Posted on 02/14/2008 6:39:05 PM PST by Iron Munro
EL PASO, Texas -- The 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border includes a virtual fence made up of a network of cameras, sensors, enhanced communications and upgraded vehicles. The sophisticated equipment is supposed to work as the extra eyes and ears for Border Patrol agents monitoring the open desert. But the first 28 miles of the high-tech virtual fence went up in Arizona, and has seen its share of glitches.
T.J. Bonner with the National Border Patrol Council said glitches include a radar that confused raindrops for undocumented immigrants. He said, "One officer reported that he saw a group of 80 illegal aliens moving northward and then after the end of shift went back to see if the technology had spotted it. It had not."
Some of the faulty equipment has been replaced or fixed, but that is not enough to convince some people the government should continue with the project.
"It makes the department look bad. It makes Border Patrol less effective if they can't count on the machines that are put there to help them run a more effective border checks," said Beth Kurland of west El Paso.
"I think they'd be better off building a regular chain-link fence if they're going to build a fence at all," said Arnold Marks of west El Paso. Despite the problems with the $20 million project headed by Boeing, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said parts of the project do expand Border Patrol capabilities. Chertoff said he plans to accept the high-tech system in the next few days, but not all of it. He compares it to having a house inspection.
"There is some stuff you say, 'I am not taking the house until you fix it.' And then there is some stuff you say, 'You know I will live with it but give me credit,' and that is what we are doing now," said Chertoff.
Some Borderland residents question if this is the best use of taxpayer dollars.
"I think if they're going to spend a lot of money on something they're not sure is going to work, I don't think it's a very good idea," said Marks.
"Why throw good money after bad. That money could be used to put up a more effective barrier, or to try to help both sides take care of the problem," said Kurland.
The DHS is asking for $775 million in its 2009 budget to fence the border. Some of the money is to refine and expand the virtual fence.
1 - A real, physical fence will actually work. It will effectively slow down and/or stop illegal crossings
2 - A real fence doesn't cost enough and doesn't require multi-million dollar contracts to purchase expensive equipment from companies run by large financial contributors to politicians. And once a real fence is built there is no need for additional contracts for expensive upgrades, maintenance and repairs.
What good is an expensive government project if politicians and bureaucrats can't channel the money to their friends and financial backers? Politicians are less concerned about the effectiveness of a project than the size of the contracts and who gets them.
Yeah.
A (nonexistent) virtual fence has lots of holes (er, flaws.)
But you see, Washington NEEDS a virtual fence so they can COUNT the number of illegal voters (er, immigrants) coming across so they can ramp up the welfare and Medicare payments properly ...
Love to be the gub'mint contractor that got that gig...low risk, high reward.
Relax. It was only 80. As long as they weren't Arabs smuggling nuclear bomb parts, we'll be fine.
I’d like to see these asshats in our Government try to at least once to figure how to sensibly spend our money.
Just build the damned fence. Humor us, after all we are paying for it.
We could hire illegals to build the fence for cheap, building it up from the south side. Financial problems solved, and auto-deportations as a bonus!
Seriously, though...somehow we have got to get around the “what’s in it for me?” attitude and just build the thing. Like NOW.
But it sure ain’t gonna happen with Clintoon, Obamanation, or McQueeg in charge. We’re screwed.
I wonder if Chertoff the Great spends his own money this way. What typical 'government think'. Nah, let's not make it actually work, just say it does and knock a couple o'bucks off the ticket and we'll call it even.
I will be so glad when these goons are out of a job. It could not possibly be any worse.
There will predictably be one other, major problem. Illegals will simply walk through, and what does the government propose to do about it?
Should they send Border Patrol people to shoot them? What will they do when Mexican soldiers cross the border, escorting drug smugglers?
Will the prosecute anyone who tries to stop these illegals, as they have done in the past? Will they give tickets to Mexicans who run over police or border patrol agents with their cars and trucks?
Put up a real wall, for heaven’s sake. And fire that jerk Chertoff.
Having failed to build a fence with 700 million, they now want 700 million more to not build a fence with.
DUH
(((((BUILD THE FENCE))))
The REAL one that Duncan Hunter wants to build...
Put Duncan in charge of the construction...
The money for it was appropriated Sept, 2006
Yeah, we know a virtual fence won’t work.
Arm the border with a militia.
***I will be so glad when these goons are out of a job. It could not possibly be any worse.***
It certainly could
But we can’t have Hunter running things, do you have any idea how many federal employees will be out of work should his ideas be enacted? Why, it would be a travesty! Just think of how many IRS employees won’t be able to find jobs. The horror!
/s
:)
Whoops
so solly
NOT
:)
A virtual fence would be great, if illegal immigrants were only virtual.
=D
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.