Iraq and Katrina linked
By Red State CPO Posted in User Blogs — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
The Independent Newspaper in the United Kingdon published an article today, saying the war in Iraq caused the slow response by U.S. military to the relief efforts of Hurricane Katrina.
The entire article can be read at http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article316682.ece, but here are a few exerps that really got to me thinking this article was "cooked" by the Independent.
"Another major factor in the delayed response to the hurricane aftermath was that the bulk of the Louisiana and Mississippi National Guard was deployed in Iraq."
This statement is not supported by the facts. 3,000 of 11,000 members of the Louisiana National Guard and 4,000 of 13,000 members of the Mississippi National Guard were deployed to Iraq, leaving more than 17,000 National Guardsmen for hurricane relief efforts. This does not constitute the "bulk" of troops as they said the report stated.
"Failure to plan, and train properly has plagued US efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq and now that failure has come home to roost in the United States."
This sounds more like a democratic talking point than a paper that was suppose to have been written by a former professor of the U.S. Army's War College and an adviser to the Pentagon.
After reading this article, this sounds more and more like "Bush Bashing" from the liberal UK media, who doesn't like war in Iraq or the President and will use any means necessary to create more negative press.
...this is parts of an email I sent to friends a couple of weeks ago -
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20050909-113107-3180r.htm
[...]But taking a cue from prominent black leaders, Rep. Charles B. Rangel, New York Democrat, put the blame on Mr. Bush and his record as commander in chief. "Thepresident's policies in Iraq contributed to the slow response of federal troops who should have been on alert even before the hurricane struck."
"Now, as bedlam reigns in New Orleans, 35 percent of Louisiana's and 37 percent of Mississippi's National Guard troops are in Iraq. The hurricane is clear evidence of how the war directly affects the domestic security of our country," he said [...]
According to Rep. Rangel the Guard is being misused in our GWOT. That if only they weren't in Iraq, then things would have been much different in New Orleans.
Below is taken from the National Guard Chief's website -
http://www.ngb.army.mil/chief/
Top Three Priorities of the National Guard:
1. The National Guard's number one priority is the security and defense of our homeland, at home and abroad.
- The National Guard's second priority is to support the Global War on Terrorism here and abroad.
- America insists on a relevant, reliable and ready National Guard that is transformed for the 21st Century.
The fact of the matter is that very few, if any, states would be able to stand up a Guard unit without the significant contributions of DoD. Suffice it to say, about the best they would be able to field would be a glorified paramilitary force.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/arng-la.htm
[...]The National Guard of the United States is the only component of the Armed Forces with a dual federal - state role . The Guard is organized, trained and equipped to be available in times of national emergency, upon the call of the President. It can also be called upon by the Governor for state duty, to preserve peace and order and protect life and property in the event of natural disasters or civil disturbances. The federal Government is responsible for equipping, training and paying the Guardsmen (except the state pays them for active state duty). The state is also responsible for providing Guard personnel and training facilities.Today's Louisiana Army and Air National Guard consists of 74 units spread among 43 cities and towns of the state and numbers some 11,500 Army and Air Guardsmen. As a result of various reorganizations the present Army Guard is composed of a State Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 204th Area Support Group, the 256th Separate Infantry Brigade, the 225th Engineer Group and various Medical, Maintenance, Aviation, Military Police, Armored Cavalry and Special Forces units and the 156th Army Band.[...]
(according to Rangel's numbers, that left 7400 guardsmen in LA)
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050830/NEWS01/5
08300352/1002/NEWS
Shreveport Times
State's military presence aids in storm relief
While some Guard members fight in Iraq, others battle elements.
August 30, 2005
By John Andrew Prime
[...]In June long before the 2005 hurricane season shifted into overdrive, the state military's second-in-command, Brig. Gen. Hunt Downer,(note: I wonder what this guy was doing after Blanco was melting down and before LtGen Honore showed up. There is also an Adjutant General. However, it is common for them to be political appointees, though they are supposed to have attained at least the rank of LtCol in either the regular or guard force.) told The Times the Louisiana Army National Guard was practiced and ready to handle the big storms.
"We have enough troops remaining here in the state," Downer said. "We've always done that. And as in all cases, we move troops around to meet where the need's going to be. Not many really appreciate and understand the uniqueness of the National Guard, (that) we have a dual mission."
The Louisiana National Guard had called almost 3,500 of its members to state active duty as of 7 a.m. Monday to help with missions that ranged from aiding law enforcement agencies with traffic control and security to conducting searches and rescues and providing generator support. Guard members conducted security and screening at the emergency shelter at the New Orleans Superdome, and elsewhere helped state police with evacuations.[...]
According to the above column, Gov. Blanco, on August 29th, hadn't even called up 50% of her Guard assets. How desperate did she think the situation was? She must have thought that was an adequate amount. Then why should FEMA or the President have thought there would be a need for a mass mobilization of regular forces, or assistance from Guard units from other states. Which, oh, by the way, Blanco needed to request anyway - Governor to Governor. If the President had called them up, he would have had to Federalize them first.
I'm really tired of this whole thing that using the Guard in Iraq and the GWOT is somehow shortchanging the states' ability to respond to emergencies. The states wouldn't even have guard units if not for the federal government.
Something else that the left is conveniently forgetting. During the Clinton administration, when they were slashing the defense budget so they could balance the federal budget, a lot of Army and Air Force roles were pushed down to the Guard level. It's cheaper that way. And granted, some of it makes sense. You don't need as many MP's, Civil Affairs, strategic bombers, etc. in peace as you need when you're fighting a war. But, when that war comes, then those Guardsmen are going to be full timers .
So, the states have those guard units to use when the DoD doesn't need them. But, DoD has first dibs.
o/t - I hope this isn't too long of a posting for the comments secton
The troop deployment assertion versus the actual numbers caught my eye also.
I wouldn't put it past the Independent to "cook" this story, but of course this is a "leaked" report anyway so who knows what it really says or what the motivations of the author(s) may be.
If the officals of Louisiana and/or Mississippi knew, or even suspected, that they couldn't adequately respond to major storms with their Guard at he current deployment level then they had an obligation to say so. If the President and/or Pentagon wasn't listenting then the Governors can easily call a press conference and speak their minds. These public officials are supposed to be responsible for the conduct of their states and the safety and security of their citizens. But somehow this stuff always comes out after the fact.
At the end of the day it sounds a bit "too convenient."