For those who don't understand how the National Guard works, the units in each state are under the command of their respective Governors until and unless the President calls them up for National service. Therefore the Guard in both Louisiana and Mississippi were and are totally under the control of the Governors of their respective states. Under our laws the President can't send in the Guard or our military to do police work, however, a Governor of a state can legally use his own Guard to assist the police. Those who criticize President Bush for not sending in the Guard to restore order in New Orleans are either ignorant or intentionally trying to deceive the American public.

Today Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief, National Guard Bureau of the US Department of Defense gave a briefing to reporters about the National Guard and their efforts to rescue victims of Katrina, and restore order in New Orleans. HT to Michelle Malkin for the link.

One of the most interesting facts to come out of this briefing was that of about 1500 police in New Orleans, less than 500 are still doing their jobs. In other words there has been a massive breakdown of the police with at least 2/3 of the department missing or deserting their duty.

Read the whole thing!