The Iraq War and California

Four years ago, Marines from Camp Pendleton were the first conventional troops to surge into Iraq. They were met by Navy SEALs from Colorado who had slipped across the border days earlier. That's illustrative of how important the San Diego area has been to the war in Iraq.  About 10% of the war's casualties have come from California. Camp Pendleton leads the list in deaths and injuries among bases nationwide, and the state's National Guard has been transformed. The average Guardsman or woman is now a combat veteran, which has never been true before. Yet, just a small percentage of Californians are making the sacrifices.  We hear what it’s like for a Gold-Star mother and how it looks to kids whose high school is close to a recruitment center.

Guests:

• Karen Meredith: Member of Gold Star Families Speak Out
• Tony Perry: San Diego Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times, @LATsandiego
• Jon Siepmann: Spokesman for the California National Guard
• Georgie Nogura: Activist with the American Friends Service Committee

Links:

• Lt. Ken Ballard
• Perry's article about the war's strain on resources