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New type of commander may avoid Katrina-like chaos
Associated Press ^ | Sunday, July 3, 2011 4:09 PM EDT | DAN ELLIOTT

Posted on 07/03/2011 1:49:17 PM PDT by Hunton Peck

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) — The Defense Department is grooming a new type of commander to coordinate the military response to domestic disasters, hoping to save lives by avoiding some of the chaos that plagued the Hurricane Katrina rescue effort.

The officers, called dual-status commanders, would be able to lead both active-duty and National Guard troops — a power that requires special training and authority because of legal restrictions on the use of the armed forces on U.S. soil.

No one commander had that authority in the aftermath of Katrina, and military and civilian experts say the lack of coordination contributed to the nightmarish delays, duplications and gaps in the huge rescue effort.

"It was just like a solid wall was between the two entities," said Georgia National Guard Col. Michael Scholes, who was part of the Katrina response.

Top Defense Department officials believe dual-status commanders are the key to reducing at least some of those failures.

(Excerpt) Read more at centurylink.net ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: commander; military
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To: Westbrook

What’s the problem? I was just making a statement that money wasn’t allocated to protect our power grids. That WOULD be money well spent.


21 posted on 07/03/2011 3:48:39 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Hunton Peck
The Defense Department is grooming a new type of commander to coordinate the military response to domestic disasters

There is only one kind of disaster for FEDGOV and its Wall St./City of London Masters and that is a revolt by people sick and tired of being over-taxed, over-regulated, and seeing their civilization disappear. That is what all this is being prepared for. Don't you doubt it for a minute.

22 posted on 07/03/2011 3:49:35 PM PDT by Roninf5-1 (If ignorance is bliss why are so many Americans on anti-depressants?)
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To: Dilbert San Diego
what about all of other disasters which have happened, especially those in “red” states

It doesn't matter whether a disaster happened in a red or blue state. What matters is who is president. Since Obama is in charge now, the MSM will pass on anything that could reflect poorly on him.

If the Nashville floods had happened during Bush's watch, everyone would have heard plenty about it.

23 posted on 07/03/2011 3:51:41 PM PDT by Leaning Right (Why am I carrying this lantern? you ask. I am looking for the next Reagan.)
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To: Hunton Peck

“You’re from the National Guard? Well, by order of the president for life, I’m your new commanding general, and I am ordering you to turn your guns onto that unruly and seditious mob of traitorous Tea Party protesters!”

“I said THEM, you ignorant peasants, not ME! Put those guns down immediately! I AM ORDERING YOU TO OBEY ME! OBEY ME!!!”


24 posted on 07/03/2011 4:13:29 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: gorush

Pick a Coast Guard admiral; they’re already used to that role.


25 posted on 07/03/2011 5:19:51 PM PDT by GAB-1955 (I write books, love my wife, serve my nation, and believe in the Resurrection.)
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To: unkus

No problem at all.

I didn’t think I would need the /sarg tag.
:)


26 posted on 07/03/2011 8:23:52 PM PDT by Westbrook (Having children does not divide your love, it multiplies it.)
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To: Westbrook

Oops. Sorry. I was too quick on the draw.


27 posted on 07/03/2011 8:33:58 PM PDT by unkus
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To: LibLieSlayer; Hunton Peck

I went through Katrina in Louisiana. A few miles from New Orleans just over the I 10 twin span. We were flooded out but we had very little trouble. The local authorities acted quickly to the point that two days after it hit the animal control officers were rounding up stray abandoned pets and taking them to a make shift shelter where volunteers were taking care of them until their owners could retrieve them. I always say I might live a few miles from New Orleans but it might as well be a hundred miles.


28 posted on 07/03/2011 9:23:59 PM PDT by BBell
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To: BBell
Or a million miles... new orleans...lbj failed miserably. The rest of your Great State handled itself well... but that mayor, governor and your Senator... sickening what they did and did not do.

LLS

29 posted on 07/03/2011 9:46:07 PM PDT by LibLieSlayer ("GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH"! I choose LIBERTY and PALIN!)
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To: LibLieSlayer

I made a mistake. It was 3 days after Katrina hit when the animal control was picking up pets. My neighborhood was totally flooded, about 7 or 8 feet of water. People who came back immediately were feeding the strays all the stuff they were pulling out of their freezers. It was really nice how people pulled together.


30 posted on 07/03/2011 10:00:46 PM PDT by BBell
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To: Hunton Peck
The officers, called dual-status commanders, would be able to lead both active-duty and National Guard troops — a power that requires special training and authority because of legal restrictions on the use of the armed forces on U.S. soil.

And where, exactly, does this new dual-status legal authority come from?

31 posted on 07/03/2011 10:22:23 PM PDT by Talisker (History will show the Illuminati won the ultimate Darwin Award.)
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To: BBell

Same thing happened over here. People must not equate Louisiana with New Orleans... that was caused ultimately by lbj and his dream of a great society... greatest failure maybe. GOD bless everyone that helped their neighbors and others... Happy 4th to you FRiend.

LLS


32 posted on 07/04/2011 4:59:09 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer ("GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH"! I choose LIBERTY and PALIN!)
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To: Talisker

That’s a very good question. toward the end of the article, there’s some discussion of who would have command over the commanders, and the attempt at an answer amounts to “Umm, the governor, I guess.” At least, I read it as being pretty indefinite on that point.


33 posted on 07/04/2011 10:46:00 AM PDT by Hunton Peck (See my FR homepage for a list of businesses that support WI Gov. Scott Walker)
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