Thread: Perry wants 1,000 troops to guard border

Perry wants 1,000 troops to guard border
By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 02/24/2009 03:37:13 PM MST


Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Katherine Cesinger, his deputy press secretary, walked toward a podium, where Perry spoke about the Texas Border Security Strategy. Perry was joined by several city and state officals at a news conference at the Chamizal National Memorial. (Ruben R. Ramirez / El Paso Times)
Video: Gov. Perry in El Paso

EL PASO - Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he wants 1,000 troops to help guard the Texas-Mexico border, and for the federal government to fund security issues closer to home than Iraq and Afghanistan, such as the menacing Mexican drug cartels and their collaborators.

"We're asking the (state) Legislature for $135 million for border security - to go after transnational gangs, for technology and aviation assets, and for 1,000 troops" Perry said at a news conference Tuesday at the Chamizal National Memorial.

"I don't care if they are military, National Guard or customs agents. We're very concerned that the federal government is not funding border security adequately. We must be ready for any contingency."

Former U.S. drug czar Barry McCaffrey, who also was at the news conference, said the U.S. federal government is spending $12 billion on Iraq and $2 billion on Afghanistan each month, "without taking into account what is happening in Mexico."

With the right infusion of money for Mexico to battle the cartels, Perry said "I believe this can be put to bed rather quickly."

Perry said he, too, is committed to protecting Juárez Mayor Jose Reyes Ferriz, who took refuge in El Paso after he and his family received death threats from a drug cartel.

On Tuesday, Reyes Ferriz's staff said the mayor was carrying out his normal duties in Juárez, and will continue to remove corrupt officers from the city's police force.
Other officials at the El Paso news conference included Mayor John Cook, state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, Texas Homeland Security Director Steve McCraw and El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen.

Shapleigh said he planned to have a news conference later Tuesday to respond to the governor's proposals.

McCaffrey, a retired Army general, said he is a friend of Mexico, and disagrees with others who say the Mexican government is a failed state.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_11775650

Well it's about time Perry. But I have to wonder if he is only doing this because a Houston Chronicle poll showed you decisively behind Hutchinson in the governor's race yesterday.

Originally Posted by bigtex

Well it's about time Perry. But I have to wonder if he is only doing this because a Houston Chronicle poll showed you decisively behind Hutchinson in the governor's race yesterday.

Yeah this is just a political stunt. I'm waiting to see wo else is going to run against Perry and Hutchison. Both have long promised to do something about illegal immigration, but when it comes time to do it, they do nothing.

Interesting...we still have American troops defending the 38th parallel between North and South Korea since 1953, yet we cannot even get a single American troop to defend our border from the absolute violence and invasion, thwarting our southern border on a daliy basis!

And they wonder where the impression of corruption, apathy, and the overall do nothingness comes from regarding our gov's lack of response to the violence flowing across our southern border from mexico!

Maybe we are asking the wrong country for help! Perhaps we should appeal to South Korea to send us troops in order to help us defend our southern border! Maybe they will return the favor since our own government doesn't appear to give a damn about the safety and well being of America and it's citizens!

Duplicate

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-147482.html