- A day after President Bush's release of a homeland defense
strategy calling for the possible domestic use of U.S. military forces,
Alabama activated a 300-soldier Army National Guard tank battalion as part
of a homeland defense force.
-
- In a statement released Wednesday, Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman
said the Ozark, Ala.-based 1st Battalion, 131st Armor "is equipped
with modern battle tanks, the M1A1 Abrams" and "will serve in
the homeland defense role within the United States."
-
- Siegelman, commander-in-chief of the state's national
guard, did not say what role the tank battalion would serve in homeland
defense.
-
- In addition to the tank battalion, 200 guardsmen from
Special Forces units based in Auburn and Huntsville were activated and
"will conduct post-mobilization training and then deploy to undisclosed
locations in support of the war on terrorism," Siegelman said.
-
- Siegelman's office forwarded questions about Wednesday's
activation to the Alabama National Guard.
-
- Asked if the armored battalion was deploying with its
tanks and, if so, what role they would play in a domestic role, Guard spokesman
Lt. Col. Robert Horton said: "That can't be discussed. It all will
depend on the mission."
-
- Though he said he could not provide specifics, Horton
said the activation was not linked to Bush's quest for use of U.S. military
forces on the home front.
-
- The deployment will last one to two years, Horton said.
-
-
-
- Copyright 2002 Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
First publication July 18, 2002 http://www.military.com/NewsContent/1,13319,FL_ala_071902,00.html?cat=LEA
|
