a response to a post over at tomluffman's journal

[novapsyche]

First off, the Guard should not be deployed to Iraq. The Guard is supposed to be here, at home.

However, since they are over there, we have not enough of them here to take care of things like natural disasters. Katrina would have been handled much more smoothly if the Guard had been available.

We simply do not have the numbers to enforce a border, and I think it would be bad precedent to set in the first place. Bush is simply trying to score political points for his party during an election year. (Although I'm not sure who he's trying to court, besides xenophobes. This country has a long history, unfortunately, of cracking down on immigrants when it serves those in power to do so.)

I would add: As long as the Guard is deployed into war zones, you're not going to see a lot of people signing up for it. The regular Army is squeezed for forces, and the Guard will definitely see the same if this plan for border patrol is implemented.

Also, I just think the whole thing seems to be a foreseeable train wreck. If you don't think people trying to enter the U.S. will be shot and killed, you are living in Fantasy Land.

Comments

[xterminal.livejournal.com]

Katrina would have been handled much more smoothly if the Guard had been available.

Judging by the vast majority of what I have heard from those who were there during the disaster, I'm guessing there would be a whole lot of disagreement on this point.

ever played RISK?

[magicmaiden.livejournal.com]

I must admit my RISK playing days keep flashing back to me since this Bush has been in office.

I strongly suspect he never played the game and maybe he needs to.

Risk is a strategy game, a war game. If Bush had ever played it he would have (hopefully) seen a long time ago where his people were and known not to spread us so thin.

I really wonder who he has in there for advisors and who is really running our country...cause it sure doesn't look like they are on our side.

[dionysus1999.livejournal.com]

You've got my vote, but you're not old enough to be president yet. ;)

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Well, the Guard is supposed to be available for natural disasters and other states of emergency. I think the local Guard would have been quite helpful, as they have knowledge of the area, regional contacts, etc.