Bush Still Stretching Same National Guard He Tried to Cut

[Bob Geiger]

"It is important for Americans to know that we have enough Guard forces to win the war on terror, to respond to natural disasters, and to help secure our border," said George W. Bush in his speech to the nation last night.

The only thing he forgot to add was "no thanks to me."

Seeking to appear to be doing something about anything while he occupies the Oval Office, Bush appeared on national television to announce that he was going to crack down on illegal aliens entering the United States by using up to 6,000 National Guard troops to help patrol the border with Mexico.

Yes, these are the same people serving in the National Guard that have, in many cases, been deployed multiple times to fight in Iraq. It's the same National Guard that has seen 352 of its members die in that war. And it's the very same National Guard that Bush and the Pentagon tried to cut in January when they submitted a proposal to Congress that called for 17,000 fewer National Guard troops and a cut in Guard medical benefits via an increase in premiums on the Tricare health-care system.

Fortunately, Congressional representatives did not allow either proposal to remain by the time they passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 and the dangerous cuts to a force already stretched paper-thin where averted.

"It would send a terrible message that you guys don't count," said Representative Ike Skelton (D-MO), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, of the proposed National Guard cuts. "It was actually a slap at the National Guard ."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), speaking on the Senate floor Monday, called Bush on his hypocrisy in continuing to burden the Guard, while not truly supporting their mission.

"It is remarkable that in January, this White House submitted a budget to Congress calling to cut 17,000 guardsmen," said Reid. "Yet now he is asking them to do more with less. Tonight, in clear and consistent terms, we need to hear how they will be used, how they will be supported, how they will prepare and be ready for the unexpected missions."

Meanwhile, with massive flooding already occurring in the Northeast, AccuWeather is predicting that three major hurricanes will hit the U. S. this year, with the beleaguered Gulf Coast in the most serious jeopardy this summer.

I guess the old saying is true, that when you're a hammer everything looks like a nail. It would help everyone wearing a United States military uniform if Team Chickenhawk would learn that, if their answer for every problem is to throw troops at it, they might want to at least make sure there are enough to go around.

You can reach Bob Geiger at [e-mail] and read more from him at Democrats.com.

[Supersedeas]

1. Cuts to Nat Guard, No funding to Border Patrol, but great script reading