Troops to the Mexican border: Obama to send 1,200

[Jeanfromfillmore]

The Defense Department, which has been jousting with the Homeland Security Department for the better part of a year over the possible deployment, had previously expressed concerns that the troops not be used for law enforcement duties. Pentagon officials are worried about perceptions that the U.S. was militarizing the border.
The administration's plans appear to use Guard troops only in a supporting role, according to the military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details were still being worked out. Some of the troops will be armed, but others will not.Quote

Do you remember the last time they did this? The drug cartels were chasing the Guard troopers because the cartels had guns and the troopers didn't.

The lives of our citizens are far less important to Obama, than the perception that we would actually secure our border and offend Mexico.

[Commander Bunny]

1,200 Troops, eh?

That's odd because the Pentagon sent 17,500 Troops to States affected by the current oil spill.

Let's see, an attack on "Mother Gaia", or an attack on Our Nation...let's guess which is more important to the Whitehouse...

http://www.katc.com/news/17500-natio...ith-oil-spill/

[Kathy63]

Not enough to really do anything. It's a breadcrumb to throw "See what I did". Not to mention that the national guard troops won't be allowed to really do anything.

The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, analysis and training, and support efforts to block drug trafficking. They will temporarily supplement Border Patrol agents until Customs and Border Protection can recruit and train additional officers and agents to serve on the border, according to a letter Tuesday from top administration security officials to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich.

Do you think they will even be armed? I don't.


Arizona Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said the situation on the ground now is different from when Bush deployed the Guard. Arrests have fallen in the Arizona sector and there've been record drug seizures.

She said the border is more violent and law enforcement is outgunned. She and other lawmakers want the troops to be armed - they were not in the previous deployment.

The ONLY reason why the Evil One took this action at all was because Republicans said they were going to bring it to a congressional vote. That would have put everyone who voted against border security on record and not looking good this November.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100526/D9FUFH2O0.html

[Patriotic Army Mom]

They probably won't even be able to shoot if they are attacked, and probably will have to ask the invaders if they are bad guys or good guys. What a joke!

[Twoller]

Originally Posted by Jeanfromfillmore

The Defense Department, which has been jousting with the Homeland Security Department for the better part of a year over the possible deployment, had previously expressed concerns that the troops not be used for law enforcement duties. Pentagon officials are worried about perceptions that the U.S. was militarizing the border.

....

....

That is some real bad behavior from the Pentagon. First, the basic duty of any military is to be able defend borders. And also, the border is already militarized, but on the other side. The last I heard the Mexican military is running customs on the Mexican side. And given how corrupt the Mexican military is, it is not hard to imagine that this is bound to undermine US efforts to control its own borders.

Originally Posted by Kathy63

...

The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, analysis and training, and support efforts to block drug trafficking. They will temporarily supplement Border Patrol agents until Customs and Border Protection can recruit and train additional officers and agents to serve on the border, according to a letter Tuesday from top administration security officials to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich.

....

"The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, analysis and training ..."

Right. And Spanish language skills will be mandatory. Anchor babies only apply.