Oregon's governor doesn't have to send troops. Tell him to keep them in Oregon to fight forest fires and do the job they enlisted to do - protect their home state.
This exchange is from the press briefing yesterday with Fran Townsend, Dan Barlett and Tony Snow.
Q What if the governor in a state like that -- if you identify a unit with the expertise, can the governor say, no, I can't afford to send them?
MR. BARTLETT: Well, we will take the price tag issue off the table for them, and we're also looking at manpower issue to make sure they'll be able to reach their core mission of whether it be their contribution to the war on terror, or preparedness -- or natural disaster preparedness.
Q But can a sending governors say "no"?
MR. BARTLETT: Sure.
MS. TOWNSEND: Yes. This is predicated on the agreement between the sending and the receiving governor.
Q So they're not being federalized?
MS. TOWNSEND: No, that's correct. They are not being federalized.
MR. SNOW: The governors still serve as commanders-in-chief of their own National Guards.
Q What if the receiving governor doesn't want them?
MR. SNOW: The receiving governor has to ask for them.
No OREGON troops to the southern border. They've been through enough with long deployments to the middle east. They have lives, families and jobs that are important and valuable. Keep them in Oregon. Call the governor and insist he keep them home.
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