How much of CA's National Guard is in Iraq?

[Stephanie]

I searched earlier but couldn't find a number. Governator activated 1500 Nat'l Guard today. How many more are unavailable due to deployment to Iraq? What about their equipment?

[aquart]

1. Ask your congressman. Seriously. Call and ask.

[Stephanie]

2. Jerry Nadler is my Congressman.

I don't think he knows.

I saw you in Chelsea Market yesterday! Sorry didn't stop, was rushing.

[aquart]

13. Ah, yes. Buying Desert Glory tomatoes.

[Wilms]

3. From the petition: "Bring Home our California National Guard Now!"

"In California almost 6,000 of our 20,000 Guards have been deployed to Iraq.

.pdf
http://www.coalitionforworldpeace.org/fliers/natl_guard05.pdf

[Ellen Forradalom]

4. Also noted at Daily Kos.

"NOT ONE WORD OF MISSING NATIONAL GUARD and their equipment which has always been a part of fire containment in California.

"I had the largest private property on Bouquet Canyon in Saugus on Oct 12, 200l. My property was on the back of the Los Angeles National forest. It burned right up to my property line.

"They dumped fire retardant. But more important they dropped by helicopter fire fighting national guard who used chain saws to cut a break. You are not seeing much attempts to cut breaks because neither the people or the equipment is there.

"No one is talking about the consequences that cannot be named. All that will happen is more insurance companies pulling out of California."

http://www.dailykos.com/comments/2007/10/22/121255/53/270#c270

[Stephanie]

7. That's what I was wondering.

I remember after the Kansas tornado the governor was complaining that not only the Guard but their equipment was all in Iraq.

[gdennis]

16. Lt. Col. Siepmann warned of "less effective response" in May

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/05/11/MNGRIPPB2D1.DTL

May 11, 2007
As state forestry officials predict an unusually harsh fire season this summer, the California National Guard says equipment shortages could hinder the guard's response to a large-scale disaster.

A dearth of equipment such as trucks and radios -- caused in part by the war in Iraq -- has state military officials worried they would be slow in providing help in the event of a major fire, earthquake or terrorist attack.

The readiness of the Guard has been described as a national problem and has become a political liability for the Bush administration, which came under fire this week when the governor of Kansas complained that the National Guard response to a devastating tornado in her state was inadequate. National Guard readiness has become a growing concern as the Guard has taken on extra responsibilities caused by the Iraq war and the increased threat of terrorism.

In California, half of the equipment the National Guard needs is not in the state, either because it is deployed in Iraq or other parts of the world or because it hasn't been funded, according to Lt. Col. John Siepmann. While the Guard is in good shape to handle small-scale incidents, "our concern is a catastrophic event,'' he said.

"You would see a less effective response (to a major incident),'' he said.

[Bicoastal]

5. Before we start politicizing the wildfires...

...can we wait until they're put OUT first? Jeez.

[Stephanie]

8. They might have a better chance of putting them OUT -

if the National Guard whose MISSION it is to help out in just such a situation were NOT ALL IN IRAQ.

[AZBlue]

9. I agree!

I posted something similar too. This is exactly the kind of situation the NG would be there to assist with - if only they could.

[Capn Sunshine]

6. too many.

Before Iraq, a fire of this magnitude would see 20,000 Nat'l Guard activated. In disasters, the guard would come not just from Cal, but neighboring states as well. Not only did the Bush Admin leave us swinging, but the Guard will never be the same after this.

Plus lack of action on global warming is certainly showing now.

Fuckers.

[rwenos]

10. Any Sign of Blackwater Operatives Yet?

Most logical place would be Northern San Diego County. Over 300,000 people evacuated!

Southern California is a paradise most of the time. This is not part of the paradise time.

[MagickMuffin]

11. I don't know how many are in Iraq, but I heard Olbermann mention the Terminator

was bringing in 600 troops from the border. So, I'm guessing that would be the CA and Mexican borders.

Here's what I just found http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/424116.html

In the article it has a number of 2000 NG troops in Iraq, and 22 troops who lost their lives fighting in an unjust war.

[Stephanie]

12. Looks like around 8000.

Out of a total of around 20,000. With 1500 fighting the fires.

===================================================================
http://wkrg.com/news/article/alabamas_soldiers_leading_the_charge/6189/

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Army National Guard
has had the nation's third-highest number of deployments to Iraq
and Afghanistan since the September 11th terrorist attacks.
According to Guard figures, some 7,200 Alabama Army Guard
soldiers have been deployed in and around Iraq and Afghanistan
since 9/11.

Only populous Texas and California have had a higher number of
deployments. Texas, according to National Guard Bureau numbers, has
had 8,619, while California has had 8,182.
===================================================================

[Mighty Gorg]

14. Besides our National Guard Troops

All the equipment that gets sent with them over to Iraq... stays in Iraq.
It does not come back to be used in a disaster like the Southern California fires. Instead it stays over in the Bush Cheney gang's disaster of a war.

[Lisa]

15. welcome to DU, Mighty Gorg!

I have heard that there might be firefighters deployed from as far away as British Columbia. Which doesn't make up for all those National Guard units from the West Coast states, now overseas, who might otherwise be much closer ...