...I'm okay with being REALITY-based.




Tuesday, August 30, 2005
      ( 6:52 AM )
 
What Now?

The catastrophic tragedy facing Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama is hard to even comprehend. Thousands will never be able to go home again. We cannot know now how many have lost their lives and how many continue to suffer. With the levy breached, New Orleans must continue to face rising water because it is below sea level. They knew this was a possibility, though they hoped it would be remote. But to cope should it ever happen, Louisiana's National Guard troops were specially equipped with high water vehicles and special training to deal with such disasters.

Only....Louisiana's National Guard troops are in Iraq. With most of their equipment.

When members of the Louisiana National Guard left for Iraq in October, they took a lot equipment with them. Dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers and generators are now abroad, and in the event of a major natural disaster that, could be a problem.

"The National Guard needs that equipment back home to support the homeland security mission," said Lt. Colonel Pete Schneider with the LA National Guard.

In early August, when this article was written, they assumed the state had enough equipment to "get by." But now, in the face of this horrible disaster, we are faced wtih the question that continues to be relevant:

For what noble cause are the sons and daughters of Louisiana in Iraq while their families and their state desperately need them at home?

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