[Vision2020] RE: Homeland Security Dept. Failure!

[Tbertruss at aol.com]

Phil et. al.

Thanks for listing sources for your facts regarding the National Guard 
response to Hurricane Katrina.

I agree that mistakes were made at all levels regarding preparation and 
response to this disaster.

My point was simple.  The National Guard troops that were in Iraq resulted in 
a less timely or aggressive response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster than 
would have resulted if they were not in Iraq.

It appears there are some in a position to know who agree with this 
assessment.  Consider the opinion of the chief of the National Guard Bureau:

Officials: Guard Deployment Hurt Response

by Robert Burns, Associated Press, Washington Post
September 9th, 2005

Officials: Guard Deployment Hurt Response

By ROBERT BURNS
The Associated Press
Friday, September 9, 2005; 6:14 PM


BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. -- The deployment of thousands of National Guard troops 
from Mississippi and Louisiana in Iraq when Hurricane Katrina struck hindered 
those states' initial storm response, military and civilian officials said 
Friday.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said that 
"arguably" a day at most of response time was lost due to the absence of the 
Mississippi National Guard's 155th Infantry Brigade and Louisiana's 256th Infantry 
Brigade, each with thousands of troops in Iraq.

"Had that brigade been at home and not in Iraq, their expertise and 
capabilities could have been brought to bear," said Blum.

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Vision2020 Post by Ted Moffett

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