Where the National Guard belongs
Common Dreams
by Norman Solomon
08/31/05
The men and women of the National Guard shouldn't be killing in Iraq. They should be helping in New Orleans and Biloxi. The catastrophic hurricane was an act of God. But the U.S. war effort in Iraq is a continuing act of the president. And now, that effort is hampering the capacity of the National Guard to save lives at home. Before the flooding of New Orleans drastically escalated on Tuesday, the White House tried to disarm questions that could be politically explosive. 'To those of you who are concerned about whether or not we're prepared to help, don't be, we are,' President Bush said. 'We're in place, we've got equipment in place, supplies in place, and once the -- once we're able to assess the damage, we'll be able to move in and help those good folks in the affected areas.' Echoing the official assurances, CBS News reported: 'Even though more than a third of Mississippi's and Louisiana's National Guard troops are either in Iraq or supporting the war effort, the National Guard says there are more than enough at home to do the job.' But after New Orleans levees collapsed and the scope of the catastrophe became more clear, such reassuring claims lost credibility. ... Let's use the Internet today to forward and post this demand so widely that the politicians in Washington can no longer ignore it: Bring the National Guard home. Immediately...
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0831-27.htm
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
by Norman Solomon
08/31/05
The men and women of the National Guard shouldn't be killing in Iraq. They should be helping in New Orleans and Biloxi. The catastrophic hurricane was an act of God. But the U.S. war effort in Iraq is a continuing act of the president. And now, that effort is hampering the capacity of the National Guard to save lives at home. Before the flooding of New Orleans drastically escalated on Tuesday, the White House tried to disarm questions that could be politically explosive. 'To those of you who are concerned about whether or not we're prepared to help, don't be, we are,' President Bush said. 'We're in place, we've got equipment in place, supplies in place, and once the -- once we're able to assess the damage, we'll be able to move in and help those good folks in the affected areas.' Echoing the official assurances, CBS News reported: 'Even though more than a third of Mississippi's and Louisiana's National Guard troops are either in Iraq or supporting the war effort, the National Guard says there are more than enough at home to do the job.' But after New Orleans levees collapsed and the scope of the catastrophe became more clear, such reassuring claims lost credibility. ... Let's use the Internet today to forward and post this demand so widely that the politicians in Washington can no longer ignore it: Bring the National Guard home. Immediately...
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0831-27.htm
Informant: Thomas L. Knapp
Starmail - 1. Sep, 18:12
