The buck stops where???

Dear Tricia,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the issues raised by the National Guard presence in Iraq and the slow response to Hurricane Katrina. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you know, guard members and Reservists are facing a period of unprecedented mobilization as their role has become increasingly substantial in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the military is stretched thin by these commitments, guard members and Reservists are facing longer and less predictable mobilizations. This issue has received added attention in the aftermath of Katrina, as Americans are searching for the slow response of the authorities.

Hurricane Katrina has only added to my concerns about the military's "stop loss" policy. Not only has this policy exposed a weakness in our preparedness for disasters, but it has extended many service members' and guardsmen's tours of duty well past their enlistment period. The families of the brave men and women called to active duty often face severe financial and personal hardship as well as increased child care and health care costs. This problem is exacerbated by the uncertain lengths of deployment. Families cannot plan for their financial future without knowing when a Guard Member or Reservist can return home and return to work. Our citizen-soldiers deserve better, and so do their families. If the concept of an "all volunteer army" is to have any meaning, the government should honor its commitments. It is as simple as that.

The use of the National Guard and Reserve troops is one of the long-term issues we must consider if we want to avoid this kind of tragedy in the future. National Guard troops have played a major role in disaster recovery in the past, and the shortfall of forces at home is one of the more important questions we will ask as we consider improvements in preparation for disaster and terror attacks. The poor response of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) clearly demonstrated that we have not fulfilled our post-9/11 promises of improved readiness and response. There is no excuse for that failure, and part of any effort to prevent a recurrence must include a full and independent investigation of what occurred.

The heartbreaking stories and photos in the news capture just a slice of the devastation wrought by Katrina. Just days after the hurricane ravaged the Gulf Coast, I joined former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to visit the Houston Astrodome, where thousands upon thousands of New Orleans evacuees were finding their first food, water, and shelter in days. What we saw in these people, had been trapped without food or water in the horrid conditions if the Superdome, the New Orleans Convention Center and the attics of flooded houses across the crescent city, was a determination, resilience and spirit that will be emblazoned in my memory as long as I live. The day after my visit to Houston, I spoke on the Senate floor about what I saw. A copy of my remarks is attached to this email.

Thank you for writing, and please continue to keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator
9/29/05