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10/26/2005
When Tancredo's convinced, I'll believe promises about borders
By Curt Dale

It's about time! I'm usually one of Bush's strongest supporters, but regularly criticize our failure to control illegals pouring across our southern border. I'm disappointed at the cavalier treatment given the Minutemen who showed how border control is possible and provided chilling insights into the magnitude of the problem.

The lack of action to truly secure our borders against illegal aliens is bewildering. Bush recently said, "We're going to get control of our borders and make this country safer for our citizens. ... I'm going to work with Congress to create a program that can provide for our economy's labor needs without harming American workers, without providing amnesty, and that will improve our ability to control our borders."

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff joined the chorus, telling a Senate panel he would stop a "catch and release" policy that allows illegal aliens to vanish within.

I'm not yet dancing for joy at these pronouncements. Are they words couched in ifs, ands and buts?

Am I skeptical? Yup! So, I need answers to hard questions. What's brought about this major administration shift? Is it true desire to control our borders and stop illegal influx? Will it shut down massive outflow of money illegals wire back to Mexico without collection of taxes? Will it stop the foolishness free health care and welfare support to illegals? Is it merely pre-midterm electioneering?

I can't help not quite believing. A couple of months ago Bush called the Minutemen "vigilantes." Now he's touting doing exactly what those Minutemen were insisting he do. I want to believe, but I'm leery until I see results.

Talk show host Bill O'Reilly was regularly lambasted for his criticism of our open borders, scathed for insisting on using the National Guard to bar illegals.

Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., has pushed unceasingly for border control and was treated like he has lice for his effort. Has the White House recanted and given Tancredo credit for his wisdom, or is he still a GOP exile? If I'm to believe there's credence to these tough-on-the-borders words, show me Tancredo pulled to the forefront to champion the effort. Absent that, I'm mighty wary.

Recently, a great commotion was made about hiring and assigning more Border Patrol guards. Alas, it was mostly a numbers games with few new boots on the ground. Am I now to believe that Homeland Security has had a great epiphany? Sorry! I'm suspicious. What's hidden in the words we heard?

It'll take more than words to convince me. It takes big dollars and big programs to build fences, deploy sufficient border guards, round up falsely documented illegals inside this nation -- from border to border, coast to coast -- and boot them out. I want policies and programs with enough substance to secure borders.

Show me the president will face the wrath of societal elements that favor open borders, protect illegals and don't want illegals kicked out or kept out.

Show us impregnable border fences. Show us massive expulsion of illegals who've slipped in through any border or port. Expel those who've overstayed their visas for years. Then I might believe.

Woefully I question such grand dictates coming out of left field without profound, substantial buildup of the framework and support necessary to carry out the promises.

Therefore, I want President Bush to show us the essentials. How will this promise be fulfilled? Even define exactly what's been promised. I'm behind his idea, but a mere idea and words won't stop one illegal entry.

Curt Dale is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and Vietnam veteran. He lives in Parker with his wife, Pat, and has seven children and seven grandchildren He was born in West Virginia and is a Republican