LTG Blum , Commander of the National Guard, Told Congress Today!
That National Guard is in trouble. They do not have the resources, especially equipment, to handle multiple disasters. Most Guard Units have only 30% of the equipment and much of what they have needs replacement! In fact most state guard units would have to draw on guard units from other states just to deal with a single disaster. Gen Blum said the situation in the Guard is more dangerous than al Qaeda.
In addition for the first time 52% of employers said they would not hire Guard Members who had the possibility of being called to active duty. That is a very troubling problem and points to the long term impact of the over use of the National Guard in Iraq.
Recently the Governor of Kansas said that the response of her guard forces was impaired to deal with the recent tornadoes and had to obtain personnel and equipment from other states. The condition of the National Guard is troubling and the funding that Bush has included in his budget request does not come close to addressing the requirements of the National Guard! Another failure of the Commander-in-Chief! Bush should have completed his Guard Service when he was a Guard Member. He must also have forgotten the importance of the National Guard even though he was the Governor of Texas!