The remains of the Greensburg, Kansas High School
The latest dribble from El Rooters. Elsewhere on Free Republic, you can read postings explaining how Governor Kathleen So-BS is full of it.
Posted on 05/08/2007 2:42:39 PM PDT by Zakeet
Critics of the Iraq war said on Tuesday the Bush administration's failure to replenish vital National Guard equipment sent to Iraq caused Kansas to fall short in responding to last week's tornado disaster, and other states were equally vulnerable.
The White House and the Pentagon rebuffed the criticism, saying Kansas and other states had adequate resources that they could share in event of disasters like the Kansas tornado that leveled one small town on Friday and killed 10 in the area.
The debate was ignited by Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, who said on Monday the federal government had failed to replace state National Guard equipment deployed to Iraq and the lack of equipment was hindering rescue and recovery efforts after a weekend of violent weather in the Midwestern state.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
The remains of the Greensburg, Kansas High School
The latest dribble from El Rooters. Elsewhere on Free Republic, you can read postings explaining how Governor Kathleen So-BS is full of it.
I guess then we shouldn’t have fought WWII. I’ll bet the country had some natural disasters then, too.
The National Guard is primarily for defense, not for tidying up after disasters hit. The states are flush with tax dollars right now thanks to the booming economy. Maybe they need to start providing disaster equipment for themselves instead of expecting the US to abbrogate its security needs to turn the military into a well-armed Red Cross.
BY TIM ELFRINK
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
A continuing standoff between Congress and President Bush over Iraq war funding could threaten programs that help soldiers and their families in Nebraska and Iowa, National Guard officials said Tuesday
(snip)
Although the political stalemate shouldn’t directly affect combat operations, it soon could hurt soldiers’ families back home, said Maj. Gen. Roger Lempke, commander of the Nebraska National Guard.
About 97 percent of the Nebraska Guard’s $87.9 million annual budget is federal money that comes through the Defense Department. So is a similar proportion of the Iowa National Guard’s $309 million budget.
If the Pentagon must find other funds for Iraq while Congress and Bush face off, it would probably divert money from state National Guard units, Lempke said.
That could cut funds that pay for everything from training and equipment to support programs for soldiers and their families.
“While this political fight is going on and this funding isn’t available . . . the (Pentagon) is reaching into existing accounts and pulling out money,” said Lempke, who is president of the national association of Guard commanders.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=2376169
Oops this argument by democrats that the war is hurting the National Guard may come back to bite them. Seems that their insistence on troop pullout hurts the Guard funding more.
No, partisan opportunistic Kansas governor renews the debate.
According to Fox News just now, she didn't mean to say what we think she said. She only meant to say that if there were another natural disaster the Kansas National Guard would be stretched.
Brownback said today that he talked to the person in charge of the guard in Kansas, who said they are not stretched.
The Kansas governor should take note of what happened here in Louisiana. Gov. Me-Maw (Blanco) blamed Katrina on President Bush, too. She’s now headed home in shame, a political neuter.
It was only a matter of time before the LSM would blame Bush. It’s almost comical if it weren’t so pathetic.
My prayers go out to all of those families in Greensburg, KS - I can not imagine how devastating it must be to see your whole town wiped out.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Currently, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, and more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand, said Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau. Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is a national partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during governor or federally declared emergencies, Kansas has more than 400,000 Guardsmen available to it, he pointed out. However, Kansas has not yet requested assistance from other states.
National Guard Responds to Kansas Tornado
By Sgt. Sara Wood, USA
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 7, 2007 More than 300 members of the Kansas National Guard have been activated in response to a powerful tornado that almost destroyed the town of Greensburg, Kan., May 4.
Guard members are assisting in search-and-rescue efforts in the wake of the tornado, which was classified as an F-5, the highest rating given by the National Weather Service.
The tornado wiped out much of the small town, knocking out power, water, natural gas and communications. To date, 10 deaths and more than 100 injuries have been reported.
The Kansas National Guard’s 278th Sustainment Brigade has established a joint task force near the incident site. In addition to search-and-rescue efforts, the troops are working on power generation, logistical support, debris clearing, support to law enforcement, supporting establishment of shelters and distribution of food and water.
Currently, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, and more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand, said Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau. Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is a national partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during governor or federally declared emergencies, Kansas has more than 400,000 Guardsmen available to it, he pointed out. However, Kansas has not yet requested assistance from other states.
The National Guard Bureau has offered liaison, operational, communications, contracting, search-and-rescue, public affairs and community relations support, and is prepared to support the governor in any way possible, Noller said.
The National Guard also has been activated in response to other severe weather in the Midwest. In South Dakota, 27 Guardsmen were activated in response to severe storms that moved through the region yesterday, destroying high voltage transmission lines and power poles and leaving several thousand customers without electricity. The Guard troops are transporting water pumps and generators and providing sandbags to prevent flooding.
In response to heavy rainfall last night and today, the Iowa National Guard deployed 47 troops in support of local authorities to assist in sandbagging operations in the city of Red Oak, Iowa. Iowa National Guard troops worked with civilian first responders moving sand, filling sand bags and building temporary dams to mitigate the effects of the rising waters.
Related Sites:
National Guard Bureau
This is of course a great disaster,but one comes along every year in the tornado belt. Perhaps the State should make some preparation for them.
There is not a disaster too great that a Democrat will not politicize!
Thank you GWB for keeping us safe and using the military for military missions ..We are at war ...9/11 happened
Let the great people of Kansas take care of Kansas .
The Illinois Reserve Militia was created in March of 1941 when the ILARNG 33rd Division was called into Federal service on 5 Mar 41. Untill the 33rd Div was inactivated on 3 Feb 46, The IL reserve militia performed the state level duties of the federalized National Guard. This type of force is what the 2nd amendment’s “well regulated militia” refers to.
This is yet another case of a DemocRAT governor attempt6ing to deflect blame from her poor contingincy planning onto George Bush and the Federal government. It is sickening to think that a sovereign US state has to wait for the Feds to give them soft teat to suck and put talcum powder on their backsides before they will prootect their citizenry.
Kanas had a State Guard Force that they inactivated in 1948. maybe they should revive it.
I just looked at your home page, and I wish you luck with your excellent goal of getting more Americans who happen to be black to stop voting Democrat. And thank you for your courageous service to our nation, both in the military and as a civilian.
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