Where is the National Guard?

Today, we all extend our sympathies and prayers to those devastated by the wildfires in California. Millions of Americans are impacted by this natural disaster.

Neighbors should help neighbors in their time of need. As Governor of New Mexico, I ordered two fire crews (strike teams, with 5 engines and 21 crew members each) to California. As a candidate for President, I donated to the American Red Cross and I encourage you to do so as well, click here to do so.

But as someone who believes the war in Iraq is a complete disaster and that we need to get our troops out now (www.getourtroopsout.com), I look at the natural disaster in California and feel compelled to also ask President Bush and every candidate who thinks it is okay for our troops to remain in Iraq until 2013 or longer - where is our National Guard?

It is a sad irony that yesterday, the very day I sent fire crews to California, 300 more New Mexico National Guard members were sent to Iraq. Just when we need them most at home, more of our brave men and women, true public servants, are sent away to a war we cannot win.

Never before in our history has our National Guard, a group of dedicated men and women who serve our country and provide critical aid in the time of natural disasters been used, and re-used, for so long to fight a war tens of thousands of miles away.

In California, the Guard force is authorized to have over 21,000 members. Today, that number is just under 15,000. Why the decline? I believe it has nothing to do with a diminished commitment to service, but rather is a frustration with having that commitment abused, and families turned upside down, just so President Bush can continue to pretend his war can succeed.

George Bush, his Republican friends and the Democrats who continue to allow this war to continue have not only broken our military, they've broken our National Guard.

The news this morning had images of Americans fleeing to a huge sports arena for shelter during a natural disaster that struck a familiar chord. When Katrina struck and the floods hit two years ago, a good portion of the Louisiana National Guard was in Iraq. How many people died in the days it took to get proper personnel on the ground in New Orleans? Today, as the fires rage, California has National Guard men, women, and critical equipment thousands of miles away in Iraq.

They need to come home. We need them here.

This has gone on long enough. When a national disaster hits, our states depend on the National Guard. Right now, President Bush is robbing Peter to pay Paul to continue his disastrous adventure in Iraq, and when tragedy hits us here at home, Americans are stuck with the bill. This cannot continue.

Bush won't end this war. Congress must. And they must end it now. We shouldn't have to wait until January, and we certainly can't wait until 2013 - we need our troops out of harm's way and our National Guard members back home where they belong.

Join my call at www.getourtroopsout.com to push Congress to begin ending this war now. Not in January, not next spring, not next year - now.

The war in Iraq is a tragedy, and compounding it by leaving our citizens here at home defenseless is an even greater crime.

Comments

[mimsnpips]

Governor it is sadly ironic that more guardsmen were sent from your state to the disaster in Iraq. You are a voice of reason in the wilderness of what was once a stable government.

Take your message to everyone you meet.

[politicky]

Gov Richardson,

Let me thank you from an evacuees point of view, however, the guns and uniforms at the stadium scared the crap out of me. The photo op staging area for the politicians I accidentally came too close to while searching for a restroom was more disconcerting than comforting.

California has problems that need more than the National Guard.

Lack of water supplies and unprecedented drought haven't stopped greedy land developers from continuing to build in fire prone areas.
http://climate.weather.com/video/vid07cagoingdry.html

We, as Americans continue to use water supplies like they are endless. That is ridiculous:
http://books.google.com/books?source=web&q=Oglala+aquifer&btnG=Search+Books

[Politika]

Dear Governor,
You always make good points.
Among all the candidates out there, you seem to be the only one who has significant experience in governing, who is more than well travelled and knowledgeable about international affairs (we can't have an ingnorant cowboy anymore leading us) .
I am afraid though that CNN and other pundit outlets have already made their choice on Hillary. It is sad but these folks decided already long ago who was their dearest and there is nothing to do about it.
I just hope that something big happens for you and that you and Biden get the ticket.

We will pray for that!

[mamacat]

The Nat'l Gaurd shouldn't be used for descretionary overseas adventures. That is what the Marines and Special Forces are for. The National Gaurd should be used for emergencies, like all out war, or for local disasters.
Essentially, the Nat'l Gaurd is being used to bring down the cost of Bush's adventure in Iraq, but is raising the costs to states for dealing with emergencies at home.

[Ilvfredum]

17,000 Guard troops in California, Governor said the Guard, Marines or Navy not needed.

[azureblue]

Bush ignored warnings about a terrorist attack on America. Then 9/11 happened. Bush covers up.

Bush ignores warnings of the dire need to repair the levee system. He even cuts the money to fix the levees to less than one fourth of the budget. Katrina hits, the levees fail and New Orleans floods. Bush covers up.

Bush was warned about poor firefighting plans and lack of gear & manpower. CA burns. Bush tries to cover up.

Now does anybody see a pattern here?

[Politika]

I see your point and I can bet today to all Americans that Bush will be going on trial one day and go to jail for crimes against humanity and more.

[JelcoCathlon]

Bushco, America's worst ennemy and prez.

[usedtowander]

Day four of the San Diego Fires. Still no Federal resources.

Where is the Federal Government on this? Republicans at Federal Level, Republican Governor, Republican Mayor, Republican Congressional delegation (even a POTUS candidate) - yet not Federal Resources.

Probably arrive just in time for POTUS's press conference, heh?

[dolphy]

What the governor said is accurate. Barbara Boxer in April (I'm not sure exactly, but it was early this year)pointed out during a Senate debate that half of the national guards and half of the national guard equipment are not available for use because they are in Iraq.

[WildBill]

I know you may have been involved in a gubernatorial race last year but you should have paid attention to what Congress was doing to us. On Sept. 28, 06, the Senate passed the MCA of 2006, in which we lost the right to habeas corpus. On the morning of Oct. 17, the President signed the act in a public ceremony. On the afternoon of the 17th, in a rather furtive ceremony in the Oval Office, the President signed the John Warner Military Reauthorization Act, which took away your power as Governor to deploy Nat'l Guard for any purpose without getting the SecDef's, or President's, permission prior to deployment.

[elizabethsullivan]

Mr. Richardson,

As a resident of San Diego County I would ask that you not exploit what is happening here for your own benefit.

FYI - word count:

"war" - 8

"Iraq" - 6

"I" - 6

"California" - 6

"San Diego" - 0

[Dave Johnson - Huffpost Blogger]

How is this for his benefit? We need the Guard back home NOW.

[TazeMe65]

This whole post is a cheap shot at the Bush admin. There are 17,000 Guard that could be activated if necessary.

[jackbauer0396]

Why is it that Mr. Richardson can't illuminate a HUGE issue in our world today without making it seem like he's politicizing it?

FYI- Word count in every Rudy speech:

9/11: 124
God: 45
"Hold on, my wife is calling": 2
"I do." 3

[DMSmith]

Could it be because it IS a political issue?

The mind REELS!!!!

[massimo1]

Why are you attacking the governor? He is telling the truth and you want to make it something else. Do you live in a bubble?

[Dansden]

elizabethsullivan:
When is the TRUTH of Governor Richardson's knowledge and integrity used for 'his own benefit'? The TRUTH of his analysis serves our American troops comandeered to guard EXXON OIL when they should be here guarding American property and homes!

The audacity and shrillness of president Bush's comments recently, "If the national Guard had been used in Viet Nam we would have won the war' is the HEIGHT OF POLITICAL RHETORIC BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IS EXACTLY WHY LIL GEORGE'S DADDY GOT HIM INTO THE NATIONAL GUARD- SO HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO BE RESPONSIBLE AS AN AMERICAN AND COULD GO 'HIDE' IN ALABAMA WHILE REAL MEN FOUGHT AND DIED!

[TankerRat]

As a combat veteran of VietNam I wish to thank you for your comments Dansden.

[mamacat]

Thank you Governor, you are a beacon of common sense in a sea of nonsense. Good luck to you.

[moderationsmuse]

Where's the DC National Guard? We need a few soldiers on hand to protect Secretary Rice from the nut cases.

Bravo, to Ms. Rice for her grace under fire.

And to the nut case: maybe she should get on the next plane to Baghdad and see what the war really is ... since she's so brave.

[jackbauer0396]

If Condi has such grace under fire, I'd like to see her in a flak jacket, dealing with constant mortar attacks, snipings and road side bombings. "Grace under fire" indeed.

It's not the people protesting the war who need to stop vicariously killing other people's children. It's the congressmen and women who continue this travesty, both the George Bushes and Nancy Pelosi's of the world who need to see the devastating toll it's taking on the fabric of our nation. From the fires of Baghdad to the fires of Malibu, Rome is burning, and Bush is laughing all the way to the bank.

[Politika]

Condi is non sense and a digrace to her community and so is Powel.
They both have betrayed the deep sense of justice that african americans have brought to our nation.

Has she made any deals since she took over Powel's job? None!! zero!! niet!!. It is all about making deals with friends or ennemies whether it is in business or in gvt.

[deminmo]

jack, the fires have caused a haze that Republicans cannot see through...­no won't see through. That covers all fires. Condi used to be
an intellegent woman, but working for Bush has
fried her brain. Judging from how she looks these
days I'd say stress is killing her.

[1will]

What is sad is the comedian, Stephen Colbert, has the same level of support for the Democratic nomination as you do.
Good luck trying to be relevent.

[zoner]

Funny, Gov. Richardson is gaining in the polls. That makes him relevant. And his point is entirely relevant. Unlike yours, troll.

[jcorrington]

I just keep wondering what the proverbial final straw will be, if any. where is the outrage?? Our congressmen have to apologize for any spoken outrage... so maybe I just answered my own question. Go Bill


dell8300
ie7.0

[CaseyBabes]

Go Bill? For crying out loud, in reality this vague governor is complaining about the use of the National Guard, which is what it is for....to be used. I'm an independent who 'til now had a fair opinion of the guv, but, fuggedaboutit.

[TheOtherMaven]

See post re: World War II, below. One (1) ONE National Guard unit deployed overseas.

The National Guard is the equivalent of the British Home Guard, and THAT is its proper use - DOMESTIC defense and disaster control.

[Dave Johnson - Huffpost Blogger]

The National Guard is for sending to Iraq? Are you KIDDING?

[Robert59]

Let's clear up a misconception about the Guard. The bulk of its costs are not paid by the state, but the federal government. The only thing state about the Guard is in the name. If the Constitution permits states to have militias, why don't states fund them?

And nowhere in your article do I see you talking about the Guard as a combat force. If its real purpose is to control civil disorder and to assist in disaster relief, why does it continue to have a wartime mission?

Wouldn't it be better if we right sized and even right sourced the Guard? It needs more people, but trained as firemen, medics, heavy equipment operators, truck drivers, and riot control. It needs equipment better suited for those duties, not tanks and fighter aircraft. And it needs to not be a combat arm of the U.S. military.

Think about the waste of resources tied up in the Guard flying combat and combat support aircraft, driving tanks and Bradleys. These are missions the Reserves and active duty forces should be doing, not the Guard.

And while I'm on my soapbox, I'm for bringing all the troops home, not just focusing on the Guard. I served with Guardsmen during the first Gulf War and too many of them spent all their time griping about being activated. It was galling considering most were former active duty and knew exactly what they were signing up for. The Guard and the Reserves have evolved into a NATO like structure, a welfare system for servicemen and women who think warfighting and long deployments are beneath them.

Yeah, I'll catch some spears. Go ahead and throw them, but I write this from experience. The Guard and Reserves are jobs programs and their leadership fights tooth and nail to keep them from being activated.

[CaseyBabes]

No, no spears. But I think you've forgotten about all the military (active, reserve, NG)being combat prepared. That's why you see all factions being deployed whenever the opportunity arises, in effect, to have seasoned troops leading the inexperienced that then become experience­d....sorta passing on the torch, if you catch my drift. Iraq has been an incredible teaching arena for our forces as it is the forefront of a new type warfare, i.e., not an open enemy from a particular country, without uniforms or adherence to a civilized code (sorry about that oxymoron) of warfare, utilizing an expanded form of insurgency aimed at both the USA/Allies and their own people, and imbibed with ideaological madness. It is a new warfare, and it is the future because it's growth is beyond the point of no return.
(Embrace that soapbox, while you can.)

[dolphy]

Casey, you have everything reversed. Iraq is not adding experience to our military. It is breaking our military. It is also teaching our former assets, now our enemies, the fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan, techniques on how to kill our military. It is not making our military combat prepared, it is making our troops less combat prepared because they have to stay longer in the battle zone, so they are battle fatigued. Their long stay in Iraq gets their morale down and more of them get post traumatic stress syndrome when they come back. These are all facts coming from the officers and retired military.

[Robert59]

No, I haven't forgotten. What I'm asking is why? The Guard as a combat component of the DoD is a misuse of resources. The Guard needs to be changed from having a combat capability that isn't needed by a state militia to a different skill set better suited to what states really need, disaster relief and quelling civil unrest.

[TankerRat]

Been there. Done that. It was called VietNam.