Have you checked out The Hot Seat? It's our Opinion Page blog that brings in your elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions during a live online chat.

On The Hot Seat last week on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, who oversees the Hawai'i National Guard and state Civil Defense.

Here is an excerpt from that session.

To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/opinion and click on the posting titled: "On the Hot Seat: Maj. Gen. Robert Lee." (Names of questioners below are screen names given during our online chat).

Alex K.: Given the conditions in Iraq and all the families left behind, please tell me what the impact of all this has been on our Hawai'i National Guard? How many have served in Iraq? And how long is the average tour? And most important, how long can this be sustained?

Maj. Gen. Robert Lee: The Hawai'i National Guard has been involved in operations for both Iraq and Afghanistan. Approximately 58 percent of our Army and Air National Guard have served in both these combat areas. The majority have come from the Hawai'i Army National Guard. Impact on our National Guard families has been tough and we appreciate their sacrifices. Past mobilizations have varied between six months to 18 months. This will now change to six months for the Air Guard and 12 months for the Army Guard. We can support the national effort in the war on terror if the Guard soldiers and airmen have sufficient time back home to recover and retrain.

Mark B. Macanas: First of all, thank you and all of our military personnel for your service to our country. I make it a point to thank our service men and women because my family and I depend on them for peace and security.

My question: Since the major ports (harbors) in the state are under state jurisdiction, isn't it reasonable to expect the National Guard to assist the Coast Guard in providing security against what we saw happen on Kaua'i a few weeks ago against the Superferry? I mean, what's the difference if the National Guard posted troops at the major airports whenever there was some kind of incident?

Gen. Lee: Posting of the National Guard at our nation's airports following Sept. 11 was a direct order from the president. For the National Guard to assist on Kaua'i, Mayor (Bryan) Baptiste must request this assistance of Gov. (Linda) Lingle and the governor must issue an emergency proclamation.

Bonnie Morgan: I would like to know why you have testified against bill HB 1452 to test for depleted uranium here in Hawai'i? It has been shown there is evidence of the material up on the Big Island and whether it was 40 years ago or last week, this material is so deadly that just the fact it may be sitting in the dust there and can blow downwind to Kona is enough for me to say we need to do testing in all areas in Hawai'i where munitions have been used by the military.

Depleted uranium is nuclear waste. As an American citizen I am outraged that the U.S. government is sanctioning these weapons and looking aside as people are sickened from exposure. Here in Hawai'i we need to protect our citizens and military.

Gen. Lee: The reason why I testified against HB 1452 is because I felt it was unnecessary for the state of Hawai'i to test for depleted uranium since the Army and the Department of Defense had promised to do this. This would involve redundant testing and unnecessary expense. Currently the Army is doing more extensive testing for depleted uranium at Schofield Barracks, Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island and Makua Valley.

Helen Gibson Ahn: I had the opportunity to spend a day with the Youth ChalleNGe program in Arizona earlier this year and was very impressed with how they help youth looking to get themselves back on track. It is a great program, and we are lucky to have it in Hawai'i. Could you share a bit about the program here such as how long it has been around, how you receive your funding, how many students have gone through, and your successes to date?

Gen. Lee: Thanks for your superb question about this National Guard ChallenNGe program for our "at risk" youths. We run our program at Kalaeloa, headed by Director Rick Campbell, for two sessions each year. The state of Hawai'i funds 40 percent of the expenses and the federal government (Department of Defense) funds 60 percent. The cost per student averages $16,000. The program in Hawai'i started in 1994 and we have graduated 2,003 students with a 90 percent success rate. This is a great program for the state of Hawai'i where we turn at risk youths into productive and responsible citizens.

Junior: In the interest of homeland security, what do you see and plan in the future for continued funding and mission coverage for the air defense of the state of Hawai'i? With all the budget cuts, some are worried that homeland defense, especially with our state being so isolated, will suffer due to budget constraints and compromise our security.

Gen. Lee: The air defense mission for the state of Hawai'i will continue to exist and I expect no decrease.

Kenneth Conklin: Hawaiian sovereignty activists are hostile to the military. They have led the blocking of live-fire training in Makua, blocking the Strykers, blocking military recruiting in the schools and at UH, blocking the Superferry, etc. If the Akaka bill passes, do you foresee the empowerment of anti-military activism and would that damage your readiness and ability to do your job?

Gen. Lee: I do not see the passing of the Akaka bill affecting military readiness. I understand the bill provides recognition of Native Hawaiians.

Michael Golojuch Jr: Would you support the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed services? If no, why not?

Gen. Lee: I support the current Defense policy of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

Chris: Can you please tell us when the Hawai'i National Guard units will cease going to Iraq? Hawai'i Guardsmen sign up to protect Hawai'i. It is appalling that you could send them 8,400 miles away to die in the Iraq occupation. They are not the Iraq National Guard and our Hawai'i Guardsmen's lives mean more than to be thrown away in an Iraqi desert. There is no national emergency in Iraq. When did Iraq attack us?

Gen. Lee: National policy will determine when no more troops are needed for Iraq. Our patriots that sign up to serve in the Hawai'i National Guard do so to protect the state of Hawai'i and the United States of America.

Chris: Sir, when were we ever attacked by Iraq? How can our Hawai'i Guard be "protecting America" when we went to Iraq first and bombed them?

Gen. Lee: Why are we forgetting about Afghanistan? Our National Guard soldiers are serving there also. In Iraq and Afghanistan, we are battling Islamic fanatics that want to force their beliefs on the rest of the world.

Glenn: With the increase in mission for the Army here in Hawai'i (the new Stryker brigade, among others), what numbers do you project in increased soldiers and family presence here, along with increased need for civil service authorizations? What are the Army's plans for housing this influx of personnel and families? Will the Army build more housing, or will O'ahu's growing scarce housing market be expected to absorb the influx?

Gen. Lee: I do not know the exact increase in numbers for the active Army in Hawai'i, but the plan is to build more military housing so the Army will not compete with the local housing market.

JohnK: In reality, what types of terrorist attacks must we, here in Hawai'i, be aware of? What precautions, if any, must we take and what types of activities must we be on the lookout for?

Gen. Lee: We are prepared for a range of terrorist attacks against our nation. We need the public to be alert to observe actions that are threatening or suspicious and notify the proper authorities.

Ramon Quizon: Are we on track with the delivery of the F-22 Raptor for the Hawai'i Air National Guard? Is it still slated for 2010? And is the plan for the Guard to own the tails?

Gen. Lee: We are on track for our own F-22s with HIANG (Hawai'i Air National Guard) tails.

Darryll Wong: What is your assessment of the HIANG in relation to the rest of the country, and what do you see as the role of the HIANG in the future in the PACOM AOR (Pacific Command area of responsibility)?

Gen. Lee: I believe the Hawai'i National Guard has a very important role to play beyond the boundaries of the state of Hawai'i. Located in a strategic location in the Pacific with the headquarters of all the military commands, the Hawai'i National Guard will be counted upon to play a critical role in the security and stability of the Pacific theater.

WilliamP: After the active reservist or National Guardsmen get back from their tour of duty or when they finally get out of the military, what type of compensation do they get for giving up promotions, raises and other advancements that they lost during their service? Someone in the Army gets money for college or training, or other types of compensation.

Gen. Lee: When a guardsman or reservist gets called on active duty to serve, they receive their normal military promotions to include bonuses, separation pay, hazardous duty pay, etc., just like the active folks. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act forbids civilian employers to eliminate their jobs while called to active duty and loss of seniority.