SOLID info on LA Nat'l Guard diversions to Iraq

I've been in an argument...like many here...and one facet of it was that a great deal of the LA NG was sent to Iraq, and so was its machinery.

My arguing oppo contended this was....NOT TRUE!!

Now, I've seen a 35% figure for the number of LA NG troops sent to Iraq, but both were in op-ed pieces (Molly Ivins and Mo Dowd) and would be shot down as propoganda from the guy I'm arguing with. (To be fair, I'd pretty much do the same if his sole source for a fact was Michelle Malkin or John Leo or the like.)

Today on DEMOCRACY NOW, someone was on saying the same 35% figure, and she also said a great deal of amphibious vehicles (uhh...boats?) were gone, and that there were "only two rescue helicopters left" because that too was sent to Iraq. (She didn't mention how many there were in the first place.) Again, I'm pretty sure this was someone from a liberal think tank who would be shot down in an argument.

So. Is there any SOLID linkable info about EXACTLY how much manpower and materiel is gone from LA for Iraq? For instance, it would be really good to know if, say, fourteen helicopters were sent to Iraq and only two remained...that would be pretty damning for this part of the argument.

Any links about this would be appreciated... (Major daily news piece? Government website?)

http://www.boomantribune.com/main/4



So, there might be more detail at Democracy Now.

Do tell the person you are arguing with what Lt. Colonel Schneider said. That should end any argument regardless of percentages. (on edit: and this was from early AUGUST, trying to be proactive BEFORE a hurricane struck!)


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When members of the Louisiana National Guard left for Iraq in October, they took a lot equipment with them. Dozens of high water vehicles, humvees, refuelers and generators are now abroad, and in the event of a major natural disaster that, could be a problem.

“The National Guard needs that equipment back home to support the homeland security mission,” said Lt. Colonel Pete Schneider with the LA National Guard.

Col. Schneider says the state has enough equipment to get by, and if Louisiana were to get hit by a major hurricane, the neighboring states of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida have all agreed to help.

http://abc26.trb.com/news/natguard08012005,0,4504131.story?coll=wgno-news-1

Bluebear,
Couldn't find that link, but it sounds like just the thing...I will try searching the station's site...

Googled Colonel Schneider (we're the same rank, apparently) and came up with this:

http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=107734

Dateline August 2005...he's begging for the stuff to come back from Iraq in case of a major hurricane....

Now I'm madder than before. Didn't know that was possible.

I guess I could get madder still if I knew exactly what the helicopter number was before Iraq, and after...

Sorry I can't help you with the numbers but hope it's a start, Colonel! All the best to you.