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Concerns Raised on Border Fence: Lawmaker Seeks To Delay Handover Of the Boeing System
Wall Street Journal ^
| 6 December 2007
| AUGUST COLE
Posted on 12/05/2007 4:56:53 PM PST by shrinkermd
In a letter sent late yesterday to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D., Miss.) cited continuing concerns by the committee that problems with the virtual-fence system known as Project 28 aren't fixed. The committee also is concerned that the effort doesn't give agents the technological advantages Boeing has promised.
Further delay of a project already almost six months behind could set back the credibility of both the effort and of Boeing. It also signals a determination by lawmakers to keep a sharp eye on how Homeland Security buys from the defense industry. Boeing's project is part of a larger effort estimated to cost taxpayers at least $8 billion through 2013, although a government watchdog has warned the costs could triple.
The effort is designed to make agents more effective at stopping smugglers and illegal immigrants by substituting technology for personnel. Known as "SBInet," it may eventually monitor 6,000 miles of the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada. The government has withheld final payment on the initial $20 million contract while Boeing fixes glitches. Representatives for both Boeing and Homeland Security said they hadn't seen Mr. Thompson's letter.
Boeing has been waiting to turn over the first 28-mile section of the fence since the end of November. If the project is accepted, the government will operate the system alongside Boeing during a 45-day test period that may result in a formal handoff early next year.
...To track a smuggler, an agent in a vehicle can remotely operate a camera and radar system mounted atop a 98-foot tower. Officials have said the system will be capable of locating a person five miles away or a moving car at three times that distance. The network will be overseen by command centers that have the ability to tap into every tower.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
TOPICS: US: Arizona; US: California; US: New Mexico; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: aliens; fence; illegals; immigrantlist; virtual
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To: shrinkermd; bigjoesaddle; FryingPan101; AnimalLover; backtothestreets; Olephart; pulaskibush; ...
Virtual ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
21
posted on
12/06/2007 9:43:56 AM PST
by
SwinneySwitch
(US Constitution Article 4 Section 4..shall protect each of them against Invasion...domestic Violence)
To: flattorney
22
posted on
12/06/2007 9:45:26 AM PST
by
SwinneySwitch
(US Constitution Article 4 Section 4..shall protect each of them against Invasion...domestic Violence)
To: davidosborne; airborne; Antoninus; GulfBreeze; processing please hold; RasterMaster; ...
>>>..."SBInet," it may eventually monitor 6,000 miles of the U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada.
The government has withheld final payment on the initial $20 million contract while Boeing fixes glitches.<<<<<
Is this what Chertoff allocated the PHYSICAL border fence money to????
23
posted on
12/06/2007 9:51:18 AM PST
by
Calpernia
(Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
To: RJL
the big attraction is that Bush open borders types can, in just a few minutes, flip a few switches and turn a virtual fence off. Good point. Not only turn it off, which is reversible, but also, sabotage key pieces of equipment. That would take months plus foot-dragging to replace.
Build an old-fashioned wall, NOW.
24
posted on
12/06/2007 9:54:36 AM PST
by
melancholy
(Beware of Ho Chi Minh's offspring, Ho She Marx , invading the WH.)
To: shrinkermd
The Secure Fence Act written by Congressman Duncan Hunter, Presidential Candidate 2008, would extend THIS "San Diego Primary Fence" throughout our southern border states.
25
posted on
12/06/2007 9:57:17 AM PST
by
Calpernia
(Hunters Rangers - Raising the Bar of Integrity http://www.barofintegrity.us)
To: shrinkermd
26
posted on
12/06/2007 10:08:36 AM PST
by
SwinneySwitch
(US Constitution Article 4 Section 4..shall protect each of them against Invasion...domestic Violence)
To: kinoxi; Diogenesis
I think that the rest should heed your tagline.I have wondered what your tagline says, so this is a good time to ask. :o)
To: Shermy
"Boeing saw an opportunity in the push for a fence and offered an expensive facsimile from which it could profit with building costs and decades of maintenance contracts."You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. I worked the proposal for this contract on another team, and this is what the government wanted! Don't go blaming the contractor.
28
posted on
12/06/2007 10:22:13 AM PST
by
Redleg Duke
("All gave some, and some gave all!")
To: kinoxi
They are hundreds of miles of border...that I don’t think a fence is practical..If not impossible to build.
29
posted on
12/06/2007 10:24:03 AM PST
by
Osage Orange
(Deer...It's What's For Dinner)
To: shrinkermd
Can a virtual fence be paid for with virtual money?
30
posted on
12/06/2007 10:36:36 AM PST
by
Liberty Valance
(Keep a simple manner for a happy life :o)
To: shrinkermd
The “Boeing System”???
Why don’t we just try the “Home Depot System?”
31
posted on
12/06/2007 11:00:24 AM PST
by
Redbob
To: NRA2BFree; All
” think we should start giving Congress “virtual pay checks.” Do you think that would get their attention? ;o)”
How about we give them a photocopy of their checks
LMAO!!
32
posted on
12/06/2007 11:46:43 AM PST
by
stephenjohnbanker
(Pray for, and support our troops(heroes) !! And vote out the RINO's!!)
To: shrinkermd
There’s already a blimp outside Marfa,Tx. It’s tethered a couple of thousand feet in the air and can see for quite a ways.
Why not have more of these?
33
posted on
12/06/2007 1:16:58 PM PST
by
wolfcreek
(The Status Quo Sucks!)
To: Osage Orange
They are hundreds of miles of border...that I dont think a fence is practical..If not impossible to build.
We have got over 2 and a half million miles of paved roadway in this country. Much more complicated and costly to build. To think that we are incapable of building a proper wall to protect the citizenry seems to be lacking in perspective. We have the money, it may ultimately save money on enforcement. We have the manpower, or we could (IMO) use some illegals to help with the labor :) . There also seems to be a strong desire by many who are affected by the illegal influx to have a government act in accordance with it's mandate to "establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare," etc.
34
posted on
12/07/2007 12:10:18 PM PST
by
kinoxi
To: kinoxi
Ever build a fence down the middle of a river?
35
posted on
12/07/2007 5:53:01 PM PST
by
Osage Orange
(Deer...It's What's For Dinner)
To: Osage Orange
Lintel it. I’ve done it. Rather extensive masonry/structural experience here. If the river is too wide it will act as a natural barrier leaving a wall across it unnecessary. The ‘virtual fence’ can take care of that IMO. Humans have been buildings structures across bodies of water for many thousands of years using the most archaic tools and techniques imaginable. I think the US government could manage to build a few. It doesn’t need to to be a wall across a river. The wall is a barrier. A fence delineating the sovereign border. Water can and has deterred just as effectively.
36
posted on
12/08/2007 1:25:16 PM PST
by
kinoxi
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