Where is the Minnesota National Guard

[malaise]

In Iraq? I'm sure the citizens would love their equipment and manpower at this time.

[Rick Myers]

1. What time is it in Baghdad?

:grr:

[dflprincess]

2. Actually, a lot of them just got home

after a record setting deployment in Iraq. I believe I heard that, if you count the time some of them spent training in the states before shipping out, some of them were on active service for 2 years.

From what I see on the local news though, this hasn't risen to a "call out the Guard" disaster. (Yet anyway).

[malaise]

3. Very good news

Thanks.

[partylessinOhio]

4. Our National Guard guards Iraq for the most part. They are stretched

too thin.

We need to bring them home NOW, Madame Squeaker and Company. NOW!

America is first, or should be and must be.

What a spectacle we have become for the world to see.

[Wetzelbill]

5. probably depleted

It sort of depends on the time they started their tour in Iraq. But most states are functioning on depleted capacity, if not all. It's definitely bad for security.

[kickysnana]

6. Actually...they sent a helicoptor to do a press conference...

it was sitting on the brige waiting for instructions when they were interviewed. Don't know if they actually got to do anything or if there wre more.

[Beerboy]

7. Minnesotan checking in. Yeah, the Guard

is in Iraq. It looks like the local law enforcement and the authorities of the relevant agencies are on-scene, and of course, the Media.
It's really a horrible and tragic accident, at this point, no knows yet why the bridge failed, but all of the components of the bridge fell in relatively shallow water. It will be a lengthy investigation, I'm sure.
I'm glad it didn't collapse the one evening back in 1987 when a MN State Trooper pulled me over on it for speeding. Thanks to the drunk chick I was taking home, he let me go, no ticket.
So far 7 have died. At least 50 vehicles went down today.
We in the Twin Cities used to sit on that bridge in rush hour, every weekday, (3PM-7PM M-Fri), creeping along @ 12mph @ best. I almost wish I was stuck on it right now with an over-heating radiator!
From what I've heard on radio and TV, the I-35 bridge was last thoroughly inspected by the MN-DOT in 2001. The bridge was found to be A-OK.
I hope nobody I know was on that today...