Replace East Berlin with Mexico and West Berlin with America in the image and that is the one that should be built, especially by Mexican border cities and towns.
Posted on 09/13/2019 5:45:23 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
“I agree. My question is, can Trump do it without congressional approval.”
Yes he can. In 2020 should declare a national emergency move 20,000 troops and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the border and build the last remaining unfounded wall sections with the military.
Of course I am happy he’s doing what he is, that’s all he is able to at this time.
I’m just not deluding myself into thinking this is a long term fix, because it isn’t.
Replace East Berlin with Mexico and West Berlin with America in the image and that is the one that should be built, especially by Mexican border cities and towns.
looks good to me.
I think replicating the Berlin Wall is a little too much.
“can Trump do it without congressional approval?”
There are two Congressional functions involved - authorization and appropriation.
Authorization is the approval, and appropriation is providing money.
The authorization to build barrier along the border has already been passed into law (notably in the Secure Fence Act of 2006, but also in other legislation).
From the standpoint of a potential legal argument, the authorization is further reinforced by the fact that Congress continues to provide money (appropriations) every year (just not enough - slow-rolling an effective program).
All that remains then, is for enough legal sources of funding to be provided by Congress (appropriations) - or otherwise identified by the Administration.
Because the Government has grown so big and complicated, and because so many powers have been written into law, it is generally possible for an Administration to dig a few billion in loose change from among the cushions of the Federal Sofa.
That might be a reason why Mick Mulvaney, the former head of the Office of Management and Budget, became the White House Chief of Staff - he knows where the money can be mined out of the existing budget.
For an example, in the past, the Military was given a mission to support Counter-Narcotics efforts by law enforcement, and specifically authorized the power to use their Counter-Narcotics budget to build fences, roads and lighting in drug trafficking corridors along the border.
Separately, DoD has the authority to shift around some of their budget internally (called re-pprogramming) to adapt to changing conditions during the year. During 2019, the Military fell short of its recruiting goals, so some of the money budgeted to pay salaries for those who were not hired, was going to be left over. Every year there is a “sweep” to identify such money left over, for whatever reason.
That money had been legally appropriated, was legally re-programmed into the Counter-Narcotics account, and they are already erecting bollards with it. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of it in July.
Based on what we have seen in the past, The Trump Administration has backup plans for funding, if Congress fails to appropriate enough. They may have to use different techniques from this last year, but they do seem like they have been prepared for it.
“this is hardly a permanent wall... made of earth and concrete.”
Inside each steel bollard, is a reinforced concrete column.
Think of the steel as performing supporting functions - as a form for the concrete to set, and as a shield, to protect the concrete from chisel or sledgehammer attacks.
Where this new barrier goes in, roads, clear areas for observation, cameras, sensors and alarms go in as well - what they call “wall system”.
That infrastructure is going to make it very easy for robots and drones to patrol - some already being deployed. By the time this barrier degrades, it will be a new world, in terms of robotic capability.
I’m hoping the steel is a foundation for a real wall.
Thank you for your detailed and intelligent response. The wall is being built. Not as fast as we’d like, but if Trump can get 400-500 miles built by Election Day, he will certainly have bragging rights.
“My question is, can Trump do it without congressional approval?”
He is DOING IT! Open eyes, be aware.
Eh, I think you misunderstood what I was asking about. That’s okay. Carry on, good citizen.
The wall it is replacing was put it less than 20 years ago.
Huh, where’s that 100 years you’re talking about?
Please address the corrosive nature of hydroscopic concrete in direct contact with steel.
Even Core 10 isn’t impervious.
Liberals fought the process tooth and nail - then proclaimed 'nothing was happening' because they define 'building' as ONLY the part on site.
The criticism I here is he has only done 8 miles and Mexico isn’t paying.
Is it true that he had to divert money from veterans affairs? Or fake news? I mean out of over 700 billion in a military budget why would he have to divert anything?
Yup. Turrets every quarter mile topped with movement-sensing mini-guns and patrolled with Apache helicopters and A10 Wart Hogs.
Not very practical in a desert environment.
He has done hundreds of miles. Where did you get the figure 8 miles?
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