Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
Standing in stark contrast to Gov. Rick Perry, who has persistently made the case for why more "boots on the ground" are needed to enhance border security along the porous U.S.–Mexico border, President Obama this week determined that the United States will reduce its National Guard presence at the border by 75 per cent in favor of an approach guided by mobile and aerial surveillance over the next several months. The Daily Caller reports:
The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense confirmed during a Tuesday morning conference call with members of Congress that the administration will be reducing the National Guard troop presence on the border with Mexico by 75 percent, according to Texas Republican Rep. Ted Poe.
[...]
The administration representatives revealed that the National Guard’s presence on the border will be reduced from 1,200 to 300 troops and their budget will decrease from $120 million to $60 million.
“It is a mistake,” Poe told TheDC. “Last week Jason Altmire, Democrat from Pennsylvania, and I sent a letter to the president asking him not to reduce the number of National Guard troops. I’ve always thought 1,200 wasn’t enough. In fact I introduced legislation to put 10,000 at the border.”
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Mar '11
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
At least Mr Obama is consistent - this is also his policy in Afghanistan and Iraq - not to mention other places.
Jun '10
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
At least Obama's policies have slowed the traffic of illegals coming here to work in construction, or in restaurants, by making our United States economy more like Mexico's. That's not the method I would've chosen, but that's one way. Now, if he could just slow the traffic of armed criminals coming here to work....
May '10
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
I hope y'all will invite Ted Poe (my Congressman) to join the podcast one day or to post something on Ricochet. He's one of the good guys.
May '10
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
I won't judge this negatively just yet. With the huge progress we've seen in aerial surveillance technology lately, it could be that fewer personnel are needed and they can be deployed much more efficiently.
May '11
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
When will people stop being surprised when he chooses policies that are meant to destroy our way of life?
Apr '11
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
No one will name the problem: Mexico.
Go to the Rio Grande. Look south; poverty. Look north; rich ranchers and farmers. The land isn't any different. It's the laws. We have more economic freedom than Mexico. They've regulated most of their markets out of legal existence. It's a giant black market state, with all the extortionist rent-seeking that goes with it.
But they have state-provided medical care. That's what really matters to Obama.
Apr '11
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
It's just my guess, but I'm thinking that aerial surveillance + 1,200 personnel > aerial surveillance + 300 personnel.
It's true that the border isn't so much of the problem; most illegal immigration is by people who cross legally and then overstay instead of returning. Since Obama won't deal with that, either, though, it seems safe to call this half hearted law enforcement.
Nov '11
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
Jeff Younger: No one will name the problem: Mexico.
Go to the Rio Grande. Look south; poverty. Look north; rich ranchers and farmers. The land isn't any different. It's the laws. We have more economic freedom than Mexico. They've regulated most of their markets out of legal existence. It's a giant black market state, with all the extortionist rent-seeking that goes with it.
But they have state-provided medical care. That's what really matters to Obama. · Dec 21 at 6:11am
Yeah, I have trouble faulting any person who wants to flee Mexico for the Land of the Free.
May '10
Re: Obama's Border Policy: Boots Off the Ground
James Of England
It's just my guess, but I'm thinking that aerial surveillance + 1,200 personnel > aerial surveillance + 300 personnel.
It's true that the border isn't so much of the problem; most illegal immigration is by people who cross legally and then overstay instead of returning. Since Obama won't deal with that, either, though, it seems safe to call this half hearted law enforcement. · Dec 21 at 6:26am
Well, sure. And aerial surveillance + 10,000 personnel would be better yet. It's a question of what's cost-effective, and I don't have any way to evaluate how much aerial surveillance and many men are needed to cover the border, and at what point extra men end up standing around bored. And don't forget that this is just National Guard troops, it doesn't include the normal Border Patrol.