Bush to hear Guard readiness complaints first-hand
RAW STORYPublished: Wednesday May 9, 2007
President Bush is set to hear complaints first-hand that waging war in Iraq has stretched home-front defenses nearly to their breaking point when he visits a tornado-ravaged region of Kansas today.
The head of the Kansas National Guard told CNN this morning that equipment shortages have slowed response times for rescue and recovery efforts in the wake of a devastating tornado that hit Greensburg, Kan. last Friday.
"Absolutely it did hamper us somewhat at the start because half of our humvees are gone, [as were] way, way below half the trucks with trailers we need to haul stuff away from the scene," Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting said on CNN's American Morning. "We're confident it didn't result in any additional loss of life or further damage but we could've been there a lot quicker and on the scene quicker if we had that equipment back at home."
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has complained for years about the risks states face when equipment National Guard units bring to Iraq or Afghanistan for wartime deployments is not replaced when those units return home. Because of the modifications equipment undergoes and the damage it sustains in a war zone, things like trucks, Humvees and other machinery are left on the battlefield to be used by the next rotation of troops.
The White House has strongly contradicted the idea that Kansas is under-prepared, saying National Guard resources can be called in from other states. White House spokesman Tony Snow has blamed Sebelius, who is head of the Democratic Governor's Association, for the shortages, saying replacement equipment was not requested.
President Bush travels to Greensburg today to survey the devastation, and Sebelius said she will take her concerns over guard shortages straight to him.
"I appreciate the President's help, quick response and concern in dealing with the tornado damage in Greensburg," Sebelius said in a written statement released to RAW STORY. "But I will not back down on the issue of replacing our National Guard equipment throughout the country. As Governor and a commander-in-chief, I have a solemn responsibility to protect the people of my state and provide for the men and women of the Kansas Guard."
LinkHere
President Bush is set to hear complaints first-hand that waging war in Iraq has stretched home-front defenses nearly to their breaking point when he visits a tornado-ravaged region of Kansas today.
The head of the Kansas National Guard told CNN this morning that equipment shortages have slowed response times for rescue and recovery efforts in the wake of a devastating tornado that hit Greensburg, Kan. last Friday.
"Absolutely it did hamper us somewhat at the start because half of our humvees are gone, [as were] way, way below half the trucks with trailers we need to haul stuff away from the scene," Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting said on CNN's American Morning. "We're confident it didn't result in any additional loss of life or further damage but we could've been there a lot quicker and on the scene quicker if we had that equipment back at home."
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has complained for years about the risks states face when equipment National Guard units bring to Iraq or Afghanistan for wartime deployments is not replaced when those units return home. Because of the modifications equipment undergoes and the damage it sustains in a war zone, things like trucks, Humvees and other machinery are left on the battlefield to be used by the next rotation of troops.
The White House has strongly contradicted the idea that Kansas is under-prepared, saying National Guard resources can be called in from other states. White House spokesman Tony Snow has blamed Sebelius, who is head of the Democratic Governor's Association, for the shortages, saying replacement equipment was not requested.
President Bush travels to Greensburg today to survey the devastation, and Sebelius said she will take her concerns over guard shortages straight to him.
"I appreciate the President's help, quick response and concern in dealing with the tornado damage in Greensburg," Sebelius said in a written statement released to RAW STORY. "But I will not back down on the issue of replacing our National Guard equipment throughout the country. As Governor and a commander-in-chief, I have a solemn responsibility to protect the people of my state and provide for the men and women of the Kansas Guard."
LinkHere
posted by Kangaroo Brisbane Australia at 4:42 PM
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