(CA) Governor tells Pentagon to return Guard gear

[RamboLiberal]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told Bush administration officials Monday that he is tired of the Pentagon treating the California National Guard like a stepchild by using its equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan without returning or replacing it.

The Republican governor, in a visit to Washington for the annual meeting of the National Governors' Association, said the California National Guard is missing about half of its equipment - from humvees to radios. That could leave California at risk in an earthquake, fire or other emergency, Schwarzenegger said.

"It's not fair to the states for the federal government to go into a war and then to take from us the equipment," he said after meetings Monday with President Bush and Cabinet officials. "Every time our National Guard leaves, they take with them equipment but they don't bring it back."

Other governors have also complained about the drain of equipment. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, said last May that her state's response to a tornado in the town of Greensburg was limited because 15 of the Kansas National Guard's 19 Black Hawk helicopters were overseas, along with trucks, bulldozers and other equipment.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/26/MN29V8FHL.DTL

[Taverner]

1. And other Democrats ask why I like Arnie

As far as Republicans go, Arnie is one of the better ones.

[bahrbearian]

4. Arnie is so original,, following a woman.

Other governors have also complained about the drain of equipment. Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, said last May that her state's response to a tornado in the town of Greensburg was limited because 15 of the Kansas National Guard's 19 Black Hawk helicopters were overseas, along with trucks, bulldozers and other equipment.

[Taverner]

5. Hey I didn't say he was great

I just said as far as Republicans go, he's one of the better ones...

Thank goodness for RINO's!

[Tempest]

12. He's just trying to get re-elected

If he really cared about the equipment, he would have spoken up during last year's fire season when the lack of equipment was obvious.

[pocoloco]

2. Tell 'em keep the gear

and return the troops!

[hunter]

3. He should ask for our soldiers back too.

A real man would stand up against the machine.

[Hydra]

6. I never thought I'd see Arnie barking at the Chimp

But I guess no one likes it when you steal from them.

Get that you RW nutcases? BUSH IS STEALING FROM YOU TOO!

[EFerrari]

8. The Grope and Junior have never had any love lost between them. n/t

[pinto]

7. Good points. I assume Governors and National Guards across the country

are in the same boat.

[eyesroll]

9. I don't use my stepchild's equipment without returning it or replacing it.

What on earth does that even mean?

[RC]

10. It means the National Guard is not US Military to be used as the CIC see fit.

The National guard and their equipment is under the control of the Governor of each state and normally the Governor has to give permission before they can be used in the US escapades overseas. Such was not the case this time.

[MadMaddie]

11. OOOOOhhhh....say it louder......it's so true * has bankrupted

each states National Guard.