One Reporter's Opinion: Citizen Militia on the Border (George Putnam)

NewsMax.com ^ | 12/13/2002 | George Putnam

[SteveH]

(Reprinted from NewsMax.com)

One Reporter's Opinion: Citizen Militia on the Border

George Putnam

Friday, Dec. 13, 2002

It is this reporter's opinion that I found it the height of hypocrisy when I read the headline "U.S. Plans to Seal Afghans' Porous Border." The plan is to slow the flow of illegals, illicit drugs, terrorists and contraband into and out of Afghanistan. The United States will finance the construction and maintenance of 177 checkpoints, staffed by 12,000 border police in that far-off land.

The cost is staggering – each checkpoint and its facilities to cost an average of $300,000. It is to include offices, sleeping quarters and, in some cases, clinics – this staggering expenditure to guarantee the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

Contrast this with the fact that our country cannot and will not control the flow of illegal aliens across our own porous borders – 15 million illegals that have poured into the United States, violating our sovereignty!

Where our government has failed us, several groups of patriotic citizens are taking up arms along the Arizona border with Mexico. One of these is Chris Simcox, a teacher-turned-newspaper-owner, who has formed the Tombstone, Ariz., militia called Civil Homeland Defense.

Chris says:

We will no longer tolerate the ineptness of our government in dealing with these criminals and drug dealers. It is a monumental disgrace that our government is letting the American people down, turning us into expendable casualties of the war on terrorism.

These armed civilian groups along our borders, providing civil homeland defense, are experiencing constant confrontations with illegals. There have been moments that bordered on extreme violence. It's bound to become more dangerous and, as one observer puts it, somebody is going to get killed.

Simcox, in a moment of frustration, told this reporter:

I defy our president to arrest any of us for doing what the government refuses to do to protect the sovereignty of our beloved country. This land belongs to every citizen; it's OUR land. I challenge my government to come and arrest me. We are not "crazies," we are concerned citizens, we are responsible people.

The groups are growing. There are now more than a dozen known militia organizations – armed civilian groups – on the border. It's time Congress and the president become involved.

Simcox says:

I am trying to force the president of the United States to do his job. He took an oath to protect us from enemies. He has no business sending troops to foreign countries when he has not sealed our own borders.

If we can protect the porous border of Afghanistan, with 177 checkpoints and 12,000 border police, surely we can protect the border of the United States of America.

I invite you to read on:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/12_9_02armed.html

http://www.azstarnet.com/border/21206TOMBSTONEMILITIA.html

http://www.projectusa.org/Ezine/02-07-02-12.html

* * * * * *

The legendary George Putnam is 88 years young and a veteran of 68 years as a reporter, broadcaster and commentator ... and is still going strong. George is part of the all-star line-up of Southern California's KPLS Radio - Hot Talk AM 830.

Click here for George's complete bio

... and check out a new feature article in Insight magazine on George

[Nephi]

I wonder how long it will take the government to send the military to fight the militia?

[Fish out of Water]

ping

[Gritty]

The plan is to slow the flow of illegals, illicit drugs, terrorists and contraband into and out of Afghanistan. The United States will finance the construction and maintenance of 177 checkpoints, staffed by 12,000 border police in that far-off land.

Nice gesture, that.

It nevertheless fails to recognize we probably have more "illegals, illicit drugs. terrorists and contraband" across OUR borders than their. And ours are a helluva lot closer!

[waxhaw]

This is worth thinking about - that our government is more ready and willing to protect the sovereignty of Afghanistan than the sovereignty of the United States. In my opinion, it clarifies where our president, congress and government stand when it comes to serving our Constitution and the citizens of the U.S.

[ActionNewsBill]

our government is more ready and willing to protect the sovereignty of Afghanistan than the sovereignty of the United States

That is a sobering thought.,Without a doubt, it's obvious now what the agenda of the Bush administration is.

[Wilkin]

When the International Bankers tell the Federal Researve that the milita is a problem, word will be sent to Bush to get rid of milita. The unwritten order to Bush will be to do whatever it takes shutdown milita.

[madfly]

How about this!

Washington spends Millions on Other-Lands Border Security !

Washington File

06 December 2002

Fact Sheet: U.S. Assistance to Turkmenistan - Fiscal Year 2002

(Nov. 15: State Department Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs)
(700)

The following fact sheet on U.S. assistance to Turkmenistan updates a
fact sheet issued in June 2002:

(begin fact sheet)

U.S. Department of State
Fact Sheet
Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs
Washington, DC

November 15, 2002

U.S. ASSISTANCE TO TURKMENISTAN - FISCAL YEAR 2002

The U.S. Government (USG) has budgeted approximately $218 million to fund assistance programs in Turkmenistan, plus $45 million in surplus Department of Defense and privately donated humanitarian commodities from Fiscal Year 1992 through Fiscal Year 2002.

Snip

Turkmenistan is benefiting from $5 million from the Emergency Response Funds for Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) assistance. The EXBS program provides support for the Turkmenistan Border Guards and other border security organizations to ensure interoperability and enhanced control of Turkmenistan's borders. The goal is to prevent the transit of weapons of mass destruction, proliferation-related technology, and other illicit weapons trafficking. In addition the U.S. has allocated $450,000 in International Military Education and Training for FY 2002.

Anti-crime training and technical assistance will build on current counter narcotics efforts and improve detection, interdiction, and enforcement capabilities. Specifically, assistance will support establishment in Turkmenistan of units with enhanced counter-narcotics capabilities.

[madfly]

ping

[madfly]

ping

[madfly]

ping

[RnMomof7]

This is incredible..simply unbelievable..is our nation a commody that those in power exchange for more power? It sure looks that way

[Paulie]

"I wonder how long it will take the government to send the military to fight the militia?"

Indeed. And I wonder how the media will spin it when the hammer eventually does come down.

[greggery_peccary]

"This is worth thinking about - that our government is more ready and willing to protect the sovereignty of Afghanistan than the sovereignty of the United States. In my opinion, it clarifies where our president, congress and government stand when it comes to serving our Constitution and the citizens of the U.S."

I couldn't have said it better myself. A classic example was that embarrassing appearance of Congressman Jeff Flake (an appropriate surname as it turns out) on O'Reilly's show last night. When asked why officials in Arizona were asking for federal funds to pay for the incarcertaion, prosecution, medical services, etc., for illegals when these same state and federal politicians are not calling for more to be done to seal the border, Flake proceeded to babble about how the illegals were helping Americans by using other people's Social Security numbers and pumping money into the system. He then rambled on about a "guest worker" program, but refused to take a stand as far as tightening the border. A truly pathetic performance.

With representatives like McVain and this Flake character, it's embarrassing to admit being a Republican in Arizona. Throw in Ed Pastor, incoming Congressman Raul Grijalva Janet Napolitano on the Dims side, and there is little hope for an improvement in the situation down here.

[Freedom4US]

It is beyond inexplicable - I'd have shut all the borders down about 12:00 PM 11 Sept. 2001 - nobody in, or out - nobody, I mean nobody, leaves the country. Not even if you're Osama's kin. Especially if you're Osama's kin.

As far as letting in 10's of thousands of people since 11 Sept 2001 from "areas of concern" as terrorist-producing countries are now euphemistically known, are they insane? Sorry, the Sec. of State is wrong on this one. If this makes me a Xenophobe, so be it, I wear the moniker proudly, then. There is no benefit to allowing an avowed enemy of our culture live in our midst and plot against us on our dime.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Roger that.

[taxed2death]

You're so right.

Perhaps we should contact the Afganistan Embassy and inquire about sponsoring a few thousand families over there in exchange for a few thousand able bodied males ages 18 to 30 to be sent over here to protect our borders.

Past experiences would lead me to believe the ethnic tribes over there don't take kindly to trespassers on their turf.

[nicmarlo]

FYI ping (sorry if you've already been pinged):

It is this reporter's opinion that I found it the height of hypocrisy when I read the headline "U.S. Plans to Seal Afghans' Porous Border." The plan is to slow the flow of illegals, illicit drugs, terrorists and contraband into and out of Afghanistan. The United States will finance the construction and maintenance of 177 checkpoints, staffed by 12,000 border police in that far-off land.

* * *

Contrast this with the fact that our country cannot and will not control the flow of illegal aliens across our own porous borders – 15 million illegals that have poured into the United States, violating our sovereignty!

I don't understand our President on this border issue. His, his Administration, and Congress's stand dismays any rationale.

[Iscool]

Looks like this one could use a good BUMP...

I defy our president to arrest any of us for doing what the government refuses to do to protect the sovereignty of our beloved country. This land belongs to every citizen; it's OUR land. I challenge my government to come and arrest me. We are not "crazies," we are concerned citizens, we are responsible people.

This fella sounds like he understands the concept of a Free Republic...