Arming the Guard not a bad idea

Arizona Sun ^ | February 2, 2007 | Editorial

[Graybeard58]

Maybe we're old-fashioned, but a solider who's not permitted to defend himself doesn't seem like a soldier at all.

Better to hire office clerks and truck mechanics to help out at the Mexican border than Arizona National Guard troops who aren't allowed to live up to their name.

Or, in the alternative, why not change the rules of engagement so that Guard units can not only defend themselves but go after criminal activity by illegal immigrants?

Anything, it would seem, is better than the legal limbo in which Guard troops stationed at the border find themselves.

Two recent incidents illustrate their dilemma. One involved a group of heavily armed men spotted approaching a Guard outpost. The group, possibly drug smugglers, retreated across the border when their cover was blown, but the troops were powerless to do anything but observe at a distance.

The second saw a group of unknown assailants throw rocks at a Guard outpost, breaking two windows in a Guard vehicle. The troops called the Border Patrol, but the group retreated across the border before they could be found.

There's something wrong with this picture. What if the rocks had been bullets? What if the Border Patrol hadn't been able to respond in a timely fashion?

The Guard units have their hands tied by federal rules that limit them to a support role, including repairing fences, doing paperwork and operating lookout posts. The idea is to free up Border Patrol officers to round up illegal border crossers, and the strategy appears to be working: Arrests in Arizona are down 33 percent from a year ago.

But if Guard troops are going to be placed on the front lines of the border wars, why not empower them to not only defend themselves but take action against illegal activity, including detaining suspects until help arrives. The governor of Texas has proposed using Guard troops from his state to form security platoons headed by a Border Patrol agent and a local law enforcement officer. That seems like a better use of their training as soldiers than doing office work or sitting in a lookout tower, tasks that civilians could perform.

The issue may come down to money - the feds are paying for 6,400 Guard troops along the entire 1,800-mile border as part of Operation Jumpstart. If a governor wants to form a state-run Guard operation on the border, that must come out of state funds.

So far the GOP-controlled Legislature has talked about a state operation but hasn't come up with a price tag or the number of Arizona Guard troops to be assigned to it. Gov. Napolitano has said she isn't interested at any price and that the state is moving on other fronts to combat gangs, vehicle theft and other border problems.

We see some room for compromise here, albeit a potentially expensive one. Let's put some figures on the table first and perhaps start small. Otherwise, maybe Operation Jumpstart should get a new set of federal rules before somebody gets hurt.

[Emmett McCarthy]

Bush doesn't want the border closed. He'd rather continue to have Border Patrol agents go to prison for doing their jobs. It's immoral to send men into harm's way to do a job that the leadership has already decided they don't want done.

[Desron13]

Here's a thought. If the state of Texas provided me with room and board (nothing fancy, just basics) and bus transportation, I will use the two weeks of my vacation this year patrolling the Southern boarder. Sound like a plan? I'll even throw in up to $200.00 dollars for a background check and training. I will however insist on carrying a side arm and rifle for my own protection. I would also insist on a ballistic vest. A good quality loaner would be fine. Anyone else with me?

[stboz]

Maybe we're old-fashioned, but a solider who's not permitted to defend himself doesn't seem like a soldier at all.

Well, duh! The right term is "target."

[raybbr]

I don't know what to say anymore. It really is as if Bush and most of our national politicians want this country to tear itself apart. I am ready to give up.

[Desron13]

"I don't know what to say anymore. It really is as if Bush and most of our national politicians want this country to tear itself apart. I am ready to give up."

Don't give up, Prepare. If this does keep up, we're heading for another Civil War. You'll be needed.

[Ladycalif]

You can come to California

http://www.campominutemen.com/

[wolfcreek]

The MinuteMen are looking for people like you.

[gubamyster]

ping

[TheLion]

The fact that the National Guard is not armed is insane. They were not sent there to do anything but help politicans.

We secure borders all over the world, but lack the leadership to secure the most important one....ours!

[ZULU]

Bring back the Texas Rangers - led by a REAL Texan - NOT a northeastern Liberal transplant.