U.S. military unprepared for homeland attack.
By on Jan 31st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
U.S. military unprepared for homeland attack.
A new report by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves finds that the “U.S. military isn’t ready for a catastrophic attack on the country, and National Guard forces don’t have the equipment or training they need for the job.” More than 88 percent of Army National Guard units are not combat-ready today.
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Who in the hell would want to attack us? Our own government is doing a heck of a job destroying us all by themselves.
Buck Fush
January 31st, 2008 at 4:03 pmThat should read not combat ready???
Even fewer Army National Guard units are combat-ready today than were nearly a year ago when the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves determined that 88 percent of the units were not prepared for the fight, the panel says in a new report released Thursday.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:06 pm"More than 88 percent of Army National Guard units are combat-ready today."
TP -- I think this is a typo. In the linked Seattle Times article, it states that number are NOT combat-ready today.
Furthermore, that 88% number was from a report from a year ago, and it's reported that the situation is worse today.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:06 pmBin Laden's real mission accomplished. Dupe the dope into expending our resources where we weren't attacked from...
Alfred E. Neuman could have done better.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:07 pmYep. The ONLY reason we're not being invaded by the Chinese is that they need us to continue fueling their economy with our rapidly devaluing dollars. Iran? Can't reach us. Russia? Has better things to do, such as get fat off their own oil reserves. The EU? To busy watching while we lose our standing and grinning as the Euro becomes the default currency of the world.
But I sure don't feel safe knowing that should China decide that having the USes resources without the hassle of dealing with our government is more important than using our dollars to fatten their economy, our military's so spent we couldn't fight them off.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:07 pmWho in the hell would want to attack us? Our own government is doing a heck of a job destroying us all by themselves.
Comment by Buckie Boy — January 31, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Excellent point, Buckie.
After all, attacking a foreign population is so much trouble -- logistics, supplies, transportation...
Why not just sit at home instead and watch on the big screen as Bush trashes the joint by himself?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:09 pmI have never fully understood the logic of "we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here."
In hockey or soccer, you always make sure your goal is guarded, even if all the action is taking place at the opposite end of the field. And that's in a game where you KNOW exactly who and where your opponent is.
Suspending all conspiracy theories about 9/11 for a moment, and taking the official story at face value -- who's to say that another sleeper cell couldn't pull off another attack?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:12 pmBecause in reality, the military knows the chances of a catastrophic homeland attack is extremely minimal. Unlike what the Bush admin would want the 24% of turd-brainers to think.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:13 pmWho in the hell would want to attack us? Our own government is doing a heck of a job destroying us all by themselves.
Comment by Buckie Boy — January 31, 2008 @ 4:03 pm
Immediately after 9/11, Bin Laden was quoted as saying that the results of the attacks were far better than he expected.
I imagine Bin Laden is even more pleased with our stretched and decimated military, our spiraling debt, our eroded freedoms, our sinking dollar, the rising worldwide opinion against us, and the fact that a significant number of Americans still live in a state of fear.
He's not having to lift a finger. He can sit back and watch as we destroy ourselves in ways that are far better than he expected.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:18 pmSo we're fighting them over there because we can't fight them here?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:19 pmLike it matters.
The Chinese own the whole damn place anways. Either they (through eminent domain) or Russia (through ol' fashioned imperialism) are going to drop by and try to take the goods...
January 31st, 2008 at 4:23 pmBecause in reality, the military knows the chances of a catastrophic homeland attack is extremely minimal. Unlike what the Bush admin would want the 24% of turd-brainers to think.
Anyway, even if we didn't have a military full of people that WANT to fight, the largest ocean navy in the world with two oceans between us and most of our enemies, we have entire populations of potential partisans (Texas, Wisconsin, Montanna, Alabama, Georgia, Missisipi, etc)
It doesn't matter whether people think our government is full of idiots or not. They're OUR idiots. No one has the right to take them out and shoot them in the back of the head for being douchebags except for us.
The first thing an invading army would hear is the sound of safeties clicking off all over Texas and pickup truck doors slamming and their engines revving. The next day, you won't be able to buy army surplus anything, dynamite, or ammo anywhere in the southern states. It doesn't matter what the government does. The redneck/hillbilly/cajun/Montanna Militia/street gang auxilliary would take matters into their own hands, and even if they've heard of the Geneva convention, they probably won't much care for it.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:24 pmToday at the college I was working out and three marine recruiters came in smiling at this kid. The kid reluctantly shuffles over to talk to them. When they left I walk over to the boy and asked him if they had promised him a vacation in beautiful Kandahar. He said they wouldn't take no for an answer. I told him to tell them you don't want to be a corporate hit man, and that you have asthma. I support the troops, I really do, my dad is a veteran of three foreign wars, I grew up in a military family, but they need to get the hell out of the schools and over to the churches on Sunday morning and recruit the dumb asses who voted republican and wanted and loved these wars we are in. Maybe some attitudes might change about how great war is if their kids were comming home with no legs or worse. We have all are eggs in one basket right now and I don't believe we are taking care of things at home. Look at Katrina as an example.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:28 pmThis is the beginning of the disinformation campaign along with the marketing of chronic fear.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:37 pmthey need to get the hell out of the schools and over to the churches on Sunday morning and recruit the dumb asses who voted republican and wanted and loved these wars we are in. -LVoR
That needed to be said again; good post.
'When God becomes the reason for War, War has no reason' -ZZ
January 31st, 2008 at 4:38 pmDuh? Gee, can't imagine why we cannot be prepared after spend-wasting all that money in the middle east, after killing and maiming our young soldiers.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:38 pmThrough our history Americans have always seem to fix the wrongs and do the right things, that I do believe is our biggest strength. With army and marine recruitment at all time lows I believe this process has started. BTW thanks ZZ I only speak from the heart.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:45 pmSouthern man I don't give a damn what you think so shove it and don't bother responding because I won't read it. You're are close minded and can't see through a metaphor if it blew you helmet off.
January 31st, 2008 at 4:49 pmYou support the millitary, but do not support new enlistment for it?
Comment by Southern Man — January 31, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Umm... not even a good straw mammal, SM.
The Lone Voice never said he did not support "new enlistment". In fact, he suggested a good source for new recruits: the population that overwhelmingly supports military intervention (which seems completely at odds with Christ-like behavior) church-goers.
Tell me, is it exhausting stuffing all your old clothes with straw, or do you enjoy it?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:51 pmHere's an attack for you Southern Turd....
You are still a stupid, vile, ignorant neanderturd today like any other day. Short, precise and to the point.
Buck Fush
January 31st, 2008 at 4:52 pm"National Guard forces don’t have the equipment or training they need for the job.â€
This falls right into BUSHCO's long range plan to replace the military with a homegrown right wing, bible thumbing mercenary outfit like Blackwater so they can protect US citizens from themselves.
Onward Christian Soldiers!
Be afraid, very afraid!
January 31st, 2008 at 4:55 pmSouthernmanny - we already have dumbasses in our military. Have you read up lately on the percentage of new recruits who do NOT have high school diplomas...?
It's going on 25%.
So...shut up, you mindless Bush apologist, until you get some FACTS under your belt. (if that's even possible)
January 31st, 2008 at 4:55 pmAll we really need to look at to see how these wars have depleted our military is the fact that 30 and 40 something men and women who sign up to protect us at home are getting slaughtered in a country that had no WMD. This administration lied how many times in the run up to the war? 900 and some?
January 31st, 2008 at 4:59 pm935.
And you're welcome. ;o)
January 31st, 2008 at 5:01 pmso... the entire War on Terror has resulted in creating more terrorists, destablizing an entire region and thus formenting more unrest and creating perfect recruiting avenues for the terrorists, weakening our economy, reducing our standing in the world court of public opinion AND has weakened our homeland security...
and people are still trying to defend this???
January 31st, 2008 at 5:01 pmRight on Annie, fight the good fight, I have to take off for class, education is key.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:14 pmYou know, I thought briefly about joining the Ntnl Guard after Hurricane Katrina, as that would give me a perfect opportunity to serve my country...after all, when big natural disasters strike, it's the National Guard who is there. I always thought that the Army, Navy, Airforce, and Marine Corps were the groups that charged Normandy's beaches while the National Guard kept the homeland defense going so Japs and Nazis couldn't walse onto our shores from their hidden submarines. However, today, the national guard, who would protect the US from attacks on its own soil, is busy fighting a war that it is _not_ equipped or trained to fight. We're using homeland defense troops as invading troops because Dubya is too cheap to actually call a draft.
Could it be that he knows that the quickest way for his war to go south is for him to call a draft? Of course.
Southern Man, enjoy your weakened nation. Should Chinese troops land in California, it'll be aaaaalll your fault.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:15 pmOsama be Smilin'
January 31st, 2008 at 5:18 pmMust not offer as great war profiteering opportunities!
January 31st, 2008 at 5:23 pmStraw man? Please…..
Comment by Southern Man — January 31, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Has your thinking always been this warped? Jeebus....
Don't bother answering, it won't make any sense.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:28 pmManny - it's very simple. The Chinese have absolutely no need to BOMB us.
They have already BOUGHT us. One of these days, they'll call in our debt, and then they'll show up to collect. In person.
Tell me, how's your Mandarin, Manny?
January 31st, 2008 at 5:37 pmMust suck to be a recruiter when your candidate pool knows that one out of six returning soldiers has concussion injuries.
In the days of the self sufficient military, one could enlist and learn a skill.
In the days of the mercenary enabled military, you're just underpaid cannon fodder.
Especially the NGs. They enlisted to keep the country safe. At home.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:41 pmBeginning of the disinformation campaign? No, it is the continuation of a disinformation campaign the Neocons started during the Nixon administration. As for the marketing of chronic fear, I call it the "Fear Lobby". With instant communications, someone can now propagate any myth faster and easier than ever before. When the myth is told often enough, it becomes an accepted fact. When it becomes an accepted fact, it is then a simple matter to tell people what needs to be done. The "Fear Lobby" need not be highly organized, just consistent in message.
We must remember, in 2004 by Dr. Laurence Britt, a political scientist, studied the fascist regimes of: Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia), and Pinochet (Chile). He identified the 14 Points of Fascism, the third point being: Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause. In other words,
The 7th point being:
Naw, I say we have been there for quite some time now. "Nothing is more pitiful than a nation being swept along by fools.".
January 31st, 2008 at 5:48 pmHow long did it take the geniuses to figure out that the low readiness ratings also implied low readiness for domestic attack.
And while they're at it, did they figure out that the low readiness may also apply to natural disasters ?
Think of it, the next national disaster or civil disturbance, the folks patroling the area, having to deal with highly distraught persons in a stressful situation, are gonna be the ones hired under the new military, relaxed enlistment standards.
I guess if Dr. Phil can play therapist, a high-school drop out with recent felony history is just the therapist the disaster victims will need.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:52 pmSouthern Man can't ever get his thing to go North, hence "Southern" Man.
January 31st, 2008 at 5:59 pmI know what it takes to run a business, all the long hours, no weekends. It must be hard for a progressive like youself to deal with. Good luck Zooey.
Comment by Southern Man — January 31, 2008 @ 5:36 pm
Without the hits? Hmmm, I guess you can't see our blog stats, can you? All it takes is time, dingleberry. I'm a student, there's no such thing as weekends anyway.
Only wingnuts like yourself place a monetary value on EVERYTHING. That's why you have so much trouble understanding human compassion and caring -- can't fix a dollar amount to it.
I will take your snide comments as a compliment, in spite of your real intentions.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:06 pmActually, I am much more in fear of a natural disaster happening in this country than I am some "terrierist" attack (I have a terrier and I love to call him a "terrierist" because he's so smart). We are totally unprepared for taking care of ourselves in the case of some large natural disaster. The National Guard were created to protect our country and to assist in natural disasters. They were not created to provide cannon fodder for a crazy ass man who needs more warm bodies in order to be able to occupy a foreign country. We saw what happened in New Orleans because of our lack of any real governmental help in the midst of a natural disaster. It can and will happen again as long as our National Guard and all their equipment are in Iraq.
Then we need to think about what we will do when they come back from Iraq. We won't be getting the equipment back, so every state is going to have to come up with a shit pot of money to replace all the equipment the Bushies stole from them.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:24 pm... not to mention serial natural disasters... the US can't even deal with hurricanes effectively.
The scenario of compound disasters will result in some serious mayhem.
My favorite is the Yellowstone super volcano. Which is seriously overdue to blow, by a few thousand years.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:35 pmIf and when it does, there won't be any cornflakes coming out of Iowa for a few decades....................
Mine too, Nevar. I'd probably be seriously dead when it blows, but what a fantastic natural disaster!
January 31st, 2008 at 7:51 pmWatch how the pros come and attack me on your behalf. Watch their masterful form, with their vile and hate. You might end up like them one day….I hope not though. And 1..2..3…
Comment by Southern Man — January 31, 2008 @ 4:44 pm
Nobody should enlist in the armed services under a republican administration,noboady, ever. they will only be sent to their deaths to make rich men richer, not to defend America, exactly as is happening now. Defending America at this point means impeaching, trying, convicting and jailing the current administration, from top to bottom.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:52 pmMilitary unprepared for attack? So nothing's changed since 9/11?
Good job, Bushies.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:59 pmthe millitary should be small in size, dumb asses, and church going christians. Straw man? Please…..
Comment by Southern Man — January 31, 2008 @ 5:20 pm
Straw man? That's describes our current military perfectly, which is why we're losing the wars Bush has started.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:01 pmThis is terrible. Our Homeland is defenseless. Oh My God. What to do?
Hark. Do I hear a call to privatize the National Guard?
But who has the experience to take over the National Guard? Have no fear, Blackwater is here, for a price. Just one no bid contract away from rescuing us and keeping us all safe and sound.
Who might be the enemy though. Could it be 9/11 Truthers, dissident bloggers, anti-globalists? Perhaps Mexico would like to recover the land we stole from them? China's stategy is to defeat us without a War but they could always ship their army to in containers marked as Consumer Goods. Russia and Iran does not have the means to land troops.
But what if 300 million Americans wake up one day and find out what their government has really been up to. This is what has them nervous. They are not concerned with protecting us, they are concerned with protecting themselves, and they do not trust the National Guard to do it since they have scr*wed them, and even regular Army might not go along.
But Blackwater is led by the Extreme Right Christian Zionist Soldier Mr Erik Prince who will be pleased do protect Gods country from the Godless who do not worship their leaders in Washington, for a buck. Maybe thats why we destroyed the National Guard, to make room for Blackwater. We can rent out the detention camps Halliburton has built over the last few years throughout the country, allow them to hire illegal immigrants as their soldiers, and they should be ready to go.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:15 pm#47 This is terrible. Our Homeland is defenseless. Oh My God. What to do?
Hark. Do I hear a call to privatize the National Guard?
But who has the experience to take over the National Guard? Have no fear, Blackwater is here, for a price. Just one no bid contract away from rescuing us and keeping us all safe and sound.
Comment by MiMiCcs — January 31, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
Thank you for stating it so clearly and well. You know that is the plan as this whole country is being 'privatized' to the neocons. They, along with China, Japan, etc., are the proud new owners of this here US of A.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:35 pmThank the Lord George W Bush has been our Dear Leader during this important fight against terrorism.
Remember:
We are fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here.
9/11 taught us that oceans no longer protect us.
Iraq is the central front in the war on terror.
Because of our war in Iraq, our country is safer now.
Bin Laden is not important.
Anyone who doesn't support the war doesn't support our troops.
George W. Bush, your name will be remembered for generations.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:39 pmIt has been over 6 hours and the lead-in is still not corrected. Where is that word "not"?
January 31st, 2008 at 10:40 pmLearned today via local news that some of the members of the TN Nat'l Guard is being mobilized for possible duty in the Middle East.
Damn. How much more can we give?
January 31st, 2008 at 11:52 pm