Posted on 05/12/2006 8:32:41 PM PDT by kellynla
US Senators Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton today joined the Senate's National Guard Caucus – comprised of almost 60 of their Senate colleagues – in asking President Bush to arm the National Guard troops recently deployed to the nation's borders.
As part of its efforts to beef up security along the borders, the Administration deployed National Guard troops on an interim basis to assist Border Patrol, INS and Customs agents but did not arm them. In a letter to the President, the Senators asked the Bush Administration to reverse its decision to bar National Guard personnel from carrying sidearms for strictly protective purposes.
"Until we can get a permanent staff in place that meets the border's long-term security and commercial needs, we'll need to rely on the National Guard to help process the cargo and tourists going in and out of the country," Schumer said. "The men and women who comprise the National Guard force at the border are making some real sacrifices to protect all of us. The very least that we can do is make sure that they can protect themselves."
"Having the National Guard at our borders without guns is a recipe for potential disaster. They are literally at the front lines of our homeland defense and leaving them unprotected would be a real dereliction of duty. They are our National Guard -- we shouldn't let them become targets of opportunity for those who would do them harm," Clinton said.
The following is a copy of the Senators' letter:
"We are writing about the recent interagency agreement on the activation of 1700 members of the National Guard to serve on the nation's border, which bars these highly-trained men and women from carrying firearms for protection. We think this decision places them in grave danger unnecessarily.
(Excerpt) Read more at senate.gov ...
Why do I get the feeling the National Guard will only be used on the border until Amnesty is passed....??? Bait and switch.
This issue was there for the taking. At least now everyone will fight over who can be the toughest on illegals.
Carry them, but not use them.
So. Let me get this straight. If the libs no longer trust Hill, we conservatives should? A flip-flopper is a flip-flopper. A liar is a liar.
NG is going on the border. Looks like a definate.
Well, the GOP and the RNC dicked around and lookie here. The RATS have finally gotten smart and stolen the issue.
Both sides?
isnt that what good politiicans do, they straddle the fence but come out winners on both sides.
LOL! The race is on. Soon we will be declaring war on Mexico, with Senate DIMs bashing Bush for not using Nukes.
Depends on the ignorance level of the voters.
"– in asking President Bush to arm the National Guard troops recently deployed to the nation's borders."
Well, there ARE civilian vigilanties patrolling the border that need to be dealt with. /extreme sarc
Schumker and Hellary are a joke
Of course when it comes to letting you or I protect ourselves with a sidearm, hoo boy! watch the tune change.
They must have polling data....
They will not be issued bullets.
But, why would we have armed soldiers with lethal weapons to protect us against an invasion of paupers?
It is like having M1 Abrams to run over ant hills.
There are better ways.
I can't believe NG are on the border without protection/their guns. Mexico troops have their weapons.
Because it is a "bait-and-switch". Congress waited a few weeks for the anger to die down and it has only intensified. Now the stunts designed to fool us are temporarily sending National Guard troops to the border (for the media) and GW's amnesty speech on Monday night. The amnesty bill will be passed while we are all still dizzy from the BS fumes.
You mean they're not armed????? A National Guard unit going into combat against illegal gangs crossing our border will not be armed???
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