Introduced on May 14, 2012, AJR66 “respectfully urges the President and the Secretary of Defense to withdraw all New Jersey National Guard personnel from Afghanistan.”
The resolution includes statements on the cost and continuation of Operation Enduring Freedom, the sacrifice of multiple tours and the continued “deployment may leave the citizens of the State of New Jersey vulnerable in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack as the New Jersey National Guard may not have the personnel or equipment to adequately respond to an emergency.”
The absence of Vermont’s National Guard helicopters after Hurricane Irene might have served as a wake up call. All of Vermont’s urgently needed Black Hawk choppers were in Iraq.
This statement in the resolution seems to address “blow back” – the CIA’s term for unintended consequences:
“WHEREAS, Given the sacrifices made by the citizens of the State of New Jersey who have previously served in Afghanistan, and the close proximity of the State to potential terrorist targets, it is in the public interest to urge the President and the Secretary of Defense to withdraw all New Jersey National Guard personnel serving in Afghanistan…”
Has the federal government gone beyond its constitutional authority in regards to Operation Enduring Freedom? Perhaps we should urge the Legislature and Governor Christie to consider something a bit stronger. The Tenth Amendment Center’s “Defend the Guard” model legislation is precisely that.
Section 2 from the model legislation states: “AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the governor shall examine every federal order, present and future, that places the national guard on federal active duty to determine whether the order is Constitutional according to Article I, Section 8, Clause 15 of the Constitution of the United States. If the governor determines that the order is not Constitutional, he or she shall take all appropriate action to prevent the National Guard from being placed or kept on federal active duty.”
To view “Defend the Guard” model legislation, click Here.
So, are we serious about bringing our NJ National Guard troops home? Contact your representatives in Trenton and urge them to introduce the “Defend the Guard” legislation.
(AJR66 Sponsors include: Assemblyman Timothy J. Eustace, Assemblywoman Connie Wagner, Assemblywoman Cleopatra G. Tucker, and Assemblyman Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr.)
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