Thread: Knoxville senator criticizes Guard policy on border duty

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=6077737&nav=0RYv

Knoxville senator criticizes Guard policy on border duty

February 12, 2007

NASHVILLE (AP) -- State Senator Tim Burchett has asked Governor Bredesen to reconsider the use of Tennessee National Guard troops along the Mexican border.

Burchett, of Knoxville, said their inability to defend themselves is "a recipe for disaster."

President Bush ordered about 6,000 soldiers to the border in May to support the Border Patrol and local law enforcement. The guard does not have authority to arrest or detain illegal immigrants.

In a letter to the governor, Burchett wrote that the troops should be authorized to defend themselves.

However, Guard commander Major General Gus Hargett said calling for guardsmen to engage in armed confrontations is "a bad idea" and could militarize the border with Mexico.

A recent standoff between four Tennessee guardsmen and an unidentified group of armed men along the Mexican border in Arizona has raised questions about the rules of engagement for soldiers who were sent to the border in what was supposed to be a backup role.

I saw arm them and let them do their #)$*@#)*#@*$ jobs

What is wrong with militarizing our border? It seems the only way we are ever going to get our borders secured. We seem well able to militarize other countries borders for them why the hell not our own?

Well we wouldn't want the military we pay for to do anything such as acually protect our homeland from with in our own borders. geeez, get a grip!!

We have to fight them over there, you know, so we are not fighting them here!! What we have to get across to our officials is we are fighting more than one problem here, they just can't seem to understand this!!