Governor Terry Branstad led a meeting Thursday in Washington, D.C. with seven other governors and a top Pentagon official.
“We had a moment of silence for the five service members who were killed in Chattanooga,” Branstad says. “And then I brought up the issue about security for military personnel and we had a good discussion about that.”
On Wednesday Branstad authorized any additional security measures the head of the Iowa National Guard might believe are necessary for Guard facilities in Iowa. Branstad is co-chair of a council of governors that advises the Pentagon on issues related to the state guard units around the country. Branstad says military officials indicated they plan to present a report and recommendations to the U.S. Defense Secretary when he returns from a trip to Iraq.
“There may well be action in congress on this issue as well,” Branstad says. “We met with both senators and all four (Iowa) congressmen yesterday and talked about a number of issues, but certainly the defense issues and also just security for our armed service personnel is something that they’re hearing a lot from their constituents.”
Private citizens with weapons have begun patrolling military recruitment centers around the country, and in Iowa, after last week’s fatal shootings of five soldiers in Tennessee. Branstad says with Islamic militants using social media to encourage attacks on American soldiers wherever they may be, governors want to “collaborate” with the Pentagon to enhance security of National Guard and regular military installations around the country.
