AP: Obama to send 1200 National Guard troops to Mexican border

[yankeesfan]

http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1110ap_us_national_guard_border.html

TUCSON, Ariz. -- An Arizona congresswoman says the Obama administration will announce that it will send as many as 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to improve border security.

Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords also says in a statement Tuesday that President Barack Obama will request $500 million in funding for border security.

In 2006, President George W. Bush sent thousands of troops to the border to perform support duties that tie up immigration agents. The troops wouldn't perform significant law enforcement duties.

That program has since ended, and politicians in border states have called for troops to be sent there to curb human and drug smuggling and prevent Mexico's drug violence from spilling over into the United States.

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Is this an admittance of defeat on the issue?

 

[Fear No Evil]

Sounds like they will likely have their hands tied. Obama will claim he is tough on immigration, and nothing will be done. Hopefully none of our troops die because they are under some sort of 'Don't shoot' rule.

 

[her209]

Is this an admittance of defeat on the issue?

Obama was for illegal immigration?

 

[PokerGuy]

Those troops are probably being sent to make sure local AZ officials don't do anything that might impede the illegal entry of the "undocumented".

 

[Patranus]

In 2006, President George W. Bush sent thousands of troops to the border to perform support duties that tie up immigration agents. The troops wouldn't perform significant law enforcement duties.

Its a good start but looks like it will do nothing as they will not be on the border looking for illegal immigrants.

 

[Danube]

meh

 

[Jaskalas]

Is this an admittance of defeat on the issue?

This is a paltry gesture that will result in nothing productive and is an attempt to relieve pressure so they can avoid taking real action on the border.

It is not defeat, it's a clever ploy. It is them resisting taking real action and continuing to ignore the people. Remember GWB sent troops to the border. Lot of good that did.

 

[tk149]

as many as 1,200 National Guard troops

Assuming a full 1200 guardsmen, that works out to about 0.6 soldiers per mile of border. Well, it's a start.

 

[Kadarin]

Obama was for illegal immigration?

He doesn't appear to be all that against it. This sounds like just a PR move.

 

[nick1985]

PR move

Band-aid on a gushing wound

 

[ichy]

IMO the Border Patrol needs to be replaced with a paramilitary border security force, something more along the lines of the Coast Guard (combination of military and law enforcement) or Germany's Bundesgrenzschutz. Using national guard troops in this role is a waste.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Assuming a full 1200 guardsmen, that works out to about 0.6 soldiers per mile of border. Well, it's a start.

The whole border or just the AZ section?

You still need 4-5 people to cover something 24/7.

So you now have 300 people actaully covering.
A person can cover maybe 1/10 mile in that terrain.
so you have 30 miles being covered 24/7.

Real impact!:thumbsdown:

 

[TechBoyJK]

Assuming a full 1200 guardsmen, that works out to about 0.6 soldiers per mile of border. Well, it's a start.

Yep. A pair of binocs, and a sniper rifle would go a long way. Some drones, and some quick response helicopters would be nice too.

 

[dainthomas]

What a shock. He does nothing and he's lambasted for ignoring the law and loving illegal immigrants. He then does something and it's a PR move.

Maybe he should build a 400 foot tall wall with a burning moat of napalm so you people can complain he's driving up the price of concrete and gas.

 

[her209]

What a shock. He does nothing and he's lambasted for ignoring the law and loving illegal immigrants. He then does something and it's a PR move.

Maybe he should build a 400 foot tall wall with a burning moat of napalm so you people can complain he's driving up the price of concrete and gas.

Until Obama personally checks under my bed and looks in my closet for illegal immigrants, he's not doing enough.

 

[Infohawk]

Yep, it's a PR move.

 

[OutHouse]

IMO the Border Patrol needs to be replaced with a paramilitary border security force, something more along the lines of the Coast Guard (combination of military and law enforcement) or Germany's Bundesgrenzschutz. Using national guard troops in this role is a waste.

yup

 

[TechBoyJK]

The whole border or just the AZ section?

You still need 4-5 people to cover something 24/7.

So you now have 300 people actaully covering.
A person can cover maybe 1/10 mile in that terrain.
so you have 30 miles being covered 24/7.

Real impact!:thumbsdown:

very true.. who wants to patrol by themselves, in the desert, at night?

 

[MrEgo]

Yep. A pair of binocs, and a sniper rifle would go a long way. Some drones, and some quick response helicopters would be nice too.

It may not be a bad idea to get a sound effect machine for the snipers. Upload some soundbytes from Duck Hunt.

 

[MotF Bane]

1) Build large fence
2) Build tall watchtowers
3) Mount heat-seeking machine guns on watchtowers

The end. :awe:

 

[her209]

IMO the Border Patrol needs to be replaced with a paramilitary border security force, something more along the lines of the Coast Guard (combination of military and law enforcement) or Germany's Bundesgrenzschutz. Using national guard troops in this role is a waste.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act

 

[Kappo]

Make it a felony to provide social services or a job to an illegal alien. Use those 1200 troops to pick up the offenders.

 

[dmcowen674]

In a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the situation on the border has "greatly deteriorated."



He called for 6,000 National Guard troops to be sent to the U.S.-Mexico border.


"I appreciate the additional 1,200 being sent ... as well as an additional $500 million, but it's simply not enough," McCain said.
==============================================
Freaking bastards


He never called for this under Bush and his buds GOP rule and caused the border to be swiss cheese.


Now that the Messiah will send troops and spend money it's not enough.


You Republican losers suck ass.

 

[tk149]

The whole border or just the AZ section?

You still need 4-5 people to cover something 24/7.

So you now have 300 people actaully covering.
A person can cover maybe 1/10 mile in that terrain.
so you have 30 miles being covered 24/7.

Real impact!:thumbsdown:

The US-Mexico border is just under 2000 miles according to Wiki.

A little more info here.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N25168947.htm

Obama sending 1,200 troops to US-Mexico border

WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama will deploy up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexican border and request $500 million for enhanced border protection, an administration official said on Tuesday.

The troops will provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, intelligence analysis, immediate support to counternarcotics enforcement and training capacity until Customs and Border Patrol can recruit and train more officers and agents to serve along the frontier.

The funds will be used to enhance technology at the border and share information and support between law enforcement agencies as they target illegal trafficking in people, drugs, weapons and money.

The immigration issue has been a subject of intense focus in Washington, with Obama calling for comprehensive reform, and speaking out against a tough new law in the border state of Arizona.

The issue also was a focus of a state visit to Washington last week by Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

Like I said, it's a start. Will Obama also add funding to the Border Patrol budget? If so, what pet project will he de-fund to pay for it?

EDIT: not sure if the $500 million was for the national guard or border patrol.

 

[dmcowen674]

Quote:
Originally Posted by tk149
Assuming a full 1200 guardsmen, that works out to about 0.6 soldiers per mile of border. Well, it's a start.

The whole border or just the AZ section?

You still need 4-5 people to cover something 24/7.

So you now have 300 people actaully covering.
A person can cover maybe 1/10 mile in that terrain.
so you have 30 miles being covered 24/7.

Real impact!:thumbsdown:

What did your hero do besides make this problem?