National Guard chief: Overseas missions left forces short much-needed gear

[TacticalPeek]

Guard units stretched thin
National Guard chief: Overseas missions left forces short of much-needed gear

Stephen J. Hedges, Washington Bureau
Published September 17, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The deployment of nearly 50,000 National Guard troops from 50 states as part of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort has exposed debilitating equipment shortages in a force already stretched thin by three years of deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, head of the National Guard, said in an interview that the needs of Guard units overseas have left troops at home without modern communications and night vision equipment, as well as the vehicles necessary for Guard troops to traverse neighborhoods flooded in the wake of Katrina.

"Communications was the biggest challenge," Blum said of the Guard's post-hurricane performance. "You can't respond if you don't know what the situation is out there."

Most of the Guard's satellite phones--essential during the power and cell phone service outages caused by Katrina--are with troops in Iraq. Indeed, Blum said, the Guard's best equipment is overseas, causing shortages for disaster relief efforts in this country. The heavy reliance on National Guard and Reserve units by active-duty military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan has become a concern in Congress, where lawmakers have questioned whether Guard forces are receiving the proper training and equipment for combat operations.


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"These guys get the hand-me-downs," said John Pike, a military analyst with GlobalSecurity.org. "And some of these units are turning into just bunches of guys. I think between the flipping of equipment and the wearing out of equipment and being under-strength, I don't know how much more you could take as a force."


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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0509170141sep17,1,2047669.story?coll=chi-news-hed





What else would one expect with an AWOL cocaine addict in charge, who needs to be told when to pee???

[rodeodance]

1. so, the phones went to Iraq along with the copters!!

.....Most of the Guard's satellite phones--essential during the power and cell phone service outages caused by Katrina--are with troops in Iraq. Indeed, Blum said, the Guard's best equipment is overseas, causing shortages for disaster relief efforts in this country. The heavy reliance on National Guard and Reserve units by active-duty military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan has become a concern in Congress, where lawmakers have questioned whether Guard forces are receiving the proper training and equipment for combat operations.

[rodeodance]

2. we do not need the military--we just needed our fully equiped Nat. Guard.

[merci_me]

3. We need a leader with experience in emergency management

Politicians have been a dismal failure. You can have your senate staff give you clif notes and then check with your lobbyist contributers and make a choice between a)yes oand b)no.

OTOH Wes Clark held together the interests of 19 nations. He knows what needs to be done and how to make it happen.


Press Release Source: Nextel Communications Inc.
General Wesley Clark, Former NATO Commander of U.S. Allied Forces, Discusses Emergency Preparedness Communication
Tuesday June 14, 9:12 am ET

Critical Texas Homeland Security Communications Needs Addressed by National, State and Local Public Safety Officials

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 14, 2005--Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL - News) today hosted a conference in Houston devoted to improving interoperable communications and emergency preparedness. The conference highlighted the vital role of communication in overall public safety and homeland security in Texas and focused on the day-to-day and emergency communications needs facing police, fire, emergency management and other public safety and health officials. More than 200 Texas homeland security, public safety, education and public health officials attended.

The conference addressed interoperability - the idea that public safety officials must have the ability to easily manage and directly connect with one another through reliable and secure communications regardless of agency, jurisdiction or department. Speakers included General Wesley Clark, Partner, James Lee Witt Associates and Former NATO Commander of U.S. Allied Forces; Bill Pessemier, executive communications systems advisor, International Association of Fire Chiefs and former incident commander, Columbine, Colo., Fire Department.

Today, General Wesley Clark underscored the immediate need to address these issues, "It's imperative to expand the dialogue about interoperable communications among public safety officials. It's at the very core of emergency preparedness."

[saigon68]

4. Just remember--- "FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH"