Iraq hampers Kansas tornado response

Does anyone on here remember the "good ol' days" when a young guy from Texas could hide out in the National Guard and avoid "the war"?

Or how about when the NATIONAL Guard was stationed within the NATIONAL borders, so as to have the ability to actually GUARD it?

Heckova Job Commander Guy!

Just wondering when Republics will blame the victims of the Greensburg, KS tornado for building their homes in Tornado Alley. You had no problem blaming the victims of the natural disaster in New Orleans

I take issue with "Americans Against Escalation". In my opinoin the National Guard has a duty to protect our shores from within the country or outside its boarders. If the threat comes from outside our boarders, the guard needs to respond by assisting the active and reserve forces of our military. Personally every citizen should serve some time in the military especially congresstional members.

I believe the reason we're loosing the Iraq War is the Medias commentary and reporting of the war. Rarely does one read about President Bush's war accopmplishments. As in the VietNam War, the media has turned the country against the war effort. We need to win!

The Guard is needed in the war effort. Kansas can obtain support from private enterprises and neighboring states all they have to do is ask.

VietNam Vet

Here is a non-prtsisan assessment given to the U.S House of Representatives last month as reported by Air Force Times

"We have seen the readiness of our units here at home decline over time, to the point today where it severely limits our ability to fill our homeland security mission, that of the Department of Defense’s first responders to a domestic disaster,” said Air National Guard Maj. Gen. Terry Scherling, the Air National Guard Bureau’s joint staff director."

The article continues that Scherlings assessment was in agreement with findings made by the GAO.

The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, reached a similar conclusion earlier this year, and a report by the independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves warned in a March 1 report that the Guard has been worn out by combat missions and needs replacement equipment and time to rest and retrain to be ready to respond to natural disasters or other domestic operations.

Here is a link to the AFT article.
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/04/military_guard_readiness_070425w/

It is also interesting to note that the emergency
appropriations bill vetoed by the President last week included funds for beefing up federal response to natural disasters.
While that money would not have made a difference in the Kansas disaster, it remains to be seen if the additional appropriations will survive the
fight between the President and the Congress
over the emergency spending bill.

I believe the reason we're loosing the Iraq War is the Medias commentary and reporting of the war. Rarely does one read about President Bush's war accopmplishments.

Posted by: John Kostelny | May 7, 2007 1:02:21 PM

What are these "accomplishments" you speak of? More than 3,300 dead Americans and countless Iraqis? Electricity and services in Iraq WORSE than before we invaded? Billions of missing taxpayer dollars? A government on the verge of collapse?

Rarely does one read about President Bush's war accopmplishments.

Posted by: John Kostelny | May 7, 2007 1:02:21 PM

Remarkable! You complain about accomplishments not being mentioned and you can't even name one accomplishment. You just make an empty statement attacking the media.

Where are the hearty souls I knew as 'Kansans' or as real 'Americans' when I was growing up? When real Americans have a problem, other real Americans work together with them and we overcome. Real Americans don't have to spend all of their time being critical of others -- especially our President.

Can we just use ad-lib headlines from now on? It'd save a lot of time and effort.

Headline: "IRAQ HAMPERS (insert social, economic, foreign policy, or moral issue here)"

Article: "Republicans say 9/11, 9/11 terr'r'rist, abortion, gays, 9/11, terr-r-rist. Democrats counter global warming, neocon agenda, civil rights, beware the corporatocracy."

Photo Caption: "President Bush calls you a quitter and America-hater"

Where are the hearty souls I knew as 'Kansans' or as real 'Americans' when I was growing up? When real Americans have a problem, other real Americans work together with them and we overcome. Real Americans don't have to spend all of their time being critical of others -- especially our President.

Posted by: Phyl | May 7, 2007 1:12:59 PM

"Some" say that Phyl hates America.

Phyl writes: "Real Americans don't have to spend all of their time being critical of others -- especially our President."

Yes, "real Americans" like you. Uh huh. Did you say the same thing when Bill Clinton was in office? Did you leap to his defense when anyone criticized him?

Have you ever heard of the Bill of Rights?

Quite frankly I think that all of you are totally disgusting and poor excuses for human beings in using the horrible tragedy in Greensburg, Kansas to further your anti-war sentiments. How have we gotten to the point that we think it is the governments job to take care of everything. You can't compare the Kansas tornado to Katrina and you certainly can't compare the people in this midwestern town to the citizens of New Orleans who think it is the duty of the federal government to take care of everything for them. The people of New Orleans had days of warning and were told to leave. Greensburg had 20 minutes. This is a mentality problem not a military problem.

Nice going Phyl - once again the old Republican thought of blame the victims.

John K. - I think if you ask most members of the Guard, they would say that their first job is helping out in their own communities - not having their equipment sent to Iraq. Why should Kansas rely on neighboring states?? And what should the media say - the 3,000+ soldiers died of old age, or getting hit by a bus while crossing the street?

"How have we gotten to the point that we think it is the governments job to take care of everything."

Umm, so the government shouldn't help the people of Greensburg ,Dorothy? Otr is it only the people of NOLA that you don't want to help?

Phyl,

Real Americans went to the polls this past fall and told our chimp-in-a-flight-suit that we as a country wanted change. What does your fearless, war-dodging President do? He ignores the will of the American people...AGAIN! You think there's any wonder why this schmuck has the lowest approval rating of any modern president? Phyl, its enablers like you that still believe this man can lead our nation. You, unfortunately, are what's wrong with this country. Another conservative who once again puts party above nation. I for one, am sick of that mentality which is destroying America.

As much as we'd all like to help the people of Greensburg, I imagine the states bordering on Kansas have the same problem--their equipment and their National Guard is overseas, fighting the Commander Guy's war.

BTW, I just gave blood to be shipped to Greensburg to help the injured. I hope they can find a way to get it there.

Can Bush Derangement Syndrome go any lower than Sibelius just did?

The people of New Orleans had days of warning and were told to leave. Greensburg had 20 minutes. This is a mentality problem not a military problem.

Posted by: Dorothy from Kansas | May 7, 2007 1:37:53 PM

Dorothy from Kansas,
I'll say this as clearly as I can. In both disasters homes and possessions were ruined. Even if the people who died in New Orleans evacuated, their homes and possessions would still have been ruined.

`I take issue with "Americans Against Escalation". In my opinoin the National Guard has a duty to protect our shores from within the country or outside its boarders. If the threat comes from outside our boarders, the guard needs to respond by assisting the active and reserve forces of our military. Personally every citizen should serve some time in the military especially congresstional members.`

Posted by: John Kostelny | May 7, 2007 1:02:21 PM

The National Guard exists for a reason: to guard national borders... from the INSIDE, to take care of problems that happen WITHIN our borders. The Navy/Marines/Army/US Coast Guard all exist for a REASON, or did you forget that?

----------

`Quite frankly I think that all of you are totally disgusting and poor excuses for human beings in using the horrible tragedy in Greensburg, Kansas to further your anti-war sentiments. How have we gotten to the point that we think it is the governments job to take care of everything.`

Posted by: Dorothy from Kansas | May 7, 2007 1:37:53 PM

You've done a commendable job of bringing yourself down to their level of mentality. That is, the mentality of people who can't focus too well without their prescription medication and are thus addicted to it. That loss of focus is how we've gotten to the point where we think that it's the government's job to take care of everything, because it's constantly advertised that it's the government that takes care of Medicaid, and that's what most people give a snoot about: staying sane no matter the cost. Don't try to hide it, everyone knows about it, there's no use anymore to pull the wool over everyone's eyes when it's clear as day out, regardless of the weather conditions.

----------

Now, if Bush would kindly bring the National Guardsmen home and start getting some REAL security work done, then perhaps the nice people of Greensburg might be able to enjoy some real Homeland Security.

Bruce,
Read the AFT article linked to in my post above. Do you consider Air Force Times a leftist publication
afflicted with BDS?

Although we reap the benefits of having the National Guard around when deployment overseas is not necessary, I'd like to remind people that their primary role is to keep us prepared to go to war.

From the National Guard's official webiste:

"Throughout the 19th century the size of the Regular Army was small, and the militia provided the bulk of the troops during the Mexican War, the early months of the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War. In 1903, important national defense legislation increased the role of the National Guard (as the militia was now called) as a Reserve force for the U.S. Army. In World War I, which the U.S. entered in 1917, the National Guard made up 40% of the U.S. combat divisions in France; in World War II, National Guard units were among the first to deploy overseas and the first to fight."

My feeling is that to use the tornados in Kansas as another point against the war trivializes the event as a whole and takes our attention away from what we should be focusing on - which is helping those in need after this unfortunate event. To criticize the war's use of the National guard from the perspective of taking away resources from Kansas is similar to saying that American Idol's charity drive is responsible for taking resources away from Kansas' rebuild process because it used up charitable donations for another cause.

Can Bush Derangement Syndrome go any lower than Sibelius just did?

Posted by: Bruce | May 7, 2007 3:07:08 PM

Where was Sebelius wrong Bruce? Is the equipment not in Iraq? Woul;d the response not be better with the equipment than without?

Another thing people may want to question is why the United States government turned down almot 1 BILLION dollar worth of foreign aid for Katrina!

"Umm, so the government shouldn't help the people of Greensburg ,Dorothy? Otr is it only the people of NOLA that you don't want to help?"

Great counter point GW Tony!

Put words in her mouth and make a totally rediculous statement that is off the subject.

Typical.

"It didn’t take long for Sebelius’s comment to be used by opponents of Bush’s surge strategy."

Yeah, today at 11:53 CDT.

Nice job Frank James.

How soon before the tornado is linked to Global Warming?

Why must (the love of) money always be the focus of attention? Just like someone already mentioned, why can't we focus on the real situation at hand? People need help.

I just don't understand why everyone insists on "making a buck" on someone else's misfortunes. The red tape of political correctness shouldn't get involved with ANY natural disaster; i.e., formal letters must be written before any help, greater than an a pick-up truck, arrives.

Put yourself in their shoes, they need help now, not 2 or more weeks later.

James-

From The Kansas Army National Guard Web site-

"The National Guard has a unique dual mission that consists of both Federal and State roles. For state missions, the governor, through the state Adjutant General, commands Guard forces. The governor can call the National Guard into action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, fires, earthquakes or civil disturbances."

A dual mission, that the Kansas Army National Guard is incapable of fulfilling one half of its role due to the demands of the other half. Disaster response isn't something the ANG is only supposed to do if it has extra time, it is a co-equal mission.

JD-

Dorothy's quotes-

"How have we gotten to the point that we think it is the governments job to take care of everything."

"You can't compare the Kansas tornado to Katrina and you certainly can't compare the people in this midwestern town to the citizens of New Orleans who think it is the duty of the federal government to take care of everything for them."

She sure seems to be questioning the role of the Government in national disasters, doesn't she?

As you may or may not know, the terr'r'rists now have the ability to alter weather patterns and play god - effectively creating "weather of mass destruction" with the press of a button in order put a jihad on the real Amer'cans. If we pull out, katrina will look like childs play.

How soon before the tornado is linked to Global Warming?
Posted by: JD | May 7, 2007 4:11:09 PM

Well, it was one of 90 sighted that day. Then there were a lot more the next. Yeah, I'd say climate change was partly responsible.

This is how America is sacrificing for the Iraq War, on the down low; indirectly without accountability. Lose civil protection, lose Medicare, lose fire and police protection; It's all unspoken, unaccounted, more fee increases for National Parks and Forests usage.

No blame, just a further degradation of American life.

The Iraq War has degraded our existence for the next two decades minimum. These are costs for which The Base never accounts.

OMG The Commander Guy Mr Flight Suit Foul Up In
Chief Decider George W Bush must have taken a
whole page out of former Sec of Defense Donald
Duckie Dumbsfeld Play Book,like the one that says,"Sometimes You Have To Deal With Tornados
and Hurricanes With The National Guard You Have,
Not The National Guard You Want!" Impeach Nutty
Nancy Pelosi and then Impeach Deranged Draft Dodger Dirty Dickey Cheney and Above All Impeach
The Commander Guy George W Bush as that will take
care of all these problems real fast! Yep as usual "Your Doing Aheckofa Job Here Commander Guy!"

You know, the NG is not actually a federal funded cleanup crew.

Perhaps the voters should ask why a state doesn't have a plan years after the war has taken their easy option away.

BTW- Are all 'anti' groups ghouls? The VT shooting, this tornado. The 'anti' groups don't even wait for the funerals before using these events as their big chance for publicity.

Perhaps the neighboring states will aid with equipment and manpower when they get their own back from Iraq.

WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD. IF THE GUARD WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR DUBYA IN THE 70,s THEN WHY NOT NOW. WHAT A SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS THIS COUNTRY IS IN.

Kansas is Devastated by a Tornado...

And where are the state's emergency equipment and its National Guardsmen?

Well, they're not in Kansas anymore, Toto.

Thanks, Mr. President.

"In Kansas, the governor said the state’s response was limited by the shifting of emergency equipment, such as tents, trucks and semitrailers, to the war in Iraq."

...“Not having the National Guard equipment, which used to be positioned in various parts of the state, to bring in immediately is really going to handicap this effort to rebuild,” Sebelius said.

John Kostelny, Viet Nam Vet. John, do you realize that we have been getting our ass kicked for four years in Iraq. Bush has failed,our generals have failed, our civilian leaders have failed. Bush has no war acconplishments. C. Perry Korea Veteran.

"You know, the NG is not actually a federal funded cleanup crew."

Actually, yes it is.

The National Guard has 2 co-equal missions, their state mission and their national mission.

"Well, it was one of 90 sighted that day. Then there were a lot more the next. Yeah, I'd say climate change was partly responsible"

Thanks Cheryl. I knew I'd find at least one.

NO Tony,
I believe her main point was comparing the citezens and circumstances of both areas.

A bit of a stretch to claim that she doesn't think the Govt. should help NO.

JD,
What do you believe contributes to more frequent and more destructive natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, and cyclones? Homosexuality? Chance? Ever heard of the scientific method?

Kansas has 88 percent of its state Guard forces available, and 83,000 Guardsmen from neighboring states are also on the ready should the state request their assistance, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Tuesday, citing National Guard Bureau statistics.

According to Whitman, the Kansas Guard have available 352 Humvees, 94 cargo trucks, 72 dump trucks, 62 five-ton trucks, 13 medium-haul trucks and trailers and 152 2 1/2-ton trucks, a surplus, he noted.

How much more do the Democrats need to be happy? If my house burned down tomorrow, it would suck. But the president wouldn't come out. Instead, I'd go stay with my brother, call my insurance company, and wait it out until my house got rebuilt. All the Democrats know is a free handout.