Napolitano Junks Bush's Virtual Fence - Still Believe That Border's Going To Get Closed?

Here's The Right Side Of it ^ | January 14, 2011 | John L. Work

[JLWORK]

Via Drudge

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has officially announced the junking of the Bush-era electronic virtual fence that was supposed to seal our border with Mexico by means of radar, cameras, drones and other techno-magic. It was too expensive and it doesn’t work like it’s supposed to work. ABC news’ report on Napo’s briefing did not reveal how many millions of tax dollars we have already poured into the technology that was somehow supposed to do better than building a real fence, backed up with some armed U.S. troops.

But fear not, America. Napolitano promised us an alternate plan, replete with the typical bureaucratic nebulous new-speak, one that will hone and tailor the original electronics idea into specialized sections for different areas along our undefended line of demarcation. How much it will cost us is anyone’s guess. When the announcement of the scrapping came, a grand total of fifty-three miles of the busted project was complete. Think about that. Fifty-three miles. And, yep, nearly ten years following the 9/11 attacks, our border is not yet secured. What did John McCain say a few weeks back there, after he flip-flopped and turned tough on the border? “Where’s the danged fence?” Yeah. That’s what he said. And he really meant business, too.

Here’s the link to what ABC’s report says:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/01/homeland-security-axes-bush-era-virtual-fence-project.html

“ABC News’ Jason Ryan reports: The Department of Homeland Security today officially scrapped a Bush-era program designed to use radar technology to detect illegal immigrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, according to a DHS official and a congressional source…”

Note: The report does not say that the system was intended to stop the flow of illegals – only to detect them. Anybody got some aspirin? I’m getting a terrible headache.

“…Illegal immigrants crossing the border would be detected by a radar and picked up by remote cameras, which were monitored by border patrol agents…”

Great. The agents can watch the invasion on live TV. That’s very reassuring.

“…The new plan “will utilize existing, proven technology tailored to the distinct terrain and population density of each border region, including commercially available Mobile Surveillance Systems, Unmanned Aircraft Systems, thermal imaging devices, and tower-based Remote Video Surveillance Systems.” Napolitano added…”

Wait a minute. I thought this project that just got thrown into the trash dumpster was the best, latest “proven technology”. And if it wasn’t, why weren’t we using the “proven technology” in the first place?

Here’s my thesis: The United States Government has no intention of sealing that border. If it did have, the task would have been accomplished about nine years ago, with a wall and armed military troops. We’re still being sold out by our own politicians.

And the invasion continues.

[wally_bert]

...and it just plain works.

Which sadly defeats the purpose of our pols (both sides) pandering for hispanic votes.

[EternalVigilance]

I always said that I would believe in a “virtual fence” about the time they tore down the physical fence around the White House and replaced it with one.

Looks like my lack of faith has been justified.

[winodog]

I knew it would not be built from the day the promised to build it.

Everything the D of C says is a lie designed to cover up the fact that they are incompetent as well as evil.

[JLWORK]

Good analogy. Never thought of that one, myself. Wish I had.

J