Ridge says unmanned drones could be patrolling borders by end of the year

SFGate ^ | 5/22/03 | JESSE J. HOLLAND

[IronKros]

Unmanned aerial drones similar to ones used in the war on Iraq could be patrolling the U.S. border by the end of the year to help stem illegal immigration and increase security, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Thursday.

"We are very serious in looking at UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) for both border applications, land and sea," Ridge told the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

[IronKros]

Whoohooo

[MEG33]

Good news!

[So Cal Rocket]

Outstanding first step.

Second step is to arm the UAVs.

[Servant of the Nine]

I hope they are carrying light machineguns and Hellfire missiles.

So9

[IronKros]

I would say thank you to the vigilantes in Arizona for starting this project.

[netmilsmom]

That just kicks! My hubby and I were talking about how we should control the borders. He said that we don't have the manpower. I said, we have the technology, give it time.

I win, I win!!!
(pretty good considering it was housewife against IT guy)
[but I am the FReeper!]

[Mears]

This is the best news I've had in a long time,I just hope it really happens.

The problem of illegal immigration is equal to the problem of terrorism as far as I'm concerned. We are in difficult economic times and yet these people keep coming and coming.

[Normal4me]

"I would say thank you to the vigilantes in Arizona for starting this project."

Gee, wonder whose plan will be cheaper?

/sarcasm

[MEG33]

Unmanned drones ..Ridge says will be used on the borders.

[dirtboy]

ping

[Digger]

American Patrol & Glenn Spencer. Your people have got this government to respond. Thanks also to the Tombstone Tumbleweed. Thank you, Tom Tancredo & a special thanks to the Americans who are ready to make this the biggest issue in he next election.

[Howlin]

Oh! Interesting. Thanks for the ping!

[Frank_Discussion]

Tinfoil NWO Order Satire Comment: State Borders or National Borders? Gotta be clear here... ;-)

[Howlin]

Well, we here in NC *would* like to discuss South Carolina with Mr. Ridge.......LOL.

[IronKros]

It could get real expensive when we start dropping water bottles for the illegal immigrants. Evian isn't cheap!

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

I would say thank you to the vigilantes in Arizona for starting this project.

I was thinking that exact same thing when I saw the headline.

One man really can make a difference, thanks Tombstone Tumbleweed!

[demkicker]

Thank God they're talking about doing SOMETHING!!!

[meema]

bump

[Irish Eyes]

Just read about the Arizona project here last night. Way to go Arizona. I think we all know whose plan will be cheaper LOL

[Normal4me]

"It could get real expensive when we start dropping water bottles for the illegal immigrants"

True. Not to mention the impending lawsuits from the water being too warm. Hey, maybe we could dispatch some of those planes that drop water on forest fires!

[MD_Willington_1976]

Hmmmm...This guy and Tom Ridge look alike...

[mirkwood]

So we will have all this new intelligence and the INS will do....what?

[SpaceBar]

These are not the droids you are looking for.

[Thud]

They'll figure out a way to turn this into a boondoggle.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Way to go!

[TruthNtegrity]

Ping!

[vpintheak]

I still don't understand the importance of this. Now we can watch the illegals come over on video tape? Big deal! How are we going to stop them without the manpower there? This looks to me like a feel good policy that won't do much.

[Lady In Blue]

ping

[gubamyster]

How much you wanna bet the US drones cost a whole lot more than Glenn Spencer's?

This is good news, but what is the INS going to do when they spot the illegals? Currently the INS catches & releases illegals, and local law enforcement agencies let known illegals go free, or refuse to question the status of suspected illegals.

[mathluv]

And local/state governments keep paying for more - health care, schools, welfare, etc. Didn't CA just pass a bill to give them all free health care?

[upchuck]

I'll bet Tommy's really upset 'cause these guyz beat him to it.

Drones:

[IronKros]

Well, I would say videotaped footage of the corrupt mexican army firing on our INS border patrol would be entertaining.

[putupon]

Unmanned aerial drones similar to ones used in the war on Iraq could be patrolling the U.S. border by the end of the year

Now if we could just get rid of some the human drones that work for the Feds....

[Tench_Coxe]

Yep. Can sse it right now. Unmanned drone spots aliens sneaking across the border. Two men watching the monitors:

#1: hey, it looks like we've got 50 illegals crossing the border. Take a look.
#2: yep, those look like illegals all right.
#1: Shouldn't we call out the mobile units to pick them up?
#2: nah. We'd get too much bad press about the mean old border patrol arresting the poor 'undocumented immigrants'. Besides, the governor use back channels to get us fired. C'mon, time to play some cards.

[Gritty]

Unmanned aerial drones similar to ones used in the war on Iraq could be patrolling the U.S. border by the end of the year...

By the end of the year!!??

Why does it take seven months to start up a program? We have equipment and the military people to run it sitting around practically twidling their thumbs in places like Ft. Huachuca and a dozen other military bases. It's not like we need permission from the UN or lack airfields and OKs from the States! Nor is like we need Posse Committatis to be approved. After all, the Executive Branch is already charged by the Constitution with protecting our borders!

By January, we'll have another 3 million illegals who have swarmed across the border.

[IronKros]

yeah, your right. The current method is better.</sarcasm>

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

ANd when the lefty libs, commie churchs, Hollyweird types, the ACLU, the (gasp) media, La Raza, Mex pres. Fox, and the lefty pols get wind, that is all it will ever be, is taked about, nada, forgedabodit.

[xm177e2]

The real question is whether this is because of American Patrol's efforts or if the Border Patrol really was experimenting with this sort of thing before.

[MissAmericanPie]

To do what? Clue illegals in as to how close they are to the border?

[Major_Risktaker]

END OF YEAR...BS! Appeaser.....Do it now...

[taxcontrol]

I would like to see the UAVs backed up with helicopters loaded with some Infantry / Marines to handle any "incidents"

[IronKros]

que?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

END OF YEAR...BS! Appeaser.....Do it now...

They ought to. You can expect hundreds of thousands more to make it in by then.

[A Navy Vet]

"...but what is the INS going to do when they spot the illegals?"

Nothing, it's no longer their job. Border Patrol works directly for Homeland Security Department now. They are two separate entitites with different functions - this is a good thing.

[TEXOKIE]

Stem the tide of illegal aliens BUMP!!!

[Let's Roll]

"Second step is to arm the UAVs."

So right - as soon as I saw the headline, I thought "...and?"

[Walkingfeather]

You add Drones with Metalstorm technology + area denial capability From flash bangs to more lethal weapons.... and you have a effective border patrol. Check out Metalstorm.com and their videos.

[Brian S]

OK...maybe we are making progress.

[Criminal Number 18F]

What is this fascination that headline writers have for the redundancy, "unmanned drones"?

Incidentally, a drone is, to be absolutely technically correct, an unpiloted aircraft, the flight path of which is preset on the ground, in advance. I'm being a little fussy here, but the new generation of UAVs can be redirected in flight to examine targets of opportunity. Some are "flown" from a virtual pilot station on the ground.

In the case of Predators, the pilots who fly the mission profiles can be on a US airbase while the Preds prowl the Mideast skies. The pilots who take off and land the machine do need to be at the launch and recovery site, though. (Disclaimer: nothing here that hasn't been in a press release, OK?)

d.o.l.

Criminal Number 18F