California Struggles With Fire While National Guard Stretched in Iraq
Newswire Services
October 24, 2007
While California struggles to contain a devastating fire that has claimed thousands of acres, they are forced to pull National Guard from the borders as well as rely on neighboring states to assist. At the same time, the Pentagon announced the deployment of more National Guard troops to Iraq. All this at a time when it is clear the National Guard is stretched too thin due to Bush’s reckless war policy.
California forced to use inmates to fight fires. “As of today, more than 2,300 CDCR inmates and more than 170 custody staff have joined firefighters from city and county fire departments and state agencies as part of a major coordinated effort to battle the widespread wildfires in Southern California. ‘These crews provide critical support to the state’s firefighting response, going where bulldozers and heavy equipment cannot go,’ said Governor Schwarzenegger. ‘Inmate firefighters and CDCR staff at our institutions are an integral piece of the state’s disaster response team. Fire camp crews are being activated and deployed as rapidly as possible. Firefighters are continuing to work around the clock to contain the Southern California fires and I want to extend my thanks for their bravery and dedication.’” [Salem News, 10/22/07]
Fire forced California to pull National Guard from border. “With state fire resources stretched thin, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked other states for help and directed 1,500 California National Guard troops to help firefighters. About 200 troops will come from the California-Mexico border and four National Guard helicopters will be used to help douse the blazes.” [Press Telegram, 10/23/07]
California was forced to call in firefighters from Nevada and Arizona. “Calling in help from Nevada, Arizona and throughout the state, more than 2,600 firefighters in Los Angeles County sought to contain the Ranch, Buckweed and Canyon fires.” [Press Telegram, 10/23/07]
Arizona and Nevada already have thousands of Guard and Reserves in Iraq. Arizona and Nevada have 1,470 and 452 respectfully. [DOD deployment stats, as of 6/30/07]
Senator Boxer said California can’t do it alone. “California can't fight this battle alone,’ Boxer said. ‘I know President Bush will act swiftly on this. There are certain areas where we have to work together, where there cannot be an inch of distance between us.” [Press Telegram, 10/23/07]
National Guard is Stretched Thin by Iraq Rotations
Report found Army is stretched too thin. A report by the Center for American Progress concluded that, “the active Army today is recklessly stretched far beyond recommended use, ultimately hurting our troops and dangerously depriving our country of the strategic reserves necessary to respond to true crises.” Since the beginning of the war every combat brigade division of the Army has served at least one tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Many of the brigades have served multiple tours. Thirty-One Brigades have served 2 or more tours in Iraq and 11 Brigades have served three or more tours. [Beyond the Call of Duty, A Comprehensive Review of the Overuse of the Army in the Administration's War of Choice in Iraq,” Center for American Progress, 3/6/07]
Currently there are 46,797 reserves in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently there are 46,797 National Guard and reserves serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. [DOD deployment stats, as of 6/30/07]
More than Half of National Guard brigades being deployed have already served in Iraq. “Five of the seven Army National Guard brigades that were alerted Friday for likely deployments to Iraq in 2008 and 2009 did combat tours there earlier in the war, Army officials said.” [AP, 10/19/07]
Despite Shortages at Home, National Guard from across the country will be deployed to Iraq through 2009. The Pentagon announced last week that National Guard brigades from across the country will be deployed to Iraq. National Guard units from New Jersey, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas and Illinois will be deployed. [AP, 10/20/07]
California forced to use inmates to fight fires. “As of today, more than 2,300 CDCR inmates and more than 170 custody staff have joined firefighters from city and county fire departments and state agencies as part of a major coordinated effort to battle the widespread wildfires in Southern California. ‘These crews provide critical support to the state’s firefighting response, going where bulldozers and heavy equipment cannot go,’ said Governor Schwarzenegger. ‘Inmate firefighters and CDCR staff at our institutions are an integral piece of the state’s disaster response team. Fire camp crews are being activated and deployed as rapidly as possible. Firefighters are continuing to work around the clock to contain the Southern California fires and I want to extend my thanks for their bravery and dedication.’” [Salem News, 10/22/07]
Fire forced California to pull National Guard from border. “With state fire resources stretched thin, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked other states for help and directed 1,500 California National Guard troops to help firefighters. About 200 troops will come from the California-Mexico border and four National Guard helicopters will be used to help douse the blazes.” [Press Telegram, 10/23/07]
California was forced to call in firefighters from Nevada and Arizona. “Calling in help from Nevada, Arizona and throughout the state, more than 2,600 firefighters in Los Angeles County sought to contain the Ranch, Buckweed and Canyon fires.” [Press Telegram, 10/23/07]
Arizona and Nevada already have thousands of Guard and Reserves in Iraq. Arizona and Nevada have 1,470 and 452 respectfully. [DOD deployment stats, as of 6/30/07]
Senator Boxer said California can’t do it alone. “California can't fight this battle alone,’ Boxer said. ‘I know President Bush will act swiftly on this. There are certain areas where we have to work together, where there cannot be an inch of distance between us.” [Press Telegram, 10/23/07]
National Guard is Stretched Thin by Iraq Rotations
Report found Army is stretched too thin. A report by the Center for American Progress concluded that, “the active Army today is recklessly stretched far beyond recommended use, ultimately hurting our troops and dangerously depriving our country of the strategic reserves necessary to respond to true crises.” Since the beginning of the war every combat brigade division of the Army has served at least one tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Many of the brigades have served multiple tours. Thirty-One Brigades have served 2 or more tours in Iraq and 11 Brigades have served three or more tours. [Beyond the Call of Duty, A Comprehensive Review of the Overuse of the Army in the Administration's War of Choice in Iraq,” Center for American Progress, 3/6/07]
Currently there are 46,797 reserves in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently there are 46,797 National Guard and reserves serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. [DOD deployment stats, as of 6/30/07]
More than Half of National Guard brigades being deployed have already served in Iraq. “Five of the seven Army National Guard brigades that were alerted Friday for likely deployments to Iraq in 2008 and 2009 did combat tours there earlier in the war, Army officials said.” [AP, 10/19/07]
Despite Shortages at Home, National Guard from across the country will be deployed to Iraq through 2009. The Pentagon announced last week that National Guard brigades from across the country will be deployed to Iraq. National Guard units from New Jersey, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Texas and Illinois will be deployed. [AP, 10/20/07]
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