DNC: Is Kansas Another Katrina?

[bigtree]

May 8, 2007 at 02:35 PM
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On Monday, we reported that in the aftermath of a killer tornado that ripped through Greensburg, Kansas, Governor Kathleen Sebelius said that the rebuilding effort would be hampered because 60% of the state’s National Guard equipment is now in Iraq.

Today White House spokesman Tony Snow blamed Governor Sebelius for not "following procedure" in requesting additional National Guard equipment:

"As far as we know, the only thing the governor has requested are FM radios. There have been no requests to the National Guard for heavy equipment...We are eager to provide what Kansas needs. But...you also have to go through the process of making the request first."

Snow added, "I’m not aware of any prior complaints," from the governor on the issue of National Guard readiness for emergencies.

Now it turns out that Governor Sebelius, a Democrat, had asked the Bush administration on multiple occasions to replace missing National Guard equipment in Kansas. Hat tip to ThinkProgress for the following timeline, with some modifications:

– Dec. 30, 2005: Sebelius writes to Rumsfeld requesting new equipment. "The Guard was critical to responding to recent blizzards and floods in Kansas, yet its ability to respond to similar situations is being diminished by a lack of equipment," wrote Sebelius. Included with her letter was a list of equipment Kansas had lost to the Iraq war.

–Jan. 2006: Sebelius personally urges Bush to increase National Guard funding. In a one-hour motorcade ride in Kansas with Bush, Sebelius expressed concern about "a reduction of National Guard troop strength in its next budget." Bush assured her he was "dealing" with the shortages.

-Feb. 2006: Sebelius signs letter from National Governors' Association asking Bush administration to replace missing National Guard equipment. "Governors of both parties said Sunday that Bush administration policies were stripping the National Guard of equipment and personnel needed to respond to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, forest fires and other emergencies."

–June 28, 2006: Sebelius sends Army Secretary list of equipment lost in war. In a meeting with Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey, Sebelius told Harvey that the state had lost about $140 million in National Guard equipment to the Iraq war. Her office then sent him a list of the lost equipment.

–Sept. 2006: Sebelius lobbies for replacement of National Guard equipment sent to Iraq. "Kansas' congressional delegation, Sebelius and governors from around the country have been lobbying the Pentagon for increased funding to replace National Guard equipment that has been left in Iraq or damaged beyond repair after repeated use in war."


Tens of thousands of National Guard members have been sent to Iraq since the start of the war, along with much of the equipment needed to deal with natural disasters and terrorist threats in the United States.

The Government Accountability Office reported back in January that out of 300 types of equipment needed in natural disasters, the Guard had fewer in all categories than it did in 2001, before the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.


http://www.democrats.org/a/2007/05/is_kansas_anoth.php

[Jim__]

1. We know the MSM will report on Snow's statement.

Will they show the timeline of the governor's requests?

[RL3AO]

2. They dont compare.

Katrina devistated an entire region, mainly a city of 500,000. Greensburg is a small town and was the only city affected, unlike Katrina where coastal LA, MS, and AL were affected.

[bigtree]

3. If you read the piece, the comparison is in the defenses the WH is offering

. . . leveled against yet another governor who had been repeatedly petitioning for more resources:

Snow: "I’m not aware of any prior complaints," from the governor on the issue of National Guard readiness for emergencies.

[deutsey]

5. Right. In that respect, it's the same damn pattern.

Which just goes to prove (as if we needed any further proof) that their non-response to Katrina was not an anomaly. This is how they use disasters and people dying and suffering to play political games.

I think we should rename the GOP the Repugnant Party.

[atommom]

4. Bush did at least acknowledge the Kansas disaster right away.

But as for ignoring repeated warnings and requests ... it's business as usual for the Bush White House.

[Bake]

6. Much much smaller scale, obviously

But BushCo can f*** up a smaller disaster, too!

Bake

[lpbk2713]

7. Snowjob's *I am not aware* ....

is the same as Gonzo's *I don't recall.*

[Cha]

8. Poor ol' tony snow..

he's really not "aware" of too much. Ya couldn't be and be the bushites press sec.

O well, let the fuckers get in a fight with Kansas..I'm sure it won't be the last state that will suffer cause the deceiver sent their National Guard to the personal Hellhole he created in Iraq.

[lies and propaganda]

9. Hardly.

I see what youre saying in the regard that the gov doesnt give a fuck but Katrina drowned an American city. A city that is little different today. Kansas already has their goddamned Fema trailers.

[bigtree]

10. This complaint is about the WH assertion that they 'weren't aware' of prior complaints from the Guv

like they asserted in the wake of Katrina