From Army Times, 6/6/07:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/06/ap_guardconference_070606/

Equipment levels worst ever, Guard chief says

By James Halpin - The Associated Press


ANCHORAGE, Alaska —

About half of all National Guard equipment is being used in the Middle
East, and the Guard’s senior uniformed officer said Tuesday that could
hurt the organization’s overall readiness at home.

National Guard units have 53 percent of the equipment they need to
handle state emergencies, said Lt. General H. Steven Blum.

It falls to 49 percent once Guard equipment needed for war — such as
weapons — is factored in, he said.

“Our problem right now is that our equipment is at an all-time low,”
he said at a news conference after addressing 54 National Guard
commanders from every state and territory attending the annual
Adjutants General Association meeting here.

“We have the most skilled, trained and full forces we’ve ever had, but
our equipment is not where it needs to be,” he said.

The lack of equipment was highlighted last month after a tornado
leveled the town of Greensburg, Kan., leading Kansas Gov. Kathleen
Sebelius to say the recovery process could take longer because so much
of that state’s National Guard equipment had been sent for the war
effort in Iraq.

Since then, other governors have also expressed doubts their state
units would be able to adequately handle disasters because so many
troops and equipment have been deployed.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger also complained that his state’s
National Guard equipment remained in Iraq after those troops returned
home.

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Our nation's ability to protect itself has been seriously eroded by
the treasonous Republican administration.

Harry