Posted on 04/11/2007 6:55:49 PM PDT by jazusamo
WASHINGTON — Washington Sen. Patty Murray questioned a top general Wednesday on whether National Guard units are adequately prepared to fight the war in Iraq.
Murray, a Democrat and senior member of the Senate Appropriations Defense subcommittee, visited a National Guard base near Tacoma on Monday. She said the "stress and anger" among Guard and Army Reserve members "was at an all-time high."
Guard members are concerned about a lack of equipment and frustrated at the short notice they receive before being called to active duty, Murray said. In many cases they are simply not prepared — mentally or physically — to return to Iraq, she added.
"I'm concerned we are sending people back into conflict, especially with invisible wounds that they can't identify," Murray told the head of the Pentagon's National Guard Bureau during a Defense Appropriations subcommittee hearing.
Because of the short notification period, "those with invisible and visible wounds are not going to be ready to deploy," she said.
The lack of preparation time — in some cases just four weeks — poses significant problems for Guard and Reserve members in obtaining health care, preparing families for their departure and informing employers, Murray said.
Murray and other senators cited a study by the General Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, that found 90 percent of Guard units are not ready for deployment to Iraq due to a lack of training, equipment or rest.
Overall, Guard units in Washington state have a 45 percent shortfall in equipment, said Guard spokesman Lt. Keith Kosik. Washington state has about 8,500 troops in the Air and Army national guards.
Staff Sgt. Daniel Dierickx, of Klamath Falls, Ore., said he has completed three tours in Iraq with the National Guard....
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
The stress that “Osama Mama” Murry saw was the disgust on the faces of troops required to suffer her.
It was Bill Clinton and the Democrat Congress who reappropriated our military budget when the Cold War ended. They called it “the peace dividend”.
It set the policy of using more reserves.
Does Dummy Murray even know there’s a war on?
If there ever was a Stepford Senator, she’s it.
She makes Landreau look like Einstein.
I question Murray’s readiness to be objective and independant.
Jesus. The friggin dems devastate the military over the klinton years and stifle any and all attempts to build it back and then have the audacity to bitch. Someone shud punch her in the damn mouth!
Gawd, these people are traitors in EVERY SENSE!
No truer words ever spoken.
So by them some equipment.
“she makes Landreau look like Einstein.” Oh, dear God help us!
Bryan Suits who has served in the National Guard while in Iraq will tear her to shreds. What a complete idiot~embarrassment she is.
WTH-Strickland (Demo gov of OH) was saying the exact same thing today on the news. What is the plan here?? Sure sounds coordinated—bas!ards
We’re both in dire need of help. :-)
Yes, cow patty murray is a defense expert.
I’ve not the words.
May God save this Republic.
George, wake up. Yes, I’m speaking of G.W. Bush, who is now becoming a non-entity.
Quite frankly, I question her readiness and ability (and that of her voters) to even be a caring human being about anything, let alone our troops. It was her party who cut defense budgets, decimated the CIA - worried about informants’ civil rights, the list is long under Clinton! Give me a break! Her IQ is no doubt equal to a junior bra size.
Thank you, thank you!!
I’ve listened to Brian Suits a few times, he’s great.
I really need to go fishing!
Patty was a lightweight dweeb long before Murtha came along.
That anybody finds their representation in congress through her is embarassing enough.
I’m sure this is a coordinated effort on the Dems part and I’m pretty sure it’s at murtha’s prodding.
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