States missing emergency helicopters due to Iraq.
By on May 25th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
States missing emergency helicopters due to Iraq.
ABC News reports today that “some Plains and western states have few if any helicopters on hand to respond quickly to a disaster.” For instance, “Nebraska’s contingent of Blackhawk helicopters are deployed in Iraq, leaving few aircraft for disaster relief missions at home.” Wyoming and Texas — Vice President Cheney and President Bush’s respective home states — are the only states in the region not facing significant shortages, with equipment levels around 70 percent.
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this is just what happens in war. James Madison put it quite well:
Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few.
In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people…. [There is also an] inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and … degeneracy of manners and of morals…. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.
It’s time to end this insidious policy of militarism. Some further thoughts:
“Leaders Don’t Kill People…”
May 25th, 2007 at 2:40 pmhttp://www.populistamerica.com/leaders_dont_kill_people
I wonder how many helicopters Blackwater has access to?
May 25th, 2007 at 2:41 pmThe only solution is to surrender!
May 25th, 2007 at 2:44 pmIraqis missing future, family members, limbs, and dignity due to USA.
Oh, that’s right, that’s not important to us. What’s important is that we don’t have the helicopters we MAY need because we are currently using them to perform genocide in Iraq.
But the sympathy needs to be with us. I mean, imagine what could happen if we have a flood or something. Some of us may actually suffer! Those Iraqis should be used to suffering by now so who gives a shite about them?
Progressive indeed.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:48 pmSince this thread won’t live very long because it is so vapid here is some other news….
To enter the nation’s top 1%, you need more than $5 million. And if you get there, you’ll have plenty of newly-arrived company: The number of U.S. “pentamillionaires” has quadrupled in the past 10 years, to more than 930,000. Indeed, 70% of the nation’s big family fortunes are less than 13 years old, according to research and marketing firm The Harrison Group. And the people who amassed them are, first and foremost, entrepreneurs — risk takers for whom wealth is a byproduct of pursuing their passion.
What got them to the highest level? It isn’t necessarily stock-market savvy: On average, folks who recently hit the $5 million mark report that only 10% of their money came through passive investments. And only 10% of pentamillionaires inherited their wealth.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:49 pmmore unresolved catastrophes = more poverty = more who may consider joining the military to be ready for Bush’s war.
more unresolved catastrophes = more land the rich can acquire for their developments.
more unresolved catastrophes = more being pushed out of government housing programs.
We have seen this with Katrina.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:54 pmWe could build somemore helecopters.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:07 pmwow, Patrick1nut. Not only can you disregard the topic of any thread, but you still continue to cut and paste as if your own.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/RetirementandWills/EscapeTheRatRace/TheRichHaveMoneyAndPassion.aspx?GT1=10019
Seriously, no offense, but it really must suck to be you!
Back on topic:
May 25th, 2007 at 3:09 pmWyoming and Texas — Vice President Cheney and President Bush’s respective home states — are the only states in the region not facing significant shortages, with equipment levels around 70 percent.
Huh. Whodathunkit?
Patrick1 sez:
OK, Patty…you pick up the tab for the first 100, then I’ll get the second 100..
May 25th, 2007 at 3:10 pmSo it is not the helecopters this weak thread is just about moonbat howling.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:31 pmYup. We’ve only got six left in MN.
http://www.mnblue.com/not_enough_guard
We’ll be in more trouble next March when another couple leave for Iraq.
The Big E
May 25th, 2007 at 3:34 pmmnblue.com is home to the Norm Coleman Weasel Meter
Patrick1 sez:
First of all, learn how to spell “helicopters”. The word is in the title of the freaking thread, for Chrissakes.
Second, could you make a little effort to form a cogent sentence? Perhaps more people would respond to you if you could manage to make a little fscking sense.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:37 pmYup. We only have 6 crews and helicopters left in MN.
http://www.mnblue.com/not_enough_guard
It’ll be down to four when 2 more leave for Iraq in March 2008.
The Big E
May 25th, 2007 at 3:37 pmmnblue.com is home to the Norm Coleman Weasel Meter
If it is so important that we use Blackhawks to chase Wyoming cows then we should build some new ones.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:41 pm#11,
Yes, the victim here is you MNers that won’t have the helicopters necessary IF an emergency arises and certainly not the Iraqis who are being murdered, raped, oppressed, and tortured right now using those helicopters that you don’t have in your garage, in case you need them.
Surely sir, you are the victim.
Progressive indeed.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:42 pmbushco is just inviting trouble. they’ve got it!
May 25th, 2007 at 3:45 pmpatrick is high on the fumes that come out of his ass.
May 25th, 2007 at 3:46 pmSpineless rat bastards. Start the conflict then short change all who are fighting in it.
I’d like to see the national data on this. Just how many National Guard and Reserve troops are down what equipment.
Anyone have a link to this?
May 25th, 2007 at 3:46 pmblah, blah, blah…libtards…blah, blah, blah…surrender…blah, blah, blah…moonbats…blah, blah, blah…islamofacists…blah, blah, blah…
May 25th, 2007 at 3:57 pm#18,
I see being subtle doesn’t work on this crowd, so I’ll be blunt.
How on earth can you claim Americans are the victims because the national guard is low on equipment because it is currently deployed and in use in the Iraq Genocide Project?
So the fact that the equipment is being used to murder, oppress, rape, torture, and occupy a foreign nation is irrelevant and superfluous in your view. The victim is not the one harmed by the equipment but the owner of the equipment who temporarily does not have access to the equipment in the event of an emergency.
My god! Have you lost your mind?
May 25th, 2007 at 3:59 pmfed, your not a big picture type person are you? The government is robbing Peter to pay Paul. All conflicts are tragic and I’m against the occupation in Iraq. Just because I don’t scream about the injustices in every post doesn’t mean I support it, or ignore it.
Discussing the far away killings untortunately doesn’t get the average amercians blood boiling. But talk about their sons and daughters not having the needed equipment does get attention. Then greater attention can be brought on the larger picture of the Iraq conflict itself.
There are many different roads that can get you to the same destination.
May 25th, 2007 at 4:21 pm#21,
The big picture is that the national guard equipment and troops are being used in the Middle East for the Iraq Genocide Project which includes murder, rape, torture, oppression, and occupation of a foreign land.
The small picture is that in the event that a flood occurs in rural Minnesota, the number of national guard troops and their support equipment available to the governor of that state to call up to aid in that potential, but not statistically likely, event is reduced.
So Mr. Reid…er…Madame Pelosi…uh, I mean…hellinabucket, contrary to what you tell me, the sky is in fact blue, fully funding the Iraq war is not the most effective way to end it, and the victim in a shooting is NOT the person who no longer has the option for using the bullet, but is in fact the person who has a bullet hole in them.
May 25th, 2007 at 4:32 pmYour anger is understandable but don’t think for one moment I am in favor of any more funding for this. What I told you, and am telling you again is that more attention can be brought to this entire mess if it get’s personal to the american public.
It’s a cold hard fact that the majority of americans will care more for their own soldiers than for the Iraqi citizens. I’m not placing a moral weight on that but it’s the truth. If this ineptitude can be better shown to the public there stands a better chance of more being shown and sinking in.
Stay mad, but stay focused. I’m not your enemy.
May 25th, 2007 at 4:55 pmFed the Fcuk Up!,
May 25th, 2007 at 5:29 pmThe fundimental question is – why is Iraq more important than the USA? W is sapping our strength for the sole benefit of big oil. Ten years down the road, W’s policies will transform our nation into a third world power. That is really when we will have to worry about Jihadists
#14…
May 25th, 2007 at 5:59 pmor just shoot all the #%$*&^!! cows!
( I’ll help!)
#23,
You speak with the same political tongue as the dem leaders. Telling me that this is a political issue that requires strategy and patience. All while people are dying daily and great harms are being perpetrated upon innocent people. What a great luxury you request in that patience. Would you be so patient if the barrel was pointing at you, or your children?
Your strategy is to fool the apathetic American public into caring about this issue by using the catch (fear?) of making it an issue of the safety of their wittle boys and girls back here at home in their pink houses with white picket fences from the horrors of some rain or lightning. Wow, great plan. And so genuine too. I’m sure that people have no problem being fooled when you can assure them that you were only doing so in their best interest Mr. Bush…er, hellinabucket.
So I am going to stay mad and no, I’m not going to buy into either “republican” or “democratic” bullshite. You see, I’m remaining focused. You, on the other hand, are the one whose telling me that in order to end the Iraq Genocide Project that we must direct our energies (focus) at the issue of a diminished emergency response capabilities in rural America.
I know that you are not my enemy. What you don’t know is that you are your own worst enemy.
Good luck on that strategy, by the way.
May 25th, 2007 at 6:10 pm#24,
That’s an interesting question, but not the fundamental one.
The fundamental question is how many murders are you comfortable with?
For me, the answer is “none”. For most here, the answer is however many necessary so as to not cause any inconvenience or sacrifice upon the American public. Except the troops, of course, but nobody cares about them anyway (irrefutable fact, by the way: sending into harms way on false pretenses, under-equipping, doing on the cheap, Walter Reed, etc…).
May 25th, 2007 at 6:17 pmOk, let’s start having bake sales and setting up lemonade stands and collecting donations at intersections.
May 25th, 2007 at 8:07 pmOtherwise, this frigging crowd in washington will steal and abscond with anything they can get their hands on.
Do you see any oil companies contribute anything but kickbacks and more lobbyists?
State (La.)…
…missing 100s of thousands of residents…
May 25th, 2007 at 9:02 pm#27 – Fed the Fcuk Up!,
May 25th, 2007 at 10:35 pmYou miss my point, but you agree with my premise. How many barrels of oil is a human life worth? I am not only referring to our troops, but Iraqis as well.
All Helicopters remain in Wyoming to protect VP Cheney and his ranch.
May 25th, 2007 at 11:17 pmFed,
On my blog, mnblue, we’ve been consistently posting about how wrong this war is and how every time we have another Friedman Unit, countless Iraqis are killed, maimed and wounded. This ****ing occupation is a travesty of mind-bendin proportions. I was simply commenting on the specific effect that ’stealing from Peter to pay Paul’ as hellinabucket pointed out is one minute aspect of this travesty. My intention was not to denigrate the suffering of the Iraqi people or our troops.
The Big E
mnblue.com, home of the Norm Coleman Weasel Meter
PS Sorry about the double post. Sumpin’ funny happened.
May 26th, 2007 at 12:34 am