Gulf Coast Governors Leaving National Guard Idle

(CBS)  All along the Gulf coast, local officials have been demanding more help from the federal government to fight the spill, yet the Gulf states have deployed just a fraction of the National Guard troops the Pentagon has made available, CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

That's a particular problem for the state of Louisiana, where the Republican governor has been the most vocal about using all resources.

(Scroll down to watch the report CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian filed)

Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf

Gov. Bobby Jindal's message has been loud and clear, using language such as "We will only be winning this war when we're actually deploying every resource," "They (the federal government) can provide more resources" and "It's clear the resources needed to protect our coast are still not here."

Gov. Jindal Responds to CBS News Report

But nearly two months after the governor requested - and the Department of Defense approved the use of 6,000 Louisiana National Guard troops - only a fraction - 1,053 - have actually been deployed by Jindal to fight the spill.

"If you ask any Louisianan, if you said 'If you had those troops, do you think they could be put to good use? Is there anything they can do in your parish?' I think they'd all tell you 'Absolutely,'" Louisiana state Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, said.

As of today, the federal government has authorized a total of 17,500 National Guard troops across four Gulf states, all to be paid for by BP.

But CBS News has learned that in addition to Louisiana's 1,053 troops of 6,000, Alabama has deployed 432 troops of 3,000 available. Even fewer have been deployed in Florida - 97 troops out of 2,500 - and Mississippi - 58 troops out of 6,000.

Those figures prompted President Obama to weigh in.

"I urge the governors in the affected states to activate these troops as soon as possible," Mr. Obama said.

It's believed officials in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi and are reluctant to use more troops because their presence could hurt tourism. In hardest-hit Louisiana, however, Jindal is pointing fingers.

"Actually we asked the White House to approve the initial 6,000," Jindal said. "What they came back and said is the Coast Guard and BP had to authorize individual tasks."

But Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the national incident commander in charge of the government's response to the spill, said Jindal is just flat wrong.

"There is nothing standing in the governor's way from utilizing more National Guard troops," Allen said.

In fact, the Coast Guard says every request to use the National Guard has been approved, usually within a day. Now Jindal's office acknowledged to CBS News the governor has not specifically asked for more Guard troops to be deployed.

Whether it's simple confusion or the infusion of politics into the spill, the fact remains thousands of helping hands remain waiting to be used.


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[PGTEN]

Jindahl probably does not have approval for this request from the highest authority - Limbaugh.

[itsumama47]

I keep wondering why Lousiana is a RED state after what happened with George Bush and hurricane Katrina??

Could SOMEBODY explain to me HOW THE HECK did this state end up in the incompetent hands of this GOP wienie??

[mik1of3]

Gee...maybe because the previous party did such a bang up job with Katrina?

[Lowlande Web Design]

I've got news for Gov. Jindal - that's not his personal coastline to do with as he pleases. What happens on the Gulf affects everyone in this nation, let alone the world. This is a great tragedy, and no one - let alone the people of LA - can afford to play politics with a damaged Gulf. If Jindal doesn't shut up and start using the resources he's been given by the feds, maybe the President should give FEMA a call.

[ray55--2008]

The governors' problem is equipment, not personnel. Governors have actually deployed national guard troops with useful equipment and skills. Louisiana's defense is not taking place on a simple beach accessible by trucks. Louisiana needs barges, tugs, crewboats, small work boats, generators, pumps, skimmers, surveillance air craft, many jackup barges stacked high with galley, mess and personnel accommodation containers

Remember that the Governors are at the mercy of BP and the feds. BP and the state have hired contractors that hire civilians to do their work. Thankfully, they have hired thousands of workers displaced from their regular work because of BP's oil leak. There are still many thousands of displaced workers desperately trying to get BP's dangerous low paying health damaging jobs cleaning up BP's toxins from our waters.

Nevertheless, it is the duty of all good Americans to find justifications to demonize BP's victims. The worth of BP's victims, their property, natural resources and way of life must be minimized. The nation needs reminding that these victims are generally poor and undereducated and controlled by crooked politicians - the only kind listed at the polling booths. Yes, this is all the fault of the plantation workers and the actions of the plantation owners must be defended. Ignore the victims cries for a defense of their shores, their stupid wildlife and wetlands. It is only one third of America's wetlands. These BP victims are nothing but liars, cheats, immoral, ugly, fat, lazy, stupid people unworthy of any empathy. They deserve to have their habitat made toxic and uninhabitable, especially those funny talking Cajuns and American Indians.

Pray those angry morons in Louisiana don't start taxing the transport of petrochemicals through their state. Or, worse yet, close the valves on those pipelines or blockade the port of New Orleans. Then we have a problem.

[ratherbefishin]

Thank you, Ray, very well said. Equipment is the issue, we already have plenty of bodies, and they're on the BP payroll, not the US taxpayer's. Wonder what many of the posters here would have us do with all those Guardsmen, anyway....maybe tie them end to end and drag them around the Gulf as boom? Or stack them like cord wood and build human berms? Or maybe we could just line them up across the coast shoulder to shoulder and order the oil not to pass......yeah, that's gonna work real well.

[Lowlande Web Design]

Bobby Jindal isn't complaining about equipment, he's complaining that he doesn't have the manpower. Since the feds approved the use of the national guard (at BP's expense) in 24 hours, I'm sure they'd respond to any other requests. If not, he's be complaining about how he has all these national guards standing around. Don't get side tracked, Jindal is playing politics with this tragedy, at the expense of his state and the nation.

[cutworm]

I agree that politics is playing a huge part of gulf cleanup at the state and national levels. The locals are working their tails off to salvage and protect their property. The state and feds are working, too, but posturing way too much. If Jindal is complaining about the feds and not utilizing the assets provided, he is wrong, just as Obama is wrong to try and use this disaster to cripple oil drilling in the gulf. The administration has never offered to shut down air transportation after a horrific crash. We didn't stop crossing bridges when the one spanning the Mississippi River in Minnesota collapsed. Toyota was not stopped from selling cars in USA when it knowingly put a defective product on the market. If the Obama Administration's posturing on gulf drilling is not purely political, what is it? I am neither a Dem. or Rep. for the very reason that we are discussing. I am independent and vote for individuals that I feel will work for all of us. Following a party line, regardless of vision or leadership is what has us in such a mess now.

[robcypher]

Wow. Appearently Jindal can't find the time to utilize the National Guard but he can find a few dittoheads to defend his (non)actions on a Internet website. What kinda GOP cronyism is going on here?

[Whitelilac]

Bobby Jindal needs to shut his foolish mouth and get to work on doing things for his state. Right now he is nothing but another stupid rethuglican. He HAS the resources he's hollering about, not using them, and taking any and every opportunity to get on camera and yelp about how little the President is doing.
I used to have hope for Jindal but I see he is just another cur.

[jimatmadison]

This why Republicans belong on the back bench. They're great at whining, finger pointing, and assigning blame to others, but when given the opportunity to actually 'do' something, they always fail.

[Perish1]

Why do you hate our troops and want them to stay away from their families?

[todayisthetime]

Not much has changed down south they make messes and blame the mess on the slaves who didn't clean it up.

[Perish1]

The south is supporting the nation. The north and east and west are broke and debt ridden and have record high unemployment. You should be kissing the south's backside for keeping the country afloat.

[Perish1]

The adjutant general is the guy in charge of the national guard troops. If he doesn't need that many right now, then why in holy hell would he call them up just to stand around! Haven't these men and women been called up enough with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan! If the local authorities say that they need the help, they can request it. Nothing in the CBS article shows that there has been any unmet request of guard forces from the governors. It only says that if you ask any Louisianan, they will say that more help is needed. This is obviously a hit piece against these governors for complaining early on about the lack of federal response. The requests made are estimates and don't mean that they still won't be needed. But, in the meantime, why pull these men and women who have already done so much, away from their families once more. Just to stand around or justify their request? What kind of monsters are you people? haven't they done enough! Their deployment is paid for so it isn't the cost holding them back. I am thankful that these governors are using sound judgement in this matter! I am ashamed that so many are so easily led into believing without knowledge.

[jimbom121]

What are you talking about? The govs,especially Jindahl have been complaining since day one that they don't have enough resources, and now we learn that those resources are available, but not being used.

[Perish1]

jimbom121....

I am talking about fools like you who would rather that these poor men and women are taken from their homes to help fill sandbags or stand around until there is a defined need for them. read my statement and perhaps you will understand. It is horrible of you people to want these men and women who have done so much to go and just stand around so that you can score some political points. You and Obama are disgusting.