Thread: Iraq Vets Heading for Border Patrol

http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/3339161.html

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Iraq Vets Heading for Border Patrol

Updated: 6:07 PM Jul 12, 2006
Justin Ware


Compared to what these soldiers have been through in the past two years, their next deployment is a relative spring break.

"Good golfing, I guess," said Spc. Brian Hibbs, Iraq vet who's heading south for border patrol.

Many of these Wisconsin National Guard members who are bound for the Mexico border, have just returned from deployment in Iraq.

They are infantry soldiers, so their duties in the Middle East were much more dangerous than what their officers say they'll be facing when they arrive in Arizona.

"I really don't have to worry much about combat," said Spc. Joshua Walker, "don't have to worry about getting shot at every day, blown up every day. It's kind of more like a walk in a park."

"This, I'm not worried about," said Hibbs. "No one knows what's going on, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have to worry about the road blowing up on me."

The soldiers will be patrolling the US–Mexico border as part of President Bush's plan of curbing illegal immigration.

The use of National Guard troops for border patrols does have its critics who say using the Guard for immigration issues is a waste of resources.

But Lt. Colonel Tim Donovan says this is exactly what the Guard was created for.

"This is a new wrinkle in the National Guard's history of service," said Donovan, "but one we're fully capable of and it's absolutely an appropriate mission for the National Guard."

And the soldier's who volunteered for deployment in Arizona, couldn't agree more.

"I'm not thinking about that at all now, because we're going to Arizona," said HIbbs.

The 89 soldiers heading south are volunteers for this mission, but they say that doesn't mean they couldn't be sent back to Iraq, if their home unit is re–deployed.

Border Vulnerabilities and
International Terrorism
Congressional
Hearings Laredo Texas
July 7, 2006

Sheriff Gonzales-has served 30 yrs as a Border Patrol Agent in South
Texas. He states, it is so simple to come in. We now see a different
kind of Mexican speaking a different kind of Spanish. Defectors from
the Mexican Military bring weapons, grenade launchers, hang grenades,
and assault weapons. They are well armed. We are out gunned, out
manned and out capitalized. The border is the front door for MS13
gang members. We see MS13 tattoos coming in everyday. If Weapons of
Mass Destruction came across the Border there is a very slim chance we
would get it. There were people from 70 different countries
apprehended last year some of them were from terrorist countries
(Syria, Iran, Somalia and others). We have found Sudanese money along
the border, 15 black clad men were observed 30 miles east of Zapata.
A local rancher while hunting had an AK47 pulled on him on his
property. They have no regard for human life. There have been 7
kidnappings in the last 3 days in a small Texas county. Kidnappings
are on the increase, 28 people in the Laredo area are missing since
1/06. In 12/05 several men spotted in Texas along the border heavily
armed with duffle bags. 3/06 17 individuals, 3 armed with automatic
weapons with an accent other than Mexican (OTM). Since June1, 2006
there have been 250 assaults, 57 violent attacks on law enforcement
officers near the border. 3/06 we found several maps, GPS,
communication and scrambling equipment. I am very concerned about
what is coming in to this country. An extremely large number of
OTM's pass through the border in to the U.S. cities. We need
Homeland Security. This is a Red, White and Blue issue.

Sheriff Rick Flores- Webb County - We have a growing threat on our
border, we are in dyer need to increase resources. Terrorist can
easily use the pipeline that the drug and human smugglers use. They
come from other countries to Mexico. It is easy for them to look
Mexican. They learn the language and the culture and then easily come
into the U.S. We hear gunfire all the time. They come heavily armed
and they shoot at us from across the river on a daily basis. There was
a 2-hour gunfight across the border. At sunset it gets western around
here. If you get close to the border you will be shot at. We hear 50
caliber machine guns. The Mexican Military provides security into the
U.S. for the Cartels shipments of drugs and Al Queda members. We are
more vulnerable than ever, nothing has changed since 9-11.

These are partial statements from 2 of the Sheriffs that testified at
the hearing. There were several other law enforcement officers that
testified with similar statements. There were other statements of
Border Patrol Agents that had been kidnapped and killed, and a
Security Company that successfully came into the U.S. with Radioactive
material 4 times, twice on each border just to see if they could. The
testimonies of the witnesses were heart wrenching and the realization
that this country is under attack was evident. There were many facts
given that were terrifying. Most Americans have no idea how bad this
problem is. We must secure our border immediately to save the
sovereignty and security of our nation.
Beverly Collier, VP USBW


U.S. Border Watch
6046 F.M. 2920 suite 401
Spring,Tx 77389
1-800-759-0948
www.usborderwatch.com
BORDER SECURITY IS NATIONAL SECURITY

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/3339161.html

Click Here to Watch Video

Iraq Vets Heading for Border Patrol

Updated: 6:07 PM Jul 12, 2006
Justin Ware


Compared to what these soldiers have been through in the past two years, their next deployment is a relative spring break.

"Good golfing, I guess," said Spc. Brian Hibbs, Iraq vet who's heading south for border patrol.

Many of these Wisconsin National Guard members who are bound for the Mexico border, have just returned from deployment in Iraq.

They are infantry soldiers, so their duties in the Middle East were much more dangerous than what their officers say they'll be facing when they arrive in Arizona.

"I really don't have to worry much about combat," said Spc. Joshua Walker, "don't have to worry about getting shot at every day, blown up every day. It's kind of more like a walk in a park."

"This, I'm not worried about," said Hibbs. "No one knows what's going on, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have to worry about the road blowing up on me."

The soldiers will be patrolling the US–Mexico border as part of President Bush's plan of curbing illegal immigration.

The use of National Guard troops for border patrols does have its critics who say using the Guard for immigration issues is a waste of resources.

But Lt. Colonel Tim Donovan says this is exactly what the Guard was created for.

"This is a new wrinkle in the National Guard's history of service," said Donovan, "but one we're fully capable of and it's absolutely an appropriate mission for the National Guard."

And the soldier's who volunteered for deployment in Arizona, couldn't agree more.

"I'm not thinking about that at all now, because we're going to Arizona," said HIbbs.

The 89 soldiers heading south are volunteers for this mission, but they say that doesn't mean they couldn't be sent back to Iraq, if their home unit is re–deployed.

I am sure these guards won't be on the border for long, I heard today we may be sending more troops to Iraq to use as police to try to keep Iraqi from turning into an all out civil war. Our border will be the last thing on our government and President's mind, we are to busy taking care of everyone else's borders to worry over our's!