General Montano: War in Iraq Has Overstretched National Guard Resources Here at Home

Major General Melvyn S. Montano, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), a former adjutant general of the New Mexico National Guard, delivers the Democratic radio address. During the address, General Montano highlights the fact that the war in Iraq has stretched National Guard resources to a breaking point.

General Montano notes that, as a result, the Guard is not as prepared as they should be to respond to local emergencies like the tornado that hit Greensburg, Kansas last week. He argues that we need to rebuild our National Guard and President Bush should work with Democrats to bring the war in Iraq to an end.

The transcript of the radio address is below. To listen to the address, click here:

Text of Radio Address:

Good morning. My name is Major General Melvyn Montano, U.S. Air Force, Retired, and former adjutant general of the New Mexico National Guard. I am a Vietnam veteran and served almost 46 years in the military.

Today, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Greensburg, Kansas who are now rebuilding their community in the aftermath of the devastating tornado last week. Unfortunately, it took this tragedy to expose a costly consequence of the mismanaged war in Iraq.

For months, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius has warned the Pentagon that the war in Iraq has stretched the National Guard resources to the limit. Crucial equipment used by the Guard for disaster relief is now in Iraq instead of standing ready to respond to crises here at home. Without the equipment they need, the Guard can not respond effectively to catastrophic events. They can not quickly secure communities, remove debris, and save lives.

The National Guard, our nation's first responder to hurricanes, forest fires, tornadoes and other natural disasters, is not as prepared as they should be. This week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates acknowledged that current equipment levels are at the lowest since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

When the tornado struck Kansas last week, the Guard had half the number of humvees and large trucks they usually would have at their disposal. As a result, the recovery process now will take longer and the people of Kansas are more vulnerable if another disaster should strike. The Guard in Ohio, California and Arkansas face similar obstacles to respond to natural disasters in the future.

It is not only a matter of equipment, but of personnel as well. Because our military has been so badly depleted by the war in Iraq, the Bush Administration has had to deploy about 80 percent of the National Guard and Reservists to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. The Guard and Reservists have been deployed for an average of 18 months per tour of duty and more than 84,000 of them have been deployed more than once.

Homeland security begins with hometown security and we have a responsibility to rebuild our National Guard and make sure they have the equipment and training they need to keep our communities safe.

It is time for President Bush to listen to the American people and finally acknowledge the facts on the ground- both in Iraq and here at home. Now that more and more Republican lawmakers are beginning to see that the stay-the-course approach in Iraq is unsustainable, it is time for the President to finally work in a bipartisan fashion to change course.

Democrats have a plan to bring this war to an end. Our plan ensures U.S. troops have the resources they need to complete their mission. But, the mission in Iraq itself must change. Our brave men and women in uniform should not continue to police a civil war.

The Iraqis have to be accountable for their own future. And, that is why Democratic lawmakers have put forward clear benchmarks that will require the Iraqis to take control of their own future.

By changing course in Iraq, our federal government can better provide the equipment our military needs and no longer strip resources from the states.

This is Major General Montano wishing you a Happy Mother's Day. Thank you for listening.