A Dangerously Depleted Guard

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The tornado that suddenly destroyed Greensburg, Kan., earlier this month was another reminder of why Americans need to be concerned that so much of the National Guard and its equipment is now deployed far from home — in Iraq, Afghanistan and along the Mexican border.

Fortunately, Kansas still had enough Guard members for rescue and cleanup in a town of less than 2,000 people. But if the next disaster is a Category 5 hurricane, a terrorist attack or a nationwide flu epidemic, we fear the Guard will not be ready.

Congress needs to speed its efforts to rebuild the Guard’s capacity. While more federal money cannot bring Guard members back home, it can accelerate the replacement of lost equipment and pay for disaster response training.

The National Guard is America’s primary first response force. It can be mobilized quickly. It is under the command of state governors. And unlike federal military forces, which are not supposed to engage in local law enforcement, it can step in smoothly where needed to preserve public order.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/20/opinion/20sun2.html?_r=1&oref=slogin