Congress Likely to Probe Guard Delay

AP ^ | 09/03/2005 | SHARON THEIMER

[GraniteStateConservative]

In fact, the The National Defense Act of 1916 gave the President the authority to mobilize the Guard during war or national emergency and the The National Guard Mobilization Act of 1933 made the National Guard a component of the Army. Who ultimately commands the Army?

[GraniteStateConservative]

In fact, the The National Defense Act of 1916 gave the President the authority to mobilize the Guard during war or national emergency and the The National Guard Mobilization Act of 1933 made the National Guard a component of the Army. Who ultimately commands the Army?

[GraniteStateConservative]

The National Defense Act of 1916 gave the President the authority to mobilize the Guard during war or national emergency and the The National Guard Mobilization Act of 1933 made the National Guard a component of the Army. Who ultimately commands the Army?

[GatorGirl]

That is ridiculous!

This is a state issue unless and until Federal assistance is requested. Note the FOUR hurricanes which hit Florida last year. Everything worked fine and it was because our STATE had a plan to deal with disaster and Federal assistance was requested in a timely fashion. It all comes down to leadership on the state and local level, which was clearly lacking in this case.

You call yourself "GraniteStateConservative" while advocating for Federal interference in a state issue. You say we "knew" what was going to happen. Many hurricanes veer off the predicted path at the last minute (c.f. Hurriciane Charley) or weaken considerably before landfall (c.f. Hurricane Lili). To say Federal resources should have been mobilized in advance of this storm is ludicrous! The state needs to make the preparation and deal with the evacuations and immediate aftermath. Everyone knows you must be prepared for at least three days because that is how long it takes for private and government assistance to reach a stricken area, generally!

I'll say it again, this situation is a total failure of local and state preparation and leadership. The Feds are NOT to blame!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Bush made this a federal issue. Take your complaint up with him. He declared a state of emergency in Louisiana on SATURDAY! He knew what was about to happen to the Gulf. Bush has the authority to mobilize the NG for national emergencies (The National Defense Act of 1916), and a hit to NOLA is a national emergency.

[niteowl77]

You are now reverting to semantics in your pursuit of this line (only after patronizing me with that James Madison remark, I might add).

[tarheelswamprat]

In fact, the The National Defense Act of 1916 gave the President the authority to mobilize the Guard during war or national emergency and the ...

There is no war in New Orleans (despite the violence and looting). There has been no national emergency declared (nor should there be).

The National Guard Mobilization Act of 1933 made the National Guard a component of the Army. Who ultimately commands the Army?

Once again, in this situation, that is irrelevant.

[YaYa123]

You got it right! "The "delay" is because the governor and mayor did NOTHING!"

And any congressional investigation will be designed to cover it up.

[Republican Wildcat]

Hagel again. No surprise.

[Republican Wildcat]

The President commands the NG. Period.

Wrong. Period.

[Rokke]

I'd respond to you, but several other people have already pointed out why you are wrong. I've been a Guard member for the last 8 years in two different states. I am well aware of my chain of command and when I fall under the authority of the President and when I fall under the authority of the Governor. No President has ever taken away a Governor's authority to command his state's National Guard troops in the time of a natural disaster.

[BurtTpa]

The state hurricane control center runs the entire operation. The LA governor delayed until Monday setting up her control center and did not hand out satellite phones to all the parrish control centers . so no communication to the key parrish in the south part of LA.
I should know I am involved in the hurricane operations in Brevard county FL. The marching orders come from the state capital not the feds!
We evacuated nursing home patients for katrina and the storm was 200 miles away !
The scoop I heard from FL officials was LA
governor's office was in inexperienced and in over there heads.

[YaYa123]

BurtTpa, thank you for your # 52

[nmh]

"It says that ultimately Bush had the power to step in and manage the relief efforts. He could have had a plan at the ready to force upon NO/Louisiana once it was clear that Blanco and Nagin weren't up to the task, as well as use the CRAF provision."

The only problem is, is that it is NOT the role of a President to micro manage a city. That is the responsibility of the local government. Now that they have totally screwed up - higher authorities can take over.

[nmh]

"We know (filed docs.) that the Gov. declared SOE on the 28th and requested Fed. assistance.

Did she not request the proper help? If she didn't why didn't someone on the Fed. level help her? "

They didn't request enough help and the mayor and governor did not ENFORSE the evacuation so people died and lawless people took over.

[nmh]

"I got hammered on another thread for saying this very thing."

Sometimes truth isn't pretty.

There is also an element on FR that can't stand the truth.

[DAC21]

"Bush has the authority to mobilize the NG for national emergencies (The National Defense Act of 1916), and a hit to NOLA is a national emergency"


Sure just like Pearl Harbor, line those planes up nice and pretty, like ducks in a barrel. The debate will go on about whether the President had the authority to mobilize the NG, or for that matter the Gov. But should they have been? Have all the resources sitting ready and thus have them wiped out also?

The fact of the matter is the problem was logistics. The Gov. / Mayor and local authority need to be the first responders, and thus communicate with some degree of competence what they need and were they needed it. Time will tell if that happened. And even if it did, getting into the city (other than by helicopter) was without a doubt was a daunting task.

[nmh]

"Well. it seems that Blanco accepted New Mexico's offer of NG assistance already on sunday, but federal red tape was not finished until thursday. This makes no sense at all."

No it doesn't make sense nor do I believe it is accurate.

[sinkspur]

If what you are saying is true, there's a s*itstrom headed Bush's way...

If Bush could have federalized these troops on Tuesday, when the flooding started, you're right.

[DJ MacWoW]

Guard ping