Were all the overseas Lousiana National Guardsmen REALLY in Iraq when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit?
Some perspective shows that at least some of them are probably elsewhere, mis-deployed - and apparently illegally so. It seems the plan is to have them there for a long time to come, too. The article does not mention the LANG units in the same breath with the long term deployment in Uzbekistan, but that both are discussed in the same context certainly suggests that the LANG may be spending a lot of time in Central Asia. I am sure the Louisiana citizenry will be glad to hear that is the case.
See link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A64817-2002Aug26&a
mp;notFound=true
Deep in this article back in 2002, it reports that, "The militaries of all three [Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan] have an ongoing relationship with the National Guard of a U.S. state -- Kazakhstan with Arizona, Kyrgyzstan with Montana, Uzbekistan with Louisiana."
The article starts out with, "About 1,000 U.S. troops live and work here [at that one site], handling tons of supplies for the war in Afghanistan."
Elsewhere, the article reports that " 'The logic of the situation,' said Abdulaziz Kamilov, Karimov's foreign minister, 'suggests that the United States has come here with a serious purpose, and for a long time.' "
It further reports that "President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, for example, said: 'We'll need 15 to 20 years to stabilize Afghanistan now,' and he anticipates an important role for the United States in the effort."
Put those statements together, and you can't help understanding that Bush and the Pentagon, having placed LA National Guardsmen in Uzbekistan, have been (or ARE) planning to keep them there a very long time. For example, what does "the militaries... have an ongoing relationship with the National Guard of a U.S. state" mean?
We have all been led to believe that the LANG troops were fighting for democracy in Iraq, and couldn't be spared from that high minded task to go and help in the wake of Katrina and Rita.
Instead, it seems that at least SOME of the LANG troops have been in Uzbekistan for the last three years. These NGs are evidently watching over the oil fields of Central Asia (probably alongside regular Army troops), and are not among those in Iraq.
What the HELL are they doing there? National Guard Units are not supposed to be activated for overseas duty, except war. And once that war is over, they are supposed to be deactivated. The war in Afghanistan was over in 2002. Are they still there? If so, under what authority? They are the militia of the state governments. What in the hell kind of arrangement does LA have with the Feds and the Pentagon that allows them to send activated NG Units to Uzbekistan???? And keep them there indefinitely?? It sure sounds like that is the case.
Individual state militias are not allowed to have "ongoing relationships" with foreign militaries!!!! I am POSITIVE that that is unconstitutional.
But the central question here is this: Were LANG units in Uzbekistan when Katrina and Rita hit? And why weren't those units sent to Louisiana? They weren't part of any war any more.
I don't know. I am just asking the questions.
Do see the article...
[With thanks to CooperativeResearch.com]