When we think about the enormous costs associated with the war in Iraq, we generally consider the deaths, injuries, hundreds of billions of dollars, the increased threat of terrorism, and the weakened international standing.
But once in a while, it’s important to remember some of the underreported consequences — such as the ability to respond to a domestic disaster.
The rebuilding effort in tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kansas, likely will be hampered because some much-needed equipment is in Iraq, said that state’s governor.
Governor Kathleen Sebelius said much of the National Guard equipment usually positioned around the state to respond to emergencies is gone. She said not having immediate access to things like tents, trucks and semitrailers will really handicap the rebuilding effort.
The Greensburg administrator estimated that 95 percent of the town of 1500 was destroyed by Friday’s tornado.
The Kansas National Guard has about 40 percent of the equipment it is allotted because much of it has been sent to Iraq.
Some on the right are suggesting that Sebelius should have back-up emergency response equipment. Why didn’t we think of that? Let’s have every state in the Union create emergency infrastructure twice — once for a disastrous open-ended war, and again for in-state use. Please.
TP added:
This morning on CNN, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) said that the state is missing vital National Guard equipment because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Usually the state has approximately 70-80 percent of its equipment at any given time, but it currently has just 40-50 percent. She added that these shortages “will just make it [recovery] that much slower.”
According to a recent report by a congressional commission, nearly “90 percent of Army National Guard units in the United States are rated ‘not ready,” largely “as a result of shortfalls in billions of dollars’ worth of equipment.” A January Government Accountability Office analysis found that the Pentagon “does not adequately track National Guard equipment needs for domestic missions” and as a consequence, “state National Guards may be hampered in their ability to plan for responding to large-scale domestic events.”
Sebelius added that Kansas is trying to borrow equipment from other states, but without National Guard personnel and resources, it’s an uphill climb. “When the troops get deployed, the equipment goes with them,” she said.
The war has weakened the country in a variety of ways, but we’re now at a point at which even responding to disasters and emergencies is tougher than it should be.