland security mission, that of the Department of Defense’s first responders to a domestic disaster,” said Air National Guard Maj. Gen. Terry Scherling, the Air National Guard Bureau’s joint staff director." The article continues that Scherlings assessment was in agreement with findings made by the GAO. The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, reached a similar conclusion earlier this year, and a report by the independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves warned in a March 1 report that the Guard has been worn out by combat missions and needs replacement equipment and time to rest and retrain to be ready to respond to natural disasters or other domestic operations. Here is a link to the AFT article.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/04/military_guard_readiness_070425w/ It is also interesting to note that the emergency

appropriations bill vetoed by the President last week included funds for beefing up federal response to natural disasters.

While that money would not have made a difference in the Kansas disaster, it remains to be seen if the additional appropriations will survive the

fight between the President and the Congress

over the emergency spending bill.

Posted by: johnf | May 7, 2007 1:08:00 PM I believe the reason we're loosing the Iraq War is the Medias commentary and reporting of the war. Rarely does one read about President Bush's war accopmplishments. Posted by: John Kostelny | May 7, 2007 1:02:21 PM What are these "accomplishments" you speak of? More than 3,300 dead Americans and countless Iraqis? Electricity and services in Iraq WORSE than before we invaded? Billions of missing taxpayer dollars? A government on the verge of collapse? Posted by: Jeff C. | May 7, 2007 1:10:52 PM Rarely does one read about President Bush's war accopmplishments. Posted by: John Kostelny | May 7, 2007 1:02:21 PM Remarkable! You complain about accomplishments not being mentioned and you can't even name one accomplishment. You just make an empty statement attacking the media. Posted by: jethro | May 7, 2007 1:11:09 PM Where are the hearty souls I knew as 'Kansans' or as real 'Americans' when I was growing up? When real Americans have a problem, other real Americans work together with them and we overcome. Real Americans don't have to spend all of their time being critical of others -- especially our President. Posted by: Phyl | May 7, 2007 1:12:59 PM Can we just use ad-lib headlines from now on? It'd save a lot of time and effort. Headline: "IRAQ HAMPERS (insert social, economic, foreign policy, or moral issue here)" Article: "Republicans say 9/11, 9/11 terr'r'rist, abortion, gays, 9/11, terr-r-rist. Democrats counter global warming, neocon agenda, civil rights, beware the corporatocracy." Photo Caption: "President Bush calls you a quitter and America-hater" Posted by: dave k | May 7, 2007 1:17:13 PM Where are the hearty souls I knew as 'Kansans' or as real 'Americans' when I was growing up? When real Americans have a problem, other real Americans work together with them and we overcome. Real Americans don't have to spend all of their time being critical of others -- especially our President. Posted by: Phyl | May 7, 2007 1:12:59 PM "Some" say that Phyl hates America. Posted by: Catherine | May 7, 2007 1:25:10 PM Phyl writes: "Real Americans don't have to spend all of their time being critical of others -- especially our President." Yes, "real Americans" like you. Uh huh. Did you say the same thing when Bill Clinton was in office? Did you leap to his defense when anyone criticized him? Have you ever heard of the Bill of Rights? Posted by: Captain Reality | May 7, 2007 1:36:45 PM Quite frankly I think that all of you are totally disgusting and poor excuses for human beings in using the horrible tragedy in Greensburg, Kansas to further your anti-war sentiments. How have we gotten to the point that we think it is the governments job to take care of everything. You can't compare the Kansas tornado to Katrina and you certainly can't compare the people in this midwestern town to the citizens of New Orleans who think it is the duty of the federal government to take care of everything for them. The people of New Orleans had days of warning and were told to leave. Greensburg had 20 minutes. This is a mentality problem not a military problem. Posted by: Dorothy from Kansas | May 7, 2007 1:37:53 PM Nice going Phyl - once again the old Republican thought of blame the victims. John K. - I think if you ask most members of the Guard, they would say that their first job is helping out in their own communities - not having their equipment sent to Iraq. Why should Kansas rely on neighboring states?? And what should the media say - the 3,000+ soldiers died of old age, or getting hit by a bus while crossing the street? Posted by: BobinATL | May 7, 2007 1:43:01 PM "How have we gotten to the point that we think it is the governments job to take care of everything." Umm, so the government shouldn't help the people of Greensburg ,Dorothy? Otr is it only the people of NOLA that you don't want to help? Posted by: Tony | May 7, 2007 2:25:43 PM Phyl, Real Americans went to the polls this past fall and told our chimp-in-a-flight-suit that we as a country wanted change. What does your fearless, war-dodging President do? He ignores the will of the American people...AGAIN! You think there's any wonder why this schmuck has the lowest approval rating of any modern president? Phyl, its enablers like you that still believe this man can lead our nation. You, unfortunately, are what's wrong with this country. Another conservative who once again puts party above nation. I for one, am sick of that mentality which is destroying America. Posted by: Neal | May 7, 2007 2:32:34 PM As much as we'd all like to help the people of Greensburg, I imagine the states bordering on Kansas have the same problem--their equipment and their National Guard is overseas, fighting the Commander Guy's war. BTW, I just gave blood to be shipped to Greensburg to help the injured. I hope they can find a way to get it there. Posted by: Cheryl | May 7, 2007 3:01:33 PM Can Bush Derangement Syndrome go any lower than Sibelius just did? Posted by: Bruce | May 7, 2007 3:07:08 PM The people of New Orleans had days of warning and were told to leave. Greensburg had 20 minutes. This is a mentality problem not a military problem. Posted by: Dorothy from Kansas | May 7, 2007 1:37:53 PM Dorothy from Kansas,

I'll say this as clearly as I can. In both disasters homes and possessions were ruined. Even if the people who died in New Orleans evacuated, their homes and possessions would still have been ruined. Posted by: john | May 7, 2007 3:08:12 PM `I take issue with "Americans Against Escalation". In my opinoin the National Guard has a duty to protect our shores from within the country or outside its boarders. If the threat comes from outside our boarders, the guard needs to respond by assisting the active and reserve forces of our military. Personally every citizen should serve some time in the military especially congresstional members.` Posted by: John Kostelny | May 7, 2007 1:02:21 PM The National Guard exists for a reason: to guard national borders... from the INSIDE, to take care of problems that happen WITHIN our borders. The Navy/Marines/Army/US Coast Guard all exist for a REASON, or did you forget that? ---------- `Quite frankly I think that all of you are totally disgusting and poor excuses for human beings in using the horrible tragedy in Greensburg, Kansas to further your anti-war sentiments. How have we gotten to the point that we think it is the governments job to take care of everything.` Posted by: Dorothy from Kansas | May 7, 2007 1:37:53 PM You've done a commendable job of bringing yourself down to their level of mentality. That is, the mentality of people who can't focus too well without their prescription medication and are thus addicted to it. That loss of focus is how we've gotten to the point where we think that it's the government's job to take care of everything, because it's constantly advertised that it's the government that takes care of Medicaid, and that's what most people give a snoot about: staying sane no matter the cost. Don't try to hide it, everyone knows about it, there's no use anymore to pull the wool over everyone's eyes when it's clear as day out, regardless of the weather conditions. ---------- Now, if Bush would kindly bring the National Guardsmen home and start getting some REAL security work done, then perhaps the nice people of Greensburg might be able to enjoy some real Homeland Security. Posted by: Dumb American | May 7, 2007 3:14:47 PM Bruce,

Read the AFT article linked to in my post above. Do you consider Air Force Times a leftist publication

afflicted with BDS? Posted by: johnf | May 7, 2007 3:42:11 PM Although we reap the benefits of having the National Guard around when deployment overseas is not necessary, I'd like to remind people that their primary role is to keep us prepared to go to war. From the National Guard's official webiste: "Throughout the 19th century the size of the Regular Army was small, and the militia provided the bulk of the troops during the Mexican War, the early months of the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. In 1903, important national defense legislation increased the role of the National Guard (as the militia was now called) as a Reserve force for the U.S. Army. In World War I, which the U.S. entered in 1917, the National Guard made up 40% of the U.S. combat divisions in France; in World War II, National Guard units were among the first to deploy overseas and the first to fight." My feeling is that to use the tornados in Kansas as another point against the war trivializes the event as a whole and takes our attention away from what we should be focusing on - which is helping those in need after this unfortunate event. To criticize the war's use of the National guard from the perspective of taking away resources from Kansas is similar to saying that American Idol's charity drive is responsible for taking resources away from Kansas' rebuild process because it used up charitable donations for another cause. Posted by: James | May 7, 2007 3:43:48 PM Can Bush Derangement Syndrome go any lower than Sibelius just did? Posted by: Bruce | May 7, 2007 3:07:08 PM Where was Sebelius wrong Bruce? Is the equipment not in Iraq? Woul;d the response not be better with the equipment than without? Posted by: Tony | May 7, 2007 3:44:18 PM Another thing people may want to question is why the United States government turned down almot 1 BILLION dollar worth of foreign aid for Katrina! Posted by: Logic Prisoner | May 7, 2007 3:57:49 PM "Umm, so the government shouldn't help the people of Greensburg ,Dorothy? Otr is it only the people of NOLA that you don't want to help?" Great counter point GW Tony! Put words in her mouth and make a totally rediculous statement that is off the subject. Typical.

Posted by: JD | May 7, 2007 4:06:41 PM "It didn’t take long for Sebelius’s comment to be used by opponents of Bush’s surge strategy." Yeah, today at 11:53 CDT. Nice job Frank James.

Posted by: JD | May 7, 2007 4:08:56 PM How soon before the tornado is linked to Global Warming? Posted by: JD | May 7, 2007 4:11:09 PM Comments are not posted immediately. We review them first in an effort to remove foul language, commercial messages, irrelevancies and unfair attacks. Thank you for your patience.



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