Posted on 04/19/2006 2:28:03 PM PDT by robowombat
Chertoff plays down border incursion reports By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday played down reports outlining hundreds of border incursions by the Mexican military over the last 10 years. Chertoff, speaking to reporters in Washington, D.C., acknowledged that the Border Patrol has long known of crossings by uniformed troops, which some agents in border states say shows a level of collusion between Mexican military officers and drug-smuggling cartels.
But he suggested that many of the incursions could have been innocent mistakes -- such as authorities in Mexico crossing into the United States in desert areas where the actual dividing line between the countries is unclear -- or criminals wearing camouflage outfits being confused with actual soldiers.
"I think the stories are overblown," Chertoff said. "I asked the chief of the Border Patrol about it. The number has not increased; in fact, it had decreased a little bit."
The Daily Bulletin first reported on Sunday that the Border Patrol has tracked 216 such incursions by Mexican military or police forces since 1996. The highest total was in 2002, when 40 such crossings were recorded; in 2005, the number was nine.
Chertoff largely confirmed those numbers, saying incursions had averaged "approximately 20 a year" over the last 10 years. He also said that reports of corruption among Mexican troops were true.
"We do have instances where we have Mexican police or military who have deserted and become involved with criminal activity," Chertoff said. "But we've also had bad cops in the United States, too. It happens."
He said the United States and Mexico have a collaborative relationship, and called the idea that incursions were a serious problem "scare tactics."
Rafael Laveaga, a spokesman for the Mexican consulate, has denied that any incursions by Mexican military have taken place.
T.J. Bonner, the president of the National Border Patrol Council, dismissed Chertoff's comments as uninformed.
"Were he to go out there on actual patrol with Border Patrol agents ... and experience what we experience -- where you encounter a group of highly trained, very well-armed Mexican soldiers coming across our border, and your closest backup is an hour or more away -- I think he would be a lot more concerned about it," he said.
Bonner rejected the idea that the incursions might be innocent mistakes, noting that the number of times the U.S. Border Patrol has accidentally crossed into Mexico is far lower.
He also blasted Chertoff for belittling the number of incidents.
"For him to say this is only a few hundred -- come on," Bonner said. "One is far too many."
One incursion is one too many.
The MSM is concealing the pictures.
Whats worse is that the administration thinks we are gullible and stupid in that we would actually believe this BS.
Their trivializing of these border incursions really pi##es me off.
JMO
Oddly enough, I think the stories of Chertoff's competency, motivation, and the security of the USA are grossly overblown.
Guess that makes us even.
The fact that the incursions are happening at all and this jerk isn't outraged by it tells me that Bush is not serious about this issue.
How so??? You can bet if he was an embarassment to Bush, he wouldn't have lasted a day...Who do you think Chertoff takes orders from???
So, now do we call him "Border Bob?"
Chertoff plays down border incursion reports
01/19/06...Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday played down reports outlining hundreds of border incursions by
Chertoff is the new Iraqi minister of information...""
Yeah---and Ken Lay said ENRON was solid befor it's collapse.
Give me a break.
Just a big case of CYA......
"I think the stories are overblown," Chertoff said. "I asked the chief of the Border Patrol about it. The number has not increased; in fact, it had decreased a little bit."
Chertoff, Chertoff, Chertoff. Thou hast words with awe inspiring magnitude...
Mr. Chertoff, It's easy for you to say it's no big deal, from your "Ivory Tower," You're not there.
Of course he said that. Otherwise, he would have to do something and he might have to do something about the invasion of illegals. That would anger his Big Corporation Fat Cat Handlers who want the cheap labor pool.
I think I know where you are coming from on this, but he is an embarrassment to Bush regardless of whether or not Bush is personally embarrassed by him.
Chertoff is certainly an embarassment to the American people...
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