How can the US military respond to crisis in other countries...From Haiti, to Japan, to the Tsunami's in God knows where...to the flooding in Pakistan and have no forces available to assist overwhelmed local authorities in Alabama, Oklahoma and other states hit by natural disasters?
It makes no sense for the US Government to have established a Northern Command to respond to disasters here in the states and to not have that Command forward leaning when such situations strike.
But wanna know what the Commander of Northern Command got for what I consider a lack of leadership?
Promotion to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
On May 16th they (Northern Command) were bragging about an exercise in which all major players in the disaster relief community assembled and drilled for contingencies. The next day Tornadoes devastated the heartland.
On the 25th after the President was in the middle of his trip to Europe and just days before his arrival in the zone of destruction, Northern Command got off its collective ass and made this announcement.
May 25, 2011
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command activated the Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element for FEMA Region VII and extended the DCO and DCE for FEMA Region VI today in support of response efforts to the severe weather in the Midwest.
U.S. Army North DCO and DCE for FEMA Region VI was initially activated to support flood relief in the south and have been extended with the activation of FEMA Region VII to provide assessment and coordinate DoD assets as required in the Midwest. DCOs and DCEs work very closely with federal, state, tribal and local officials to determine what unique DOD capabilities can be brought to assist in mitigating the effects of severe weather.
Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers from U.S. Fleet Forces Command, U.S. Air Forces Northern and Marine Forces North will deploy to FEMA Region VII to assist the DCO assess and plan Department of Defense support of civil authorities.
The Department of Defense has capabilities that can be used to save lives as well as many other unique support capabilities such as air lift, medical, communications, and catastrophic planning.
USNORTHCOM is the joint combatant command formed in the wake of the Sept.11, 2001 terrorist attacks to provide homeland defense and defense support of civil authorities.
U.S. Army North provides defense support of civil authorities as the Army component of USNORTHCOM, the combatant command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., that is responsible for homeland defense and civil support.
Sorry Admiral but that just won't do. Not only is it too little but its too damn late. But even accounting for a bloated bureaucracy, why are you sending Liaison Officers instead of activating Medical Personnel to help out? Why are you not sending an Engineer Battalion or two to help with clean up?
The point is this.
We sent ships at flank speed to help the Japanese and Haitians. We extended an MEU to help Pakistan.
But when it comes to our military helping our own citizens its just too big a burden?
Say it out loud Admiral and see if it makes sense.
NOTE: Since the beginning of this year the US has been hit with savage storms, tornadoes, flooding of the nations largest river and we're not even halfway thru yet. Want to see the list? Go here.
