Reservists Called Up for Homeland Defense.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 November 2001
• Author: Book, Elizabeth G.

Illinois congressman says U.S. reliance on reserve force will grow

The reserve call-up that the President ordered under-scores the modern reality of the United States military. We can't go to war without reservists," said freshman Rep. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who is also a non-drilling reservist for the U.S. Navy.

In a recent interview, Kirk said that the "war on terrorism," prompted by the attacks on the World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon, could not be fought without heavy reliance on military reservists.

"Winston Churchill said a reservist is twice a citizen. A reservist has two critical roles in national security. He's not paid when we don't need him, but he is there and will give everything when we do need him," he said.

"These are no donut-eating weekend warriors," Kirk said of the reservists he knows. "Reservists are the most experienced doctors in the military, they have...