Thread: Nat'l Guard Not Expected to Patrol Border

Nat'l Guard Not Expected to Patrol Border By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer

Nat'l Guard Not Expected to Patrol Border By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
35 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - National Guard troops tapped for duty on the border with Mexico will not chase down illegal immigrants but instead will play behind-the-scenes roles in support of border guards, officials said Monday.

Among the tasks they are likely to perform over the coming year: training federal Border Patrol guards, building barriers near the border, improving roadways, providing support for aerial and ground surveillance, analyzing and sharing intelligence, and providing communications systems and transportation, the officials said.

The intent is to deepen the Guard's existing support for law enforcement agencies — but only temporarily.

Several thousand Guard troops are likely to be called on to help, but it was not clear whether they would come only from the four border states — California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas — or whether those states' governors would use Emergency Management Assistance Compacts to get Guard troops from other states.

Pentagon officials offered few details in advance of President Bush's nationally televised address on the illegal immigration problem. Speaking on condition of anonymity, defense officials stressed that the intention is to provide short-term assistance until the Border Patrol and other agencies can develop more of their own capabilities.

The National Guard already provides support to law enforcement agencies on the border, although in small numbers. Sending several thousand more will add yet another mission to a part-time force already stretched by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The idea that the Guard is overstretched is correct," retired Army Gen. George Joulwan said in an interview Monday. But he said its use in a supporting role can be justified, given the seriousness of the border problem.

"In a supporting role to law enforcement, I would agree that this is something they need to do," so long as the Pentagon is able to balance this with the Guard's commitments in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, Joulwan said.

John Goheen, spokesman for the National Guard Association, an advocacy group for Guard officers, noted that the Army Guard and Air Guard combined have about 444,000 personnel across the United States.

"It would seem this mission is doable," Goheen said. "The numbers would not seem to make it that difficult."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said it was vital that Bush spell out the details of how the Guard will be used, and why.

"Unfortunately, President Bush has overtaxed, overused and underfunded this critical national security resource," Reid said.

"Now, if it's true the president is going to order them on another mission, he must tell us how he's going to help them succeed, and ensure they are ready and prepared should they be called to another mission while stationed at our border," Reid added.

At one point last year National Guard troops represented about 50 percent of all U.S. combat forces in Iraq, but that has dropped sharply in recent months and is now below 20 percent. It is not expected to rise significantly this year or next.

About 71,000 National Guard troops are on active duty for the war on terror. That's 16 percent of the total Guard force. Of the four border states affected, California and Texas both have about 20,000 Guard members; Arizona has about 7,400 and New Mexico has about 4,000. According to figures provided by the Pentagon, California, Arizona and New Mexico each have roughly 10 percent of their Guard force already mobilized for Iraq or Afghanistan; Texas has about 18 percent.

The White House press secretary, Tony Snow, said Bush would ensure that the border missions not conflict with the Guard's wartime duties.

"No. 1 is, he's not going to do anything to compromise the two key duties of the National Guard," Snow said. "One is to continue to fight the war on terror, and No. 2 is to respond quickly and effectively to natural disasters. ... You're talking about a very small percentage of the Guard at any one time."

So why bother sending them

Looks like Fox worked his magic

It is a start. We will have to ram the issue home once this is put in motion.

There is actually a dule purpose that will take place if we continue to force this issue. He has a great many in Iraq that should have never been sent there to begin with. National Guard are to protect the USA not travel to other countries for wars. This may force their hand to begin bring them back.

National Guard troops tapped for duty on the border with Mexico will not chase down illegal immigrants but instead will play behind-the-scenes roles in support of border guards, officials said Monday.

Ya I heard on TV they would be so "behind the scenes" you wouldn't know they were there. What good is that? Guess Bush forgot there are those of us that have been educated before the great "dummy down" plan and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how bogus this is. What are they going to do then? Count them as they cross?

If the Guard did the real job we need them to do and blocked the drug and human smugglers, imagine how tense things may get.

W

It was obvious all along what the agenda with Mr Ed's posterior in the oval office is. It is a show. As I said in a previous group the troops will do absolutely nothing but play tiddly winks while taking orders from the Mexican Government via advisory offices sent up in Command Post Tents and TOC's as is done with the border patrol. Once again El Presidente Bush has kissed his brother's posterior. He will ram this amnesty down our throats and not enforce exiting immigration and employment laws. I don't think I am going to waste my time listening to his drivel. Comrade Bush marches on with his Globalization Manifesto.

If the Guard did the real job we need them to do and blocked the drug and human smugglers, imagine how tense things may get.

Unfortunatly pretty darn tense I'd think. And I don't think it would stop at the border either. It's a fine mess.....

I was just listening on CNN, they were talking about the guards' presumed role in the "background".
Bush takes us all for fools! He's a disgrace to the country. Wait till he sees his poll numbers after this week.