Thread: Calls rise for troops on Border

Calls rise for troops on Border

Bring Guard back, say Kyl, McCain

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.16.2009

SCOTTSDALE — National Guard troops should be brought back to the border, the state's two U.S. senators said Wednesday.

Sen. John McCain said the Obama administration should accede to the requests of border governors — including Arizona's own Jan Brewer — to station soldiers in the area. He said the escalating gang violence in Mexico and the danger of that spilling across into this country makes their presence even more important.

And Sen. Jon Kyl said they don't even have to be in a military role. He said their mere presence is a major deterrent to illegal activity.

To date, though, the response from Washington has been to reject the requests. And it's not political: The Department of Homeland Security said both last year, during the Bush administration, and as recently as last month, after Obama became president, that the agency believes the soldiers are no longer necessary.

That, however, could change.

On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, during a visit to a border crossing at Nogales, said Obama is now considering the requests from the governors. But she made no promises.

In fact Napolitano, who insisted when she was Arizona governor that the mere presence of soldiers in the area was a deterrent to illegal activity, said Wednesday there are questions about the need.

"Where would they go, what mission would they perform?'' she asked. "You don't just throw something like the National Guard at a place,'' Napolitano said. "They have a mission and a job to do.''

And just hours after his appointment as "Border Czar," Alan Bersin set up a potential conflict with border governors and members of Congress who have demanded troops along the border to control possible spillover violence from Mexico.

"We should be very cautious to not misstate the security situation," Bersin said. "The posse comitatus have served this country well," he said, referring to the law prohibiting the use of military in a law enforcement capacity in the U.S.

In 2006 then-President George Bush sent the National Guard to the border as part of "Operation Jump Start," which placed the Guard in a support role, doing things ranging from building fences and surveillance to administrative tasks. The number of troops during the two-year mission peaked at 6,000 along the border, with about 2,400 in Arizona.

The goal of the operation was to provide help while the Border Patrol recruited and trained new agents. Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced last year their goals had been met and the troops would leave.

Kyl said he doesn't expect — nor does he particularly want — soldiers actively looking to catch those who cross the border illegally. But he said the experience of Operation Jump Start shows they can make a real difference.

"When they were stationed on the border, even without weapons, the coyotes that wanted to bring illegal immigrants across or drugs stayed away,'' he said, "There's something about the U.S. military they don't want to mess with.''

He said soldiers can perform a valuable function.

"I have seen it with my own eyes.''

McCain said he does not foresee a permanent role for soldiers in Southern Arizona. But he said they are needed right now because of the violence.

Brewer wrote to Defense Secretary Robert Gates last month, asking he put at least another 250 National Guard troops along the border.

The governor acknowledged there already are about 150 soldiers stationed in Southern Arizona as part of the Joint Counter Narco-Terrorism Task Force. But she said those numbers are insufficient and that state and local law-enforcement agencies "are stretched as they attempt to address the enormity of the problems'' of the illegal drug trade and related border violence.

Brewer's request is virtually identical to several that Napolitano herself made last year to Michael Chertoff, her predecessor in the Bush administration as homeland security chief.
On StarNet: Find more stories about illegal immigration and other border issues at azstarnet.com/border

Brady McCombs, of the Arizona Daily Star, and the AP contributed to this report.

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/border/288951

Posse comitatus was passed in 1878 after the end of reconstruction. And the National Guard itself grew out of the militias fighting for independence from the Brits. So, IMO, the posse comitatus cut the heart out of what the National Guard was meant to be to this nation.
And don't tell me the NG does not perform law enforcement during and after disasters. After Hurricane Charley (1994) the island of Ft. Myers Beach was closed off to anyone not living there. National Guard was at the foot of the bridge with their full combat regalia and rifles.

Originally Posted by vortex

Posse comitatus was passed in 1878 after the end of reconstruction. And the National Guard itself grew out of the militias fighting for independence from the Brits. So, IMO, the posse comitatus cut the heart out of what the National Guard was meant to be to this nation.
And don't tell me the NG does not perform law enforcement during and after disasters. After Hurricane Charley (1994) the island of Ft. Myers Beach was closed off to anyone not living there. National Guard was at the foot of the bridge with their full combat regalia and rifles.

The California National Guard and the Nevada National Guard were on Law Enforcement Duty in southern California after the wild fires in past years. When they said, "You can't go down this road". No one went down that road unless they were in a police car or a fire truck.

John Kyle and MCamnesty are both open border guys. They need to be replaced. They are both for amnesty and we should work hard against them.

And Sen. Jon Kyl said they don't even have to be in a military role. He said their mere presence is a major deterrent to illegal activity.

It makes no sense putting them on the border unless they have a military role. IMO, they need to be armed and ready to shoot if necessary. The cartels are violent criminals and need to be dealt with a strong force. Not unarmed soldiers to stand around or help build the fence.