Full Article Text
F R I D A Y , S E P T E M B E R 0 2 , 2 0 0 5Not All National Guard Troops Are Alikeby Michael in New York on
9/02/2005 01:55:00 AMHere's an interesting detail from USA Today about the TYPES ofNational Guards that are here in the US versus the onesdeployed in Iraq:The problem for Louisiana and Mississippi isn't howmany troops are in Iraq, but rather the kind ofsoldiers who are there, said Dave McGinnis, a militaryanalyst who specializes in National Guard personnel issues."It's combat brigades, which are the types of units youneed in these situations," he said. Combat brigades —large, self-sustaining units of about 3,000 troops — havethe vehicles, communications equipment and structure tocope best with a natural disaster. In Louisiana,communications and mobility are especially critical becausemost of New Orleans is without water, power and telephoneservice.Apparently the most effective sort of Guard units for this situation areEXACTLY the Guard units that have been sent to Iraq. So the sheershortfall in numbers tells only half the story. Kudos of course to thebrave men and women doing a dangerous and difficult job. I'munclear as to the various types of training the Guard goes through orwhat sort of troops are on the ground in LA. But to make a bluntcomparison, you don't want cops to fight fires, you want firemen.Anyone know more or can link to info on this issue?
MORE POSTS ABOUT: KATRINA
Add New CommentYou are commenting as a Guest. You may select one to log into:
Logged in as
Logout from DISQUSLogged in asusing Facebook Connect (Logout)Type your comment here.
HuffPost PoliticsChris Weigant: Friday Talking Points [87] -- A TaleOf Two Houses - Before I begin with the seriousstuff, I'd like to indulge in a little gratuitous media-bashing first. If that sort of thing isn't your cup...20 minutes ago
Daily KosPssst, Michael? We Opposed Republican MeddlingIn Schiavo Case - That sound you hear is millionsof Republican heads exploding simultaneously, asMichael Steele once again shoves his foot down histhroat: That’s the ...23 minutes ago
FiredoglakeMark-Ups on House Health Bill to Resume NextWeek - The latest word out of the Hill after thetalks broke down so famously between ChairmanWaxman and the Blue Dogs, is that the tentativeagreements are back...43 minutes agoThink ProgressFox News poll repeats falsehoods that a Fox Newsreporter debunked. - Last week, ThinkProgressnoted that Fox News reporter Wendell Golerthoroughly debunked conservative fearmongeringabout President Obama’s supposed 30 czar...1 hour ago
Crooks and LiarsDon't Let Up The Pressure Now, We Need toRemind Them We're Watching and Waiting - We'reJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
1 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
really going to have to turn up the heat, guys.Make sure you continue calling and emailing yourrepresentatives. Don't let the lobbyists be the on...1 hour agoShow AllA M E R I C A B L O G T V
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 329 videos >I collect with
vodpod
Southern Poverty LawCenter calls on CNN to
A two minute explanationof the warped and cynical
The economy is better.But....
Judge order San Diego toget rid of the seals
Massive brawl in SouthKorean parliament
Mormons may havesecretly baptizedNext 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
2 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
Ezra KleinTab Dump1 hour agoWonk RoomF-22 Killed BySeven-Meme Voltron2 hours agoNYCeveHuge victories: Maloney& Pingree - Health CareHeroes, Clyburnreceives petition - video2 hours agoDaily DoseWill Doctors in theHouse, SenateInfluence Debate?3 hours agoThe TreatmentDoes the GOP ReallyHave an AlternativePlan in the Works?3 hours agoG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
Blog RSS
AMERICAblog TV RSS
Twitter RSSTwitter Feed
Get the blog by email:
Subscribe me!
Top AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R MAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
3 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
Web
SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
4 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
5 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
9/02/2005 01:55:00 AMHere's an interesting detail from USA Today about the TYPES ofNational Guards that are here in the US versus the onesdeployed in Iraq:The problem for Louisiana and Mississippi isn't howmany troops are in Iraq, but rather the kind ofsoldiers who are there, said Dave McGinnis, a militaryanalyst who specializes in National Guard personnel issues."It's combat brigades, which are the types of units youneed in these situations," he said. Combat brigades —large, self-sustaining units of about 3,000 troops — havethe vehicles, communications equipment and structure tocope best with a natural disaster. In Louisiana,communications and mobility are especially critical becausemost of New Orleans is without water, power and telephoneservice.Apparently the most effective sort of Guard units for this situation areEXACTLY the Guard units that have been sent to Iraq. So the sheershortfall in numbers tells only half the story. Kudos of course to thebrave men and women doing a dangerous and difficult job. I'munclear as to the various types of training the Guard goes through orwhat sort of troops are on the ground in LA. But to make a bluntcomparison, you don't want cops to fight fires, you want firemen.Anyone know more or can link to info on this issue?
MORE POSTS ABOUT: KATRINA
Add New CommentYou are commenting as a Guest. You may select one to log into:
Logged in as
Logout from DISQUSLogged in asusing Facebook Connect (Logout)Type your comment here.
HuffPost PoliticsChris Weigant: Friday Talking Points [87] -- A TaleOf Two Houses - Before I begin with the seriousstuff, I'd like to indulge in a little gratuitous media-bashing first. If that sort of thing isn't your cup...20 minutes ago
Daily KosPssst, Michael? We Opposed Republican MeddlingIn Schiavo Case - That sound you hear is millionsof Republican heads exploding simultaneously, asMichael Steele once again shoves his foot down histhroat: That’s the ...23 minutes ago
FiredoglakeMark-Ups on House Health Bill to Resume NextWeek - The latest word out of the Hill after thetalks broke down so famously between ChairmanWaxman and the Blue Dogs, is that the tentativeagreements are back...43 minutes agoThink ProgressFox News poll repeats falsehoods that a Fox Newsreporter debunked. - Last week, ThinkProgressnoted that Fox News reporter Wendell Golerthoroughly debunked conservative fearmongeringabout President Obama’s supposed 30 czar...1 hour ago
Crooks and LiarsDon't Let Up The Pressure Now, We Need toRemind Them We're Watching and Waiting - We'reJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
1 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
really going to have to turn up the heat, guys.Make sure you continue calling and emailing yourrepresentatives. Don't let the lobbyists be the on...1 hour agoShow AllA M E R I C A B L O G T V
Visit our AMERICAblog TV site.see all 329 videos >I collect with
vodpod
Southern Poverty LawCenter calls on CNN to
A two minute explanationof the warped and cynical
The economy is better.But....
Judge order San Diego toget rid of the seals
Massive brawl in SouthKorean parliament
Mormons may havesecretly baptizedNext 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
2 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
Ezra KleinTab Dump1 hour agoWonk RoomF-22 Killed BySeven-Meme Voltron2 hours agoNYCeveHuge victories: Maloney& Pingree - Health CareHeroes, Clyburnreceives petition - video2 hours agoDaily DoseWill Doctors in theHouse, SenateInfluence Debate?3 hours agoThe TreatmentDoes the GOP ReallyHave an AlternativePlan in the Works?3 hours agoG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
Blog RSS
AMERICAblog TV RSS
Twitter RSSTwitter Feed
Get the blog by email:
Subscribe me!
Top AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R MAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
3 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
Web
SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
4 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Not Al...http://www.americablog.com/2005/09/not-all-national-guard-tr...
5 of 57/24/09 10:45 PM