Posted on 05/11/2007 6:12:32 PM PDT by Sleeping Beauty
Sacramento -- As state forestry officials predict an unusually harsh fire season this summer, the California National Guard says equipment shortages could hinder the guard's response to a large-scale disaster.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also acknowledged the National Guard's equipment woes and attributed them to the war. National Guard policy has required that much of the equipment that goes with units to Iraq stays there.
A dearth of equipment such as trucks and radios -- caused in part by the war in Iraq -- has state military officials worried they would be slow in providing help in the event of a major fire, earthquake or terrorist attack.
The readiness of the Guard has been described as a national problem and has become a political liability for the Bush administration, which came under fire this week when the governor of Kansas complained that the National Guard response to a devastating tornado in her state was inadequate. National Guard readiness has become a growing concern as the Guard has taken on extra responsibilities caused by the Iraq war and the increased threat of terrorism.
In California, half of the equipment the National Guard needs is not in the state, either because it is deployed in Iraq or other parts of the world or because it hasn't been funded, according to Lt. Col. John Siepmann.
"A lot of equipment has gone to Iraq, and it doesn't come back when the troops come back,'' Schwarzenegger said Thursday at a news conference in Sacramento, where he was asked about the National Guard. "So this is one thing we have been talking about, how do we get this equipment back as quickly as possible in case we need it, and we also need it for training.''
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The Govs are heaping it on. First Kansas, now California.
Well, if anyone knows how to heap it on, the Gubinator does... and its not all just special effects. ;-)
Arnie got a call from uncle Teddy.....
btw, I’m amazed this country and its states has survived as well as it has o’er the years and the many calamities that have befell it,, ‘til now, that is.
I totally forgot they were related! LOL. Thanks for the reminder.
It occurs to me that waging war and being an emergency response team at home are asking too much of an organization.
Here’s a brilliant idea, let’s elect some more RINOS just so the GOP can have control.
yo Arnoooolllld....SUCK IT UP!!...girly boy
Of course they don’t tell the rest of the story just the half that suits their agenda.
F’ing pressholes.
Dem slamming point of the next few days. Just in time for the Sunday “Talking Head hate fests”
waging war and being an emergency response team at home are asking too much of an organization.
—
Agreed.
The Guard are a catch-all organization of volunteers.
Those who want to see things done differently ought to work to change that situation and not just take cheap pot shots at the issue.
Let me guess....the usual ‘not enough humvees’, right?
Amen!
BOO HOO, BOO HOO
Now Shut the .... Up,
and run your State like an Executive Officer
“Schwarzenegger and other state officials say they are confident the Guard could handle most emergencies, however, noting that about 2,500 guard personnel are deployed overseas out of a force of more than 20,000. “
i.e, ~90% of the personnel are available, as are most of the aircraft used to fight fires. No mention of EMAC, RFAs (requests for assistance) or other ways to pick up the miniscule slack.
and, the last time I checked, the Guard is in existence to deploy, fight and win the nation’s wars. If you want firefighters, hire firemen.
Bottom line: HOOOEY!
was he told to say this too
Hey Arnold........that stance wasn’t a winner in Kansas, and I doubt it’ll go over that great in outstate CA. Just in SF and la la land.
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