National Guard in Iraq worried state disaster officials - May 2004

[Bluebear]

Guard deployments worry state officials

Rebecca Cook
Associated Press Writer
Posted May 13 2004

SEATTLE -- With so many National Guard troops in Iraq, officials in some states are worried they could be caught short-handed if an emergency flares up at home.

More Guard members are deployed now than have been since the Korean War, about a quarter of the 460,000 nationwide.

Their more frequent and longer overseas deployments "absolutely" affect states' emergency response, said Chris Reynolds, a battalion fire chief in Tampa, Florida, who also teaches disaster management at American Military University.

The effect is critical, Reynolds said, not just because so many National Guard members are gone, but because so many reservists work in public safety and emergency response. "It's the tenure and experience that's missing, and you can't simply fill the hole with someone," Reynolds said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/weather/hurricane/sfl-guardsgone,0,1403237.story?coll=sfla-news-hurricane

[yella_dawg]

1. A close friend

and Austin city cop left today to report to Fort Hood. They took away the tank he commanded and pronounced him light infantry. Supposedly, he will be retrained as a convoy guard before being sent to Iraq. I am so pissed, troubled, and stressed about this I don't know what to say.

He's a freekin' cop. Austin needs him, his wife of one year needs him, his two kids from a previous marriage need him, and dammit, his friends need him. He's a fucking tanker. Not a goddam security guard. This is just too insane.

[Bluebear]

2. I'm sorry for your bud and thank him for his service....

Please let him know there are so many of us working hard to stop this madness.

[Junkdrawer]

3. Sen. Byrd warned of this a year ago...

Remarks by U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd

September 17, 2003

Losing Dollars and Sense in Iraq

......

It should be obvious that we need assistance. The United States cannot even continue to supply the troops to secure Iraq without more help. A recent CBO study which I requested makes it clear that to maintain the level of troops we now have in Iraq will stretch us very thin, should something happen in Korea or elsewhere on this troubled globe. Our National Guard is being asked to stay longer and longer in Iraq to help backfill the shortage in regular troops. These are men and women with jobs and families and key roles to play in their own communities. We cannot continue to utilize their skills in Iraq without suffering the consequences at home. Even now, as a hurricane lurks off of our shores, there are worries about shortages of emergency personnel because so many national guardsmen and women are serving in Iraq.

http://byrd.senate.gov/byrd_speeches/byrd_speeches_2003september/byrd_speeches_2003september_li/byrd_speeches_2003september_li_6.html

[Junkdrawer]

4. Kick

:kick: