Could Guardsmen in Iraq have helped fight the fires?

Lake Forest, Orange County:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, on a tour of a fire evacuation center at El Toro High School, was asked whether more people would have been available to fight the blazes if the National Guard had not been in Iraq.

"I think you're always going to be short on resources," Schwarzenegger said. "I think if you ask the Red Cross that, they will tell you that. If you ask the firefighters, they will also tell you that, because this disaster has hit at one time. In one day, all those fires started. They are all struggling for resources."

He added, "I'm happy the state and local governments are working so well together."

The governor and Assemblyman Todd Spitzer (R-Orange) who was also at the event, got along swimmingly today. Spitzer did not say a word about his broadside yesterday against the government for failing to support the firefight in Orange County.

"This governor has been all over the state, from San Diego to Malibu. This is a governor who cares deeply about you," Spitzer said.

-- My-Thuan Tran

Comments

[SGT Harper Peterson]

No, they are in Iraq helping a nation become free from the same things this country did 231 years ago.

Firefighters fight fires.

Police fight crime.

Military personnel fight for freedom.

[firmslowhand]

The Guard in Iraq might have helped, have the other 17,000 Guardmen available, but not called, been occupied. Don't make political hay out of this.

[framitz]

The National Guard was created for homeland defense and should not be used for overseas combat except in extreme emergency. These people should have been at home and available to be called up to help with the fires exactly as intended.