Rally for militarized border set (Calling all Arizona FReepers)

Tucson Citizen ^ | 4 March 2004 | Luke Turf

[Spiff]

A state representative and a retired Border Patrol chief are among expected speakers Saturday at a rally to support militarization of the U.S.-Mexico border. American Border Patrol, a Sierra Vista-based group that documents suspected illegal immigration in Arizona and broadcasts it on the Internet, organized the rally.

[American Soldier]

Your typical active duty soldiers already spends WAY too much job on non-training activities. This is a distraction our military does not need. Let us defend the nation where the threats ORIGINATE -- overseas in forward operating bases. Putting soldiers on the Rio Grande during the War on Terror would be analogous to putting soldiers on the James River during the Indian Wars -- it's the wrong place at the wrong time to respond to the relevant threat.

Having a small number of military attached to the Border Patrol (similar to the way they are attached to the CIA and other agencies) might be helpful. A militarized border patrol that would take enlistees right out of high school and worked under the DOD or Homeland Security Department subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice might also be an option. With the Border Patrol's current entry standards (it's not that easy to get in!) you simply could not find enough bodies to man both borders.

[Spiff]

I'll be the guy in the white South East Arizona Republican Club shirt, black jacket, electronic bullhorn, and carrying a full-sized effigy of a Border Patrol Agent with a large "Bush/Kolbe Amnesty" knife sticking in his back. You can't miss me.

Glenn Spencer called my neighbor, who is also a FReeper, and asked her to speak at the rally. Glenn also tried to call me last night but I wasn't home when he called.

See you there.

[texastoo]

Good luck today. Thanks for doing this.

[Dante3]

It is essential to protect our borders.

We don't need to have our military in Haiti or any other country. But with the enemy infiltrating this country (even Geraldo Rivera presented info about terrorists sneaking across the border), we do need to protect our borders.

[hershey]

I live too far away to attend, but was watching the Bush and Fox newsconference a short while ago...and Bush said Mexico and the US were 'more than neighbors, we're partners'. Everything was folksy, friendly. Why does that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up? We're being sold a bill of goods. Erase the border. That's what this is really all about.

[Dante3]

I agree.

[itsahoot]

The only troops you will ever see on our Souther border, are the ones to protect the undocumented workers from the irate citizens. I wish this were sarcasm.

[itsahoot]

This is truly the role of the National Guard

Nope, the National Guard is the state Militia, controlled by the Governor, to defend his state, from all attacks, including those of the federal government. Remember state's rights?

As governor, (1930)"Alfalfa" Bill Murray challenged the oil industry, newspaper interests, and the state of Texas. To enforce his programs he relied on the National Guard. During his tenure as governor, he called out the guard forty-seven times for duties ranging from policing ticket sales at University of Oklahoma football games to patrolling the oil fields and guarding the Red River Bridge. It was truly said that he "fought the depression with the National Guard".

[NewRomeTacitus]

Governors used to protect the interests of their respective states PER CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT without hesitation. Now they generally behave as if they are forced to comply with their respective parties desires or presidential mandates. The Guard, as far as I know, does not have to go where the president says if a governor has more need of them at home. Our southern border states have more need of them over minding foreign interests for administrative policy.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

OK, one more time: What capability would be gained by putting a soldier on the border that could not be gained by putting a civilian law enforcement officer on the same stretch of border?

Not a darn thing. Also can you imagine the drop in recruiting? I know I'd never have joined if I thought I'd be stuck along the Mexican border.