Kansas governor says war depleted Guard

[CommunityEditor]

From the article --

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said about half the state’s National Guard trucks are in Iraq, equipment that would be helpful in removing debris. Sebelius, who asked the Pentagon in December to replenish lost resources, said the state also is missing a number of well-trained personnel.

Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the state’s adjutant general, said the Kansas National Guard was equipped to about 40 percent of its necessary levels, down from the 60 percent it had at the start of the war. About 850 soldiers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It just leaves you pretty tight,” he said. “We’re fine for now.”

Bunting said Kansas would be asking National Guard units in other states to send specialized soldiers and equipment to help with the recovery.

Randy Noller, spokesman for the National Guard Bureau, said equipment needs have been an ongoing issue since the war began. He said Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has repeatedly asked Congress for funding to replace equipment being left overseas.

“He assured me that he had additional equipment in his budget a year ago. What the Defense Department said then and continues to say is that states will get about 90 percent of what they had,” Sebelius said.

“The issue for the National Guard is the same wherever you go in the country. Stuff that we would have borrowed is gone. It’s gone across the country,” Sebelius said.

Full article: http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...saster_070508/

What is the status of the Guard across the country? Can they effectively respond to disasters on our own soil or are they too strapped? Is it overseas deployment that is causing a shortage or is it something else? What's your perspective?


Note: This board is for discussion on the readiness of the National Guard, possible shortages and related topics.

Now that Gov. Sebelius has taken a page from Gov. Blanco of Louisiana, and now that her state NG adjutant general has contradicted her - - " We're okay for now!" - - and probably should be looking for a new military job, we should now expect every natural disaster in a state mismanaged by a liberal governor to become a political opportunity and gain a headline criticizing the President of the United States. That's really pulling together, especially during a war!

[milligal]

Everybody is openly aware that the National Guard is not where it needs to be. Why is that? Are they making their quota of new recruits each year? Supposedly they are, it is only logical to reason that the war has an impact on this branch of service.
Yes, people are taking a swing at the President over this, and that's because he lied to us about the reasons for getting into this war. If the President had the backing of the country initiating war with Iraq then their would not be any squabbles over resources, this country would galdly pitch in.

My question is: We are all American citizens, why do we all stand in a circle and start firing rounds at one another when things get difficult? It is what it is, the President's support rating is low nationally and internationally. He's made some very bad choices. How is that the Democrats fault?

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Now that Gov. Sebelius has taken a page from Gov. Blanco of Louisiana, and now that her state NG adjutant general has contradicted her - - " We're okay for now!" - - and probably should be looking for a new military job, we should now expect every natural disaster in a state mismanaged by a liberal governor to become a political opportunity and gain a headline criticizing the President of the United States. That's really pulling together, especially during a war!

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Now that Gov. Sebelius has taken a page from Gov. Blanco of Louisiana, and now that her state NG adjutant general has contradicted her - - " We're okay for now!" - - and probably should be looking for a new military job, we should now expect every natural disaster in a state mismanaged by a liberal governor to become a political opportunity and gain a headline criticizing the President of the United States. That's really pulling together, especially during a war!

Oh yes, let go back to blaming those liberals for the failings of this president. The sheer incompetence of dear George should be a matter of discussion 24 hours a day, war or no war. What makes you think that he cannot be critizied just because we are at war? When are you guys going to stop resorting to that patriotic BS about country or God or THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!? It's HIS war, he repeated the mantra of "I am a war president" at nauseum, well now he has his five year old war and we have a disaster in the Middle East and billions upon billions thrown away, but all you can think about is the governor of Louisiana or Kansas and political opportunism. You sure have your priorities in order!

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by milligal

Everybody is openly aware that the National Guard is not where it needs to be. Why is that? Are they making their quota of new recruits each year? Supposedly they are, it is only logical to reason that the war has an impact on this branch of service.
Yes, people are taking a swing at the President over this, and that's because he lied to us about the reasons for getting into this war. If the President had the backing of the country initiating war with Iraq then their would not be any squabbles over resources, this country would galdly pitch in.

My question is: We are all American citizens, why do we all stand in a circle and start firing rounds at one another when things get difficult? It is what it is, the President's support rating is low nationally and internationally. He's made some very bad choices. How is that the Democrats fault?

Simple, because, according to these right wing apologists, nothing wrong in this country can be blamed on the president BECAUSE WE ARE AT WAR! Don't you get it?

[Shrike]

Originally Posted by Rasputin

<SNIP>
but all you can think about is the governor of Louisiana or Kansas and political opportunism. You sure have your priorities in order!

Maybe they're talking about the governor of Kansas because this thread is titled Kansas governor says war depleted Guard.

I've seen your posts in numerous threads, Rasputin, and let me say "We get it!!! You don't like the president!!!"

You could save everyone here some time, and we could actually stay on topic, if you were to just go start your own thread called "Rasputin hates the President".

[Rasputin]

Originally Posted by Shrike

Maybe they're talking about the governor of Kansas because this thread is titled Kansas governor says war depleted Guard.

I've seen your posts in numerous threads, Rasputin, and let me say "We get it!!! You don't like the president!!!"

You could save everyone here some time, and we could actually stay on topic, if you were to just go start your own thread called "Rasputin hates the President".

Well, it must have taken most of your mental resources to arrive at the conclusion that I don't like this president. Whatever gave you that idea?
If the post is about Kansas depleted National Guard, why get off the subject by blaming "liberals" when we know very well that "liberals" didn't deplete the Guard. Talk about staying on topic! And yes, it's an excellent idea the one you gave me: "Rasputin hates de president", it sounds great, but I'm really torn between hate and contempt, I think I'll use both. Thank you again and have a nice war.

[CommunityEditor]

Update: Guard gear at 60 percent or less in 31 states (http://www.militarytimes.com/news/20...entlow_070614/)