AP: 6,000 LA, MS National Guard are in Iraq; Pentagon - "adequate units"

Buried in this AP article titled "Bush Promises Post-Storm Help For Victims" is this tidbit. At least it is in there, I guess... Pentagon spokesman says the states have 'adequate' units, despite the fact that this is a major disaster already and that the extent of the disaster is not yet clear.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBFW9SFZCE.html

- snip -

Some 6,000 National Guard personnel from Louisiana and Mississippi who would otherwise be available to help deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are in Iraq.

Even so, Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the states have adequate National Guard units to handle the hurricane needs, with at least 60 percent of the guard available in each state. He said about 6,500 National Guard troops were available in Louisiana, about 7,000 in Mississippi, nearly 10,000 in Alabama and about 8,200 in Florida.

The First U.S. Army, based at Fort Gillem near Atlanta, has 1,600 National Guard troops who were already there training to go to Iraq, and they will be available to assist the states or evacuate Camp Shelby in Mississippi, if necessary.

MORE AT LINK

As Bumblebee points out in a post below, the delay in bringing National Guard units from other states, will most assuredly result in more victims.

help which may result in hundreds more dying because they are trapped. By the time National Guard arrive from Georgia or Alabama (amd MS is already borrowing almost 1K from Alabama) it will be way too late for many.

You would think they'd get tired of covering the Bush administration's ass.

They're psychopaths. They're genocidal maniacs.

Fighting for what?

Did we have to invade Iraq? I forget. :grr:

And we are going INTO hurricane season. What happens if there's another hurricane in September?

What a bunch of fuckers!

(pardon the phonetic spelling)

There is a lot of equipment in Iraq that would be invaluable too.