Wrong Impression on Guard

I want to correct an erroneous claim made by reporter Kenneth R. Weiss in a story regarding the dedication of the Air National Guard base at Point Mugu, which appeared on Sept. 9.

Mr. Weiss wrote, “Assemblyman Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks) said that only with the Middle East crisis did he realize that the National Guard has other duties than helping fight brush fires . . .”

I said no such thing.

The context of my speech was that the Middle East crisis illustrated once again that the Air National Guard is vital to our national security and is not just a local resource.

If Mr. Weiss had listened to the remarks of Maj. Gen. Robert Thrasher, he would have known that I led the fight to bring the Air National Guard to Point Mugu five years ago and am keenly aware of its mission.

TOM McCLINTOCK

Thousand Oaks