VT Says President's Authority To Send Guard Members To Iraq Has Expired

[jimmydean]

Link (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/02/national/main3782021.shtml)

State Rep. Michael Fisher introduced a bill Wednesday, backed by 30 colleagues, that called on Gov. Jim Douglas to join the effort.

"Most of us standing here, maybe all of us, have made objections in the past about the morality or wisdom of this war. Today we are limiting ourselves to one vital principle: the rule of law," Fisher said.

I couldn't agree more. This is an interesting approach, I want to see how far this will go.

[LordOpie]

Maybe I'm ignorant, but I never want the NG deployed for any reason, ever. My thinking is that they serve domestically for emergencies... WTF happens if they're overseas?

Glad it's happening.

[Jim Mac]

This is probably why Bush has yet to visit VT (it's the only state he hasn't been in as president, as a matter of fact).

[BurlyShirley]

It'll be interesting to see what happens with this, but I somehow doubt it gets very far.

[jimmydean]

It'll be interesting to see what happens with this, but I somehow doubt it gets very far.

I agree it might not get far, but they do have a point. Insurgents in Iraq pose no threat to US soil, so National Guard troops have no business there.

If it gets anywhere, you will see a large number of states pulling the same thing.

[Silver]

It will get no where. The rule of law means nothing. We torture people now as regular policy. You think Bush cares what a bunch of State Representatives in Vermont thinK?

[LordOpie]

It will get no where. The rule of law means nothing. We torture people now as regular policy. You think Bush cares what a bunch of State Representatives in Vermont thinK?

But if it's court ordered, I don't think a PotUS can ignore that.

[Silver]

But if it's court ordered, I don't think a PotUS can ignore that.

So? He'll appeal, it will be tied up for years, and it won't make a bit of difference.

[BurlyShirley]

I can just see Gen. Patreus now in front of congress saying "It's possible these guys could attack the US"

[LordOpie]

So? He'll appeal, it will be tied up for years, and it won't make a bit of difference.

Agreed, except that eventually, another asshole PotUS will come along and the ground work to keep NGs out of extended foreign service will be laid.

[jimmydean]

Agreed, except that eventually, another asshole PotUS will come along and the ground work to keep NGs out of extended foreign service will be laid.

That's my hope. That whoever is next will agree and it will be cause for a reduction of force that will allow states to rebuild NG forces.

With less than a year to go, my hopes of anything "good" to come out of this administration are gone. It would be nice to limit additional long term damage, though.

[JohnE]

The Guard and Reserve are RUINED. Retention sucks, and first term recruiting numbers are way down. Equipment that isnt destroyed is wrecked, what does come home from SWA is light years away from repair or replacement. My brother in law commands a Res. Brigade, and he is losing 15+ year veterans, Senior NCOs, guys close enough to retiring that they can start growing their hair out, faste then he can promomte new ones.
The Guard has a duty to the fed. gvmnt, but in time of war. Are we still at "war"? GWBs GWOT will have no end, it is the perfect feeder for the military industrial complex that Cheney and Haliburton envisioned...
In short, we have been screwed by 2 rich kids who were too good to go to "their" war, but didnt hesitate to send other peoples kids to the war they started.

[ire]

In short, we have been screwed by 2 rich kids who were too good to go to "their" war, but didnt hesitate to send other peoples kids to the war they started.

isn't that the way it always goes?

[$tinkle]

i find it ironic that Virginia Tech wants to create more opportunities for violence.

[skinny mike]

i find it ironic that Virginia Tech wants to create more opportunities for violence.
:confused:

you have heard of the state of vermont(vt), right?

[Secret Squirrel]

i find it ironic that Virginia Tech wants to create more opportunities for violence.

That's drool....even for you...

I like it.

[$tinkle]

:confused:

you have heard of the state of vermont(vt), right?friday was underline day, and today is ironic day, fatboy

[jimmydean]

The Guard and Reserve are RUINED. Retention sucks, and first term recruiting numbers are way down. Equipment that isnt destroyed is wrecked, what does come home from SWA is light years away from repair or replacement. My brother in law commands a Res. Brigade, and he is losing 15+ year veterans, Senior NCOs, guys close enough to retiring that they can start growing their hair out, faste then he can promomte new ones.

I saw this first hand in my first year of service in the NG. I used to work with the recruiters on retention and it was ugly. At the Command levels, they didn't understand why they were losing NCO's hand over fist no matter how much money they were trying to toss at them.

The other side is only starting to show up and that's the long term financial impact 12+ months took on some senior level folks. More than 3/4 of the E6 and above made more money in a civilian job than they did deployed, even tax free with danger pay in my old unit. There were a lot of people that were in danger of losing houses and businesses because they couldn't maintain a quality of life back home.