Md. National Guard says it lacks guards for state emergency base

[struggle4progress]

Iraq call-ups force need to hire private security company
By Andrew A. Green
Sun reporter
Originally published May 12, 2007

Because of deployments to Iraq, the Maryland National Guard doesn't have enough personnel to secure the military base that is home to the state's Emergency Management Agency.

Adjutant General Bruce F. Tuxill has informed top state officials that 12 of the 14 state employees who provide security at the base have been called to active duty. To replace them, he said, the state will have to enter into an emergency contract to hire private security guards.

The contract will cost $200,000 through the end of September, Tuxill wrote this week in a letter to the Board of Public Works, made up of the Gov. Martin O'Malley, state Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and state Comptroller Peter Franchot. ~snip~

"It underscores the concerns Governor O'Malley shares with other governors that our National Guard is stretched too think because of the war in Iraq," O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said. "The governor will work through the Board of Public Works to make sure the guard has the resources it needs to complete its mission here at home." ~snip~

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.guard12xmay12,0,2532945.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

[jody]

1. Why doesn't MD's governor use the Maryland Defense Force?

Maryland Defense Force

The Maryland Defense Force is a uniformed military agency of volunteers under the Adjutant General of Maryland and the Maryland Military Department. Formally established through the Maryland legislature in 1917, the unit's heritage and tradition proudly trace back to the 17th century. Today the Maryland Defense Force is a vibrant organization with expanding missions and goals.

OFFICIO VOCANTE PARATI
(Ready when called)

[struggle4progress]

2. We had a good integrated system until the Banana Republicans set out to smash it.

The so-called "Maryland Defense Force" was constructed as a knee-jerk reaction to 9/11: it doesn't have the equipment or the institutional background that the National Guard has.

Wingnuts are pushing the state defense forces to distract attention from the real issues. I don't see any reason to play along.

[jody]

3. The National Guard is now de facto part of the active duty military. Governors can either reverse

that congressional action or organize, train, and equip their state's "unorganized militia" or gripe about lack of federal support for state problems and let the problems fester and grow.