National Guard hampered by old equipment

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- The National Guard's relief effort in Hurricane Katrina's wake was hampered by a shortage of high-tech radios and satellite communications, reports USA Today.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, head of the guard bureau in Washington, told the newspaper the agency needs better equipment if it is to fight overseas as well as protect domestic security.

"We were under-equipped," Blum said. "We don't need tanks and attack helicopters and artillery, but we must have state-of-the-art radios and communications."

He said much of the best communications gear was being used by troops fighting in Iraq and wasn't available for units helping the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast.

He said military police in New Orleans were patrolling with obsolete radios as they sought to restore order. Many also lacked night-vision goggles.

Last week, Sens/ Kit Bond, R-Mo., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., wrote President Bush asking for $1.3 billion to buy new equipment for the National Guard.