"Pentagon not ready for attack response in U.S.: study"

[CactusCarlos]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2800206

"Pentagon not ready for attack response in U.S.: study"
Posted by in_cog_ni_to on Thu Jan-31-08 06:29 PM

Pentagon not ready for attack response in U.S.: study
Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:55pm EST

By Kristin Roberts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Pentagon is not prepared to respond to a catastrophic chemical, biological or nuclear attack within the United States, placing Americans at risk, an independent panel reported to Congress on Thursday.

While the Defense Department conducts exhaustive planning for operations overseas, its planning for possible action inside the United States in response to attacks is inadequate, said the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves.

"We looked at their plans. They're totally unacceptable," said commission chairman Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Corps major general.

"You couldn't move a Girl Scout unit with the kind of planning they're doing," Punaro said of plans drafted by U.S. Northern Command, the part of the military responsible for homeland defense.

While other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, are responsible for pieces of the government's response to an attack, the Defense Department is the only agency with the resources and capabilities to manage the overall response, the commission argued.<snip>

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN3132841520080131

thank you mr bu$h*
Posted by spanone on Thu Jan-31-08 06:30 PM
 

[TheSarge]

thank you mr bu$h*
Posted by spanone on Thu Jan-31-08 06:30 PM

Errrr...wrong.

More like thanks to the Libs and DUmmies like you who claim the whole terrorism threat is just a Republican boogeyman to keep people in fear.

You've managed to handcuff the DoD from doing anything tangible to cope with the next attack.

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

Which bloc of blockheads runs around everytime the military is having a domestic wargame crying, "OMG! OMG! They're practicing for MARSHALL LAW!"

[Airwolf]

thank you mr bu$h*
Posted by spanone on Thu Jan-31-08 06:30 PM

Errrr...wrong.

More like thanks to the Libs and DUmmies like you who claim the whole terrorism threat is just a Republican boogeyman to keep people in fear.

You've managed to handcuff the DoD from doing anything tangible to cope with the next attack.

Actually I would say this all falls at the feet of the past few BRAC closures since the end of the Bush 41 days and the Dems in controll since then. We had one of the largest build ups of military might since the end of WWII and they pissed it all away.

[djones520]

thank you mr bu$h*
Posted by spanone on Thu Jan-31-08 06:30 PM

Errrr...wrong.

More like thanks to the Libs and DUmmies like you who claim the whole terrorism threat is just a Republican boogeyman to keep people in fear.

You've managed to handcuff the DoD from doing anything tangible to cope with the next attack.

Actually I would say this all falls at the feet of the past few BRAC closures since the end of the Bush 41 days and the Dems in controll since then. We had one of the largest build ups of military might since the end of WWII and they pissed it all away.

It's Congress's fault.  They won't give us the money.  1:10 Airmen are being released from the AF because thats the only way they can come up with cash to buy the new jets we need to replace the ones that are falling apart around us.  We can't afford equipment.  Can't afford proper training.  Hell, I haven't fired an M-16 in 4 years because it's to costly to keep people qualified unless their deploying to Iraq of Afghan.  And this is just the Air Force.

They keep making our budget smaller and smaller each year, and are demanding we do more and more.  If we don't have the funds to do the training, we don't train.  We don't train, we're not prepared.  It's that simple.