WHO'S PROTECTING US NOW?
Yesterday, the US Coast Guard sent off its second cutter from San Francisco to the Persian Gulf to "protect "high value targets" such as Navy ships, oil tankers and military command vessels." Link
So, who's protecting the homeland?
San Francisco, specifically Oakland, has one of the largest international commercial ports in the US. The Coast Guard was doing a check of every cargo vessel prior to passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. They were undermanned, and that task was too large to begin with, but now we're sending the Coast Guard, in addition to the Reserves, to Iraq?
This was prior to 9/11, when our world changed. Which also begs the question, why is local law enforcement still underfunded and undermanned, and in some cases, undertrained? (No such word, I know.)
So, who's protecting the homeland?
San Francisco, specifically Oakland, has one of the largest international commercial ports in the US. The Coast Guard was doing a check of every cargo vessel prior to passing under the Golden Gate Bridge. They were undermanned, and that task was too large to begin with, but now we're sending the Coast Guard, in addition to the Reserves, to Iraq?
Most recently, Coast Guard cutters participated in national defense contingency operations in the Vietnam War, in Grenada from 1983-84 and in Haiti in 1994. In Operation Desert Storm in 1991, Coast Guard tactical law enforcement teams were used to help enforce U.N. trade sanctions on Iraq.
This was prior to 9/11, when our world changed. Which also begs the question, why is local law enforcement still underfunded and undermanned, and in some cases, undertrained? (No such word, I know.)
posted by Rene at
4:24 PM
