Burchett Asks Governor to Reconsider use of Tennessee Guard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. --- State Sen. Tim Burchett (R-Knoxville) has sent a letter to Gov. Phil Bredesen asking him to reconsider the use of the Tennessee National Guard along the border between the United States and Mexico.

“The current policy under which members of the Tennessee Army National Guard have been placed along the border between the United States and Mexico and are then given Rules of Engagement that prohibit them from defending that border,” explained Burchett in the letter, “make in necessary to request that those men and women who serve under such conditions be returned to their families.”

Last year President Bush asked the National Guard Bureau in Washington to send members of the National Guard to the border between the United States and Mexico to assist the U.S. Border Patrol.  Shortly thereafter Gov. Bredesen authorized the use of Tennessee Guard members for the mission.

Since August of 2006, the Tennessee Army National Guard have been rotating troops in and out of the area.  Later this month, an additional 200 troops will be sent from Tennessee to the border.

“Those men and women in uniform who represent the state of Tennessee are too valuable to be sacrificed as political pawns in Washington,” concluded Burchett.

Sen. Burchett is currently serving his third term as a state senator.  He represents the seventh senatorial district which contains part of Knox County. 

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