'Appalling gap' in U.S. domestic readiness

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- A U.S. congressional commission report said an "appalling gap" exists in U.S. forces capable of responding to domestic chemical, biological and nuclear attacks.

The report, by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, said Guard and reserve forces lack adequate personnel and training to respond to a major attack on U.S. soil, The Washington Post reported Friday.

The report also said the forces lack $48 billion in equipment due to deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The chairman of the panel, retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Arnold Punaro, said the problem of Guard readiness has only worsened since 88 percent of U.S. Army National Guard units were rated "not ready" by the commission in March 2007.

"We think there is an appalling gap in readiness for homeland defense, because it will be the Guard and reserve that have to respond for these things," he said.

"Because the nation has not adequately resourced its forces designated for response to weapons of mass destruction, it does not have sufficient trained, ready forces available," the report said. "This is an appalling gap that places the nation and its citizens at greater risk."