Obama Authorizes National Guard Call-Up to Fight Ebola in West Africa

[Robby999 1,024]

President Barack Obama authorized a call-up of the National Guard and additional military reservists to active duty on Thursday in case they are needed to address the humanitarian crisis that has resulted from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

Obama signed an executive order and also notified congressional officials, The Associated Press reported.

In a letter to Rep. John Boehner, speaker of the House of Representatives, Obama said he is authorizing the secretary of defense and the secretary of homeland security to call up reservists to “augment the active forces in support of Operation United Assistance.”

Newsweek Magazine is Back In Print

Reservists would provide humanitarian assistance and “consequence management” related to the disease’s outbreak in West Africa. The virus has killed more than 4,300 people and infected nearly 9,000 in West Africa, primarily in Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organization.

So far, the U.S. has deployed 130 health and disaster response experts and 350 military personnel to West Africa, according to a fact sheet released by the White House on October 6. Before Thursday’s announcement, the Pentagon press secretary had said the military could send up to 4,000 troops to West Africa.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has repeatedly said the top priority for protecting Americans from Ebola is stopping the disease at its source in West Africa.

http://www.newsweek.com/president-obama-authorizes-national-guard-fight-ebola-west-africa-277991?piano_t=1

I guess we need to rename them they International Guard now! I guess after our military and Guard units are totally decimated he can justify allowing the U.N. to conduct operations on US soil.

[Curmudgeon 227]

Keep guessing. Eventually, you may come up with the right answer. Personally, I am glad that some people recognize and want to help those suffering in West Africa. Good job

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[lostinblue 1,989]

[lostinblue 1,989]

Keep guessing. Eventually, you may come up with the right answer. Personally, I am glad that some people recognize and want to help those suffering in West Africa. Good job

so when are you and marvin heading over?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Keep guessing. Eventually, you may come up with the right answer. Personally, I am glad that some people recognize and want to help those suffering in West Africa. Good job

It's not just about helping them - it's about containing the disease there. If that doesn't happen, it will spread globally.

[Pooky 3,804]

So now they're going to shoot it?

[GandD 5,966]

This...... This made me laugh. Well done.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

This...... This made me laugh. Well done.

You're easily entertained, yes?

[GandD 5,966]

You're easily entertained, yes?

Sometimes. But look, it's even got the little Obama "O" in the middle of Ebola. Ahh, good times.

[rlogan 2,036]

As a nation we had a lot more experience with deadly contagious diseases in the past than we do now. Quarantine was the basic principle involved, and houses were posted, events called off, even school closures for contagious disease containment. Our duty as citizens was to not infect others.

It is more important to keep the disease out of the USA than it is to go there and get involved in it. The people who are doing a good job containing it in Africa are not letting infected people in, and quarantining those that slip by. We couldn't even do that much yet for ourselves. Our resources and attention should be focused on isolating ourselves from it. Like travel restrictions. Screw the commercial implications for not flying to Liberia. Or just letting them in wholesale. Christ almighty this is quarantine 101 here.

Edited October 17, 2014 by rlogan

[lostinblue 1,989]

[JohnR! 5,495]

You forget however that as a nation we have never been more prepared to deal with such a predicament. In addition, the way to keep Ebola out of the US is to attempt to eradicate it at the source, otherwise it is just a matter of time until it gets to our shores.

Travel restrictions would be ineffective even if they were a real option. Our duty as citizens is to keep calm and support those who are risking their lives trying to help others. This is no different than any other war. You go after the enemy, instead of cowering behind a closed door.

As a nation we had a lot more experience with deadly contagious diseases in the past than we do now. Quarantine was the basic principle involved, and houses were posted, events called off, even school closures for contagious disease containment. Our duty as citizens was to not infect others.

It is more important to keep the disease out of the USA than it is to go there and get involved in it. The people who are doing a good job containing it in Africa are not letting infected people in, and quarantining those that slip by. We couldn't even do that much yet for ourselves. Our resources and attention should be focused on isolating ourselves from it. Like travel restrictions. Screw the commercial implications for not flying to Liberia. Or just letting them in wholesale. Christ almighty this is quarantine 101 here.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

so when are you and marvin heading over?

As soon as you buy your ticket, seeing that you seem to be obsessed with this situation.

[Teddy B 17,252]

As soon as you buy your ticket, seeing that you seem to be obsessed with this situation.

That bunker is locked up solid.