6,000 LA and MS N.Guard in Iraq; Pentagon says we have "adequate units"

I posted this in LBN yesterday, but in light of today's developments and context, I thought I'd repost it in GD. 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 (adequate is not given in the article as a direct quote, but why would the reporter have used that word otherwise?).

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 pointed out yesterday, the delay in bringing National Guard units from other states, will most assuredly result in more victims.

Where have we heard that before?

From the footage I'm seeing on TV, I never would have guessed. I'm glad they told us.

bush cut 70 million from the army corp of engineers, who build the levy in louisiana, to finance 8 hours of war in iraq. when are people going to wake up and get these fools out of office.

"adequate units" being available. He said that they were pulling people off of search and rescue to provide security. Doesn't sound like "adequate units" to me.

And how many NG helicopters and other heavy equipment are in Iraq?

Beware the opportunists, even with the kindest of surface intentions.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/08/30/national/w154814D83.DTL

The Navy is sending four ships to the Gulf Coast with water and other supplies for those hit by Hurricane Katrina, but officials are urging service members not to try to return to their military bases in New Orleans.


Navy bases in Gulfport, Miss., and New Orleans were evacuated and suffered heavy flooding and wind damage. Officials are gearing up to fly over the bases to get a detailed assessment of the damage... damaged.


The four amphibious ships will be leaving from Norfolk, Va., in the next few days. The Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida will be a base for the relief effort....


The 1st U.S. Army, based at Fort Gillem near Atlanta, has already received some requests from state officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for aircraft to conduct search and rescue missions and assessment flights over the region....

but they can borrow up to 98,000 from TX, FL and GA. So far they've only asked for helicopters. from the EMAC. They need to figure how many they need first before asking for troops.

was flying in all sorts of equipment...They, of course, didn't say that a lot of this equipment was removed from LA to go to Iraq.

I remember months ago reports about "amphibious vehicles" in Iraq and couldn't figure out what the hell they were doing there....