LAST EDITED ON Mar-23-03 AT 03:19 PM (ET) Governor won't call up Guard now KENNETH P. VOGEL; The News Tribune
In warning that the war in Iraq could prompt retaliatory terrorist attacks, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge told governors last week it would be a good idea for them to deploy their National Guards.
But Gov. Gary Locke, who has repeatedly criticized the Bush administration for failing to give states enough money for homeland security, has declined. He's not alone.
As of Thursday, only 13 governors had called up Guard members, according to the National Guard Association of the United States.
Locke said he decided not to activate any of the state's more than 7,500 available National Guard members because "at this time, there is no specific threat to our state. But we are prepared to deal with one should this condition change."
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"I specifically asked the nation's governors to deploy National Guard and other law enforcement personnel at critical locations around their respective states," he (Ridge) told reporters Tuesday.
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http://www.tribnet.com/news/iraq/local/story/2827201p-2864742c.html