Obama’s Cosmetic Border Security Plan Won’t Work, But These Ideas Will (and Have!)
President Obama has finally decided to take action against the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants on our southern border, announcing a plan to mobilize 1,200 soldiers.
The president’s soothsayers must finally have noticed that Obama’s immigration non-policy and his kowtowing to Mexico’s president don’t sit well with the voters. Axelrod, et al must be worried, as there is no other explanation for this move — since it is purely political and cosmetic.
The president’s plan is a day late and a dollar short, wholly inadequate to get the job done.
In the late 19th century, the U.S. government built a series of forts in the American southwest with full complements of U.S. Cavalry. Some, like Fort Huachuca, established in 1877, are still active military posts. Huachuca was home to the famed all-black 10th Cavalry Regiment, better known as the “Buffalo Soldiers.” American icon Douglas MacArthur spent some of his youth in one of these forts — his father Arthur was the commanding officer.
The forts were designed to protect the settlers from the constant raids of the native Apaches, who didn’t take kindly to having their land taken.
It worked.
Anyone who has visited the border may have been surprised to find the Border Patrol is in fact stationed 20 miles north of it. Yes, we now cede 20 miles of our nation to illegal drug and immigration activity. This activity needs to be stopped at the border, not in Phoenix or Tucson.
Currently the Border Patrol behaves like cops in a city. They meet each morning at headquarters, receive their assignments, and then go out for the day to patrol. The Border Patrol also conducts night operations, but there is no 24-hour presence in force at the actual border.
One current effective tactic is the utilization of Forward Observation Bases (FOB). These stations are situated right along the border and staffed with Border Patrol agents, who live at the bases for days at a time, using horses and ATVs to patrol the area.
Human traffickers and drug smugglers avoid these places. It works.
Patrick Dorinson is absolutely right. The problem is just that. He’s right. What he says would actually work. It would have worked with George Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Lyndon Johnson, or John Kennedy. None of these luminaries would shut the border down. Finally, however, we arrive at Dwight Eisenhower, who actually initiated a wetback program using the word Wetback, and for a while stopped the phenomenon. But once the government stopped it, they threw away the key and opened the gates again. Every U.S. President back to Ike is equally guilty of doing nothing about the border.
Horses, BMW Enduro Motorcycles, ATV’s, whatever it takes. Its not brain surgery, its our border. Why did my Parents need to study months to pass citizenship tests, and others can simply walk across the border..? Hell No.
Alas if but John Ford, John Wayne and Ben Johnson were but available.
Gosh. It almost seems like the Feds don’t WANT to shut down the borders. Weird.
Uh…its WINDOW DRESSING..on ..(wait for it) the upcoming AMNESTY.
Did you really think Obama is goint to get rid of 30 million future
Democrats? …
Tactically and logistically it is do-able, but not with 1,200 light troops and a severe lack of political will in D.C.
1200 men..on a 2400 mile border, thats one person ever 2 miles except for the 16 hours a day they are not working . That should stop em!
And oh yeah..how many unemployed men would love a job like this?…
Two glaring errors- the BP, at least on the southern line, does have 24/7 operations. Where did the author get the idea they don’t? BP agents are working the line no matter the time, holiday, or weather conditions. The BP also has many horse patrol units- they are quite effective, as the horses themselves can lead the agents to groups by their sense of smell, taking quite a lot of time and effort off of the agents’ backs. Did the author bother doing any research at all? The motivation behind the article is great, but it’d be nice to not have to worry about being misled by articles on this site.
Ian C
I did not mean to infer that the Border Patrol was not doing their job. I think they do incredible work given the difficulty of the task at hand. I realize they are on duty 24/7/365. I was only saying that having more permanent presence through a series of forts or firebases would put them closer to the action. As for horse patrols I know they use them and they are effective. I would say the same thing. Let’s keep them out there in fully stocked bases and let’s have more of them. As a rider I agree that horses have incredible capabilities that we should take full advantage of. Sorry if I did not make myself clear enough Ian. Thanks for the comment.
Let’s give them the tools they need.
Actual guys with guns patrolling the border to keep folk who should cross it out… what a novel concept! (Gee, you’d think it’d been done already.)
check the Arizona Criminal Codes. By law ranchers as property owners have the right to protect both their real estate and possessions with force. I think the ranchers have shown remarkable restraint.
http://www.azleg.state.az.us/arizonarevisedstatutes.asp?title=13
Triple concertina wire fence with 100 yard cleared zones between each fence.
Remote-controlled M2 .50BMG mounts in towers every half-mile.
Place webcams with IR and LLV capability on each tower.
Anyone crossing the first fence is subject to being fired on. Make it past the 3rd fence alive and you can stay.
Who will do the shooting? How will the fence be paid for and maintained?
Simple. Rent tower time by the hour. A person could sit at home on their PC and watch the webcam on the tower. If they see anyone crossing the first fence, they open fire.
I figure the fence would pay for itself the first month or so.
coooooooooooool…..your comment probably took more thought then Obama has given to the border…
Good, but you left out the minefield….
Nope, didn’t forget the mines. Don’t need them. Minefields must be maintained, and when someone sets one off you gotta send someone out to replace it and police up the body parts. Who needs that? Not us.
However, I did forget the flamethrowers covering the area between the fences.
You didn’t mention the Canadian border, all the international airports, all the cargo ship ports, all the student visas, all the tourist visas, and all the other means you have no idea exist.
We shouldn’t address this problem because there are others? Most illegal aliens, including a vast majority of the gangsters smuggling drugs into the US, enter through the southern border. The gangs are getting worse and worse, Google Los Zetas and MS-13. Many Mexicans living near the border support better border security because the gangs have taken over. Even here it’s a huge problem; look at Anthony, New Mexico. As a Hispanic the damage they do in recruiting our children into that lifestyle far out ways any inconvenience I might feel at having to present an ID to the police.
You misread. What good does it make to secure your front door and leave the garage door open and the back door open and the side doors open?
Why are so many illegals living near the Canadian border?
The truth of the matter is that people will find their way if they want to. Comprehensive legislation is the best solution.
When the Canadian border becomes an issue, we can take care of it then. For now, the reality is that the southern border is out of control. The relative numbers – and threat – from the Canadian border is miniscule compared to the southern border.
Woundnt the emergence of the “Detroit Drop House” be an indicator of success on our Southern Border? That would be a problem I would look forward to having sooner than later!
If the Obama commie and his fellow America haters were serious, the easiest way is to LAY LAND MINES DOWN. Poor public relations, perhaps, but it would surely serve as a deterrent to the DRUG RUNNERS crossing the borders, or scum like the rapist in Seattle.
Just build the fence!!! It will make it much more difficult to enter the USA illegally. “Build a 12 foot fence and illegals will get a 14 foot ladder”, right? Well, of course that will happen, but it is really hard to hide a 14 foot ladder under a mesquite bush or to swim across the Rio Grande with a ladder on your back. Evidence for the effectiveness of the fence is that much of the illegal traffic is now coming in through Arizona because the fence in California and parts of Texas is so effective. Fences effectively keep prisoners in prisons and will definitely complicate illegal immigration. Just a small fraction of the money Obama is now using to buy union votes would build an excellent fence. Then, stop prosecuting the Border Patrol when they are forced to shoot. We all know the primary reason that both parties refuse to close the border is that they hope to capitalize on the votes of the illegal aliens. Vote these folks out!
American technology an construction know how could get this job done in 6 months.
First Fence…non climb, razor wire etc.
Second Fence 440v. with lots of warning signs.
Put it out to public bid with an “early completion bonus” and it will be done in between four and five months. There’s nothing like a monetary incentive to spur efficiency! A lesson of capitalism?
While Obama’s plan is designed to fail, the FOB strategy is a strategy suggested by someone without any knowledge of the situation or U.S. Border Patrol strategy and implementation.
First, the USBP has agents in the field 24/7 and has a fexible shift system that is not just three shifts, but numerous shifts that provide 24/7 coverage. While patrol bases are needed in areas far from a Border Patrol Station, they already exist in many areas, but obviously could be expanded.
Second, FOBs are for the most part useless without a properly designed fencing strategy. Double and triple fencing is a minimum requirement even in isolated rural areas and those fences do need to be patroled close up, but a strategy of only patroling the border will also fail. Patrols and checkpoints need to be in areas away from the immediate border area as well.
But really missing is any agressive patroling stragegy in suburban and urban areas where illegal live and work. We have effectively lost control of most border towns and cities because interior and employment enforcement was ended in the Clinton Administration and never re-started.
The above posting was a clear example of someone speaking about an issue which he really knows nothing.
Obama’s empty gesture is a joke to anyone familiar with the southern border: firstly, it was a shallow attempt to prop up two-faced AZ Democrat, Gabrielle Giffords who has pretended to advocate border security, but has done absolutely nothing to do so. Secondly, the act will not even begin to scratch the surface. Most of the BP positions will be for paper pushers. Those actually stationed on the border will consist of a single agent every two to three miles. Simultaneously, Senate Democrats immediately shot down McCain’s proposition to have an additional 6,000 guards sent to the border – McCain’s true opinion aside, the act says everything we need to know about Democrats in office: they don’t give a sh!t. On top of this, activist “law enforcement” officers have declared that they will not abide by their duties and will undermine their responsibilities. Additionally, Obama is rounding up law enforcement officials and sheriffs in an attempt to artificially inflate opposition to az bill 1070.
Obama is offering a bandaid for a gaping wound! Call a physician, they could offer more sound policy than Obama has.
Unfortunately, “US troops won’t be used to stop illegal immigration: State Dept.”, according to an article (link below)on RawStory. They’re only going to be used for drug interdiction from the south and gun running interdiction from the north. Thanks to an agreement between Obama and Calderon.
http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0526/troops-wont-be-used-to-stop-illegal-immigration/
Rather than the political con game of sending in 1,200 “light duty” national guardsmen to the Arizona borderlands (most of whom apparently will be assigned office work), the President would better serve the nation by incorporating border protection into the basic and advanced infantry training programs of the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps.
Think about it! The skills needed to interdict illegal aliens and the vast quantities of deadly contraband invading the U.S. through our southern border are the very same skills needed to keep a soldier or marine alive and effective in Afghanistan and Iraq.
As a component of their advanced infantry training, soldiers and marines could be assigned to the border for a period of a month or more where, with the help and tutelage of the U.S. Border Patrol, they would face many of the same conditions they will face after deployment to the Mideast.
Platoon-sized units could be assigned to the Forward Operating Bases as described by the author. From these bases they would conduct daylight and night operations, using advanced sensing equipment such as unmanned aerial recon craft, ground sensors and other devices. They would learn to innovate and coordinate with other FOBs and BP agents to track and trap border-runners.
The USBP would train them in the legal and humane handling of those they capture. The fact that drug runners are often armed, would provide that edge of danger, as no other training scenario can, that will serve to keep the trainees alert, active and alive.
By itself, incorporation of border operations into our military’s infantry training program will not solve all our immigration problems. But it would provide a major step toward meeting the President’s Constitutional responsibility of securing the nation’s borders.
The whole of the southern border should just be an extension of Fort Bliss. Compensate the ranchers and other PP owners with BLS or other land further north (gratis of course). I’ve often felt the BP and the Coast Guard should just be blended into the military (as MP components of the Army/Navy/Air Force or even as a fifth/sixth branch). There is something to be said for having soldiers there who are not woven into the local community: they can handle interdiction without being conflicted because of their heritage (e.g. more pasty Southerners, New England and Rust Belters as opposed to first and second generationMexican-Americans- yeah, I said it….and my name ends in a Z, too!), and can’t be intimidated because they would not be permently living and raising families in the same border/border state towns.
You betcha the only way Obama takes this idea seriously is if the inner-city ACORN alum’s ears perk up with the whole Buffalo Soldier angle– sneaky good Mr. Dorinson.