Destroying the National Guard (who should be all over Florida)

[donsu]

http://www.antiwar.com/lind/?articleid=3651

The unit knew it would soon be shipped to the front. Some soldiers responded by deserting. Others got drunk and fought. In response, officers locked the unit in its barracks, allowing the troops out only to drill, not even to smoke a cigarette, until it could be put on the transport that would take it into combat.

It sounds as if I am describing some third echelon Soviet infantry regiment in, say, 1942. In fact, I am talking about the 1st Battalion of the 178th Field Artillery Regiment, South Carolina National Guard, in September 2004. According to a front-page story in the Sept. 19 Washington Post, the unit was disintegrating even before it was deployed to Iraq. One shudders to think what will happen once it gets there and finds itself under daily attack from skilled enemies it cannot identify.

One of the likely effects of the disastrous war in Iraq will be the destruction of an old American institution, the National Guard. Desperate for troops as the situation in Iraq deteriorates, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld is using the National Guard in a mission for which it was never intended: carrying on a "war of choice" halfway around the world. Most Guardsmen enlisted expecting to help their neighbors in natural disasters, or perhaps maintain order locally in the event of rioting. They never signed up for Vietnam II.

-snip-

What the Washington elite that wages cabinet wars does not understand, or care about, is the vital role the National Guard plays on the state and local levels. Once the Guard has been destroyed, who will provide the emergency services communities need when disaster strikes? One would think that in a so-called "war against terror," where the danger to the American homeland is readily acknowledged, someone in the nation's capital would care about the local first line of defense.
-snip-
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[StClone]

1. Mother Nature vs Bush

This should get big air time. Bush's war in Iraq caused Americans to needlessly suffer because the Guard was not there to help out in Florida. You know it is happening but it seems to get little air play.

[stellanoir]

2. Why the exportation of the forces

who signed up to help us domestically, ("one weekend a month, my butt") is not seen as an enormous threat to our national security, I'll never understand.

Take that "security moms!!!" How secure will you feel when your kids are drafted to fight an unwinnable war. . .?

Excuse but I'm really irked about the illusion of *'s "great warrior against terrorism" ruse, when all he has done is incite more of it.

Arghhhhh

[speedoo]

3. I think Kerry will hammer on this Thursday nite.

A great way to hammer shrub on the Iraq incompetence AND local Florida issues.

And then link it to weakened security at home.

Is this a gold-plated issue or what?

[andyhappy]

5. correctamundo

but ninja please....Kerry is going to spell it out sideways and backwards whilst Bush plain speaks his ass into knots.

Saw a Kerry snippet last night on the daily show and for the life of me I do not understand why he can't speak more plain.

The repugs are winning because you will never go broke by underestimating the general public. Mud slinging works. Its ugly but simple.

oi!

(I am responding because I can relate to your last statement)

AAAARRRRGHGHGHGHGHGH!

I feel like I am taking crazy pills!

[Mr E McSquare]

4. florida

while hammering away about the lack of guard troops to help out in floriduh dont forget to include how republinazis are ok with all that BIG GOVERNMENT MONEY when the state gets run over by a hurricane.
FEMA to the rescue! the first word in FEMA is federal.