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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

Posted on 01/14/2011 7:48:52 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: illegalaliens; napolitano; openborder; wall
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1 posted on 01/14/2011 7:48:54 PM PST by JLWORK
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To: JLWORK

Forget the virtual garbage. Just put up a real fence and a road to patrol it.


2 posted on 01/14/2011 7:52:58 PM PST by freedomfiter2 (Brutal acts of commission and yawning acts of omission both strengthen the hand of the devil.)
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To: JLWORK
I'm starting to smell more "Wilderness areas" and "Wildlife Preserves" along the border. They work so well at keeping the invaders out. Drug runners, gang bangers and day laborers really respect the wildlife and the enviroment.

s/

3 posted on 01/14/2011 7:53:06 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer ("New laws are always a "good idea" until the first time you have to enforce them." - Unknown)
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To: JLWORK

Security and Prosperity Partnership.

Gotta run them guns and drugs.


4 posted on 01/14/2011 7:55:03 PM PST by Vendome (Don't take life so seriously..... You won't live through it anyway.)
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To: JLWORK

“Still believe that borders going to get closed?”

Anyone who wasn’t drunk on koolaid knew that nothing was going to get done as soon as Dubya subverted the whole plan with his “virtual fence” manure.


5 posted on 01/14/2011 7:56:01 PM PST by Pelham (Islam, the mortal enemy of the free world)
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To: Pelham

Yep.


6 posted on 01/14/2011 7:57:33 PM PST by JLWORK
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To: JLWORK

I remember Shrillary campaigning in the last presidential election primary, opposing the construction of a real border fence, saying that the construction of a virtual fence was the way to go.


7 posted on 01/14/2011 8:00:21 PM PST by Avid Coug
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To: Avid Coug

Concrete reinforced steel with razor wire is very durable and doesn’t require a lot of technology to keep it going.


8 posted on 01/14/2011 8:03:58 PM PST by wally_bert (It's sheer elegance in its simplicity! - The Middleman)
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To: JLWORK
North American Union - just part of the plan. Tea Party folks need to stop and even reverse the march toward the NAU.
9 posted on 01/14/2011 8:07:58 PM PST by MichaelCorleone (Sarah Palin is the American version of Margaret Thatcher)
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To: JLWORK

What border?


10 posted on 01/14/2011 8:10:23 PM PST by martian622 (The Revolution is being televised.)
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To: JLWORK
Are there any retired "Snipers" out there, that could use a little target practice refresher course?

"I don't know where that bullet came from" hmmmmmm. Who's gonna know, who's gonna tell? The other side going to complain? don't think so.

11 posted on 01/14/2011 8:19:13 PM PST by annieokie
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To: JLWORK
Are there any retired "Snipers" out there, that could use a little target practice refresher course?

"I don't know where that bullet came from" hmmmmmm. Who's gonna know, who's gonna tell? The other side going to complain? don't think so.

12 posted on 01/14/2011 8:20:12 PM PST by annieokie
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To: JLWORK
Are there any retired "Snipers" out there, that could use a little target practice refresher course?

"I don't know where that bullet came from" hmmmmmm. Who's gonna know, who's gonna tell? The other side going to complain? don't think so.

13 posted on 01/14/2011 8:20:25 PM PST by annieokie
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To: JLWORK
While I loathe Napolitano, I can't say I disagree with this decision. The virtual fence was a boondoggle to Boeing from its friends in Washington. Like most government projects, it was over budget and didn't work.
14 posted on 01/14/2011 8:23:30 PM PST by bwc2221 (.)
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To: JLWORK

I’d be happy to “junk” Napolitano and keep the virtual fence. Anyone with me?


15 posted on 01/14/2011 8:26:17 PM PST by MadMax, the Grinning Reaper
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To: JLWORK
Fence. More fence. Minefield (Bouncing Betties). More fence. Guard towers. Marines and soldiers in them. Claymores. Machine guns. Bradleys/Strykers. Apaches/Cobras. Guts and legal backing to use all of the above.

That's how to secure the border. Anything less is an excuse.

Only halfway kidding.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

16 posted on 01/14/2011 8:43:18 PM PST by wku man (Still holding my breath, but exhaling a bit after Nov. 2...)
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To: bwc2221
All the little bits are nice. Cameras, sensors, etc., but the integration was an abysmal failure. Evidently, the people that planned this didn't realize there wouldn't be an existing networking structure to log onto in the middle of nowhere on the Southwest Border. Double Fence, drag road, sensors, and cameras to confirm when you have an actual crossing and you will keep Border Patrol very busy.

This actually happened a while ago, but I think they re-released it to make people think they are cutting waste out of the budget.

17 posted on 01/14/2011 8:46:20 PM PST by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: wally_bert

...and it just plain works. Actually, you could skip the concrete and just throw down all kinds of razor wire. I’m thinking a chain link fence about 4 foot high, with a 40 gap, then another 4 foot high chain link fence. The 40 foot gap in between filled with tons and tons of razor wire. They can cut through the fence if they want to. or jump over it. It won’t do any good.


18 posted on 01/14/2011 8:48:38 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum (If you want peace prepare for war))
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To: JLWORK

“Still Believe That Border’s Going To Get Closed?”

I’ve never believed the Ruling Class intended to close the border. The fence was a shell game to get amnesty passed. When amnesty failed, they let the fence die a slow death.


19 posted on 01/14/2011 9:30:54 PM PST by ModelBreaker
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To: JLWORK

They have distributed all the money to private slush funds now so there is no need for what it was initially intended for.


20 posted on 01/14/2011 9:48:15 PM PST by freekitty (Give me back my conservative vote; then find me a real conservative to vote for)
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