Kansas Senator Sam Brownback takes issue with the governor of his state over whether the National Guard has enough equipment to clean up the mess left behind by last weekend’s devastating tornadoes. Brownback, a Republican candidate for president, says the head of the Kansas National Guard has assured him the equipment is there to clear away the damage, especially in Greensburg, Kansas, which was virtually destroyed.
“The issue is that we’ve got a crisis…We have a clean up that’s needed by the people and it shouldn’t be involved in Iraqi politics,” Brownback says. “…We’re going to get the equipment, we have the equipment we need.” Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius said shortly after the storm that the Guard was incapable of a quick response because its equipment was tied up in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Brownback says he understands that the American people have lost patience with the war in Iraq, he warns the end of the U.S. military presence there will not come easily or quickly. Brownback favors dividing Iraq into three separate states — one for Sunnis, one for Shiites and one for Kurds.
“I think we head with a much more aggressive political solution and realizing that the timeframe is short for us getting something done,” Brownback says. “I do think you’re going to see a U.S. force present in Iraq for some period of time.” Brownback believes U.S. troops could still be in Iraq 15 years from now, much like they are in Bosnia. Brownback made his comments on the Iowa Public Television program “Iowa Press.”