Raw Story: Under Palin, Alaska National Guard lacks troops

[Cush]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Alaska National Guard, which Republicans are pointing to as an important national-security credential for vice presidential choice Sarah Palin, has personnel shortages that make its aviation units the most poorly staffed in the nation.

Just six months ago, Air Force Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell, the Alaska Guard's top officer, warned in an internal memo that "missions are at risk." The lack of qualified airmen, Campbell said, "has reached a crisis level."

The situation has improved since the March 1 memo was written, Campbell said Wednesday in a telephone interview with The Associated Press — but not enough to eliminate his concern that shortages will result in the "burnout" of troops the Guard already has. That could result in missions and equipment being moved out of Alaska.


more: http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Alaska_National_Guard_faces_personnel_crisis_0904.html

[Ian David]

1. This is why 400 Germans were able to land undetected in Barrow, Alaska.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=3470295&mesg_id=3470395