http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/iraq/chi-0311050264nov05,1,2845686.story?coll=chi-news-hedCiting tips from military personnel stationed in Iraq, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) charged Tuesday that many of the aircraft operated by National Guard units are not equipped with the anti-missile defense systems and crew protection material necessary to safeguard troops.
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"These guard units come in and have to take hand-me-down equipment and scavenge equipment and plead for the same kind of protection that regular Army helicopter crews have," Durbin said in an interview.
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Marine Capt. David Romley, a Defense Department spokesman, could not confirm what kind of anti-missile technology, if any, was on the 13-year-old Chinook shot down Sunday. But he insisted that National Guard units are provided the same anti-missile technology as active-duty units.
A woman whose daughter is in the National Guard unit whose helicopter was shot down disputed Romley's contention after talking with her daughter Tuesday by telephone. She said her daughter told her the helicopter did not include "rocket radar."
"She said most of their helicopters do not have the safety devices in place," the mother added, describing her daughter as upset and angry about the situation.
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