Thread: Obama, Napolitano cancel virtual fence project at US-Mexico

OBAMA, NAPOLITANO CANCEL VIRTUAL FENCE PROJECT AT US-MEXICO BORDER

By NWV News writer Jim Kouri
Posted 1:00 AM Eastern
January 15, 2011
© 2010 NewsWithViews.com

On Friday, January 14, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano's office announced that the Obama administration canceled the 'Virtual Fence' project along the U.S.-Mexico border. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110115/ap_ ... tual_fence

The reason for this latest cancellation is the continued technical equipment problems and the rising costs of constructing and installing the components including closed-circuit TV cameras and monitors, electronic detectors, and other security measures.

As reported by in the past by NewsWithViews.com, http://www.newswithviews.com/Cutler/michael189.htm the original border security plan called for a fence and barriers to be used on parts of the U.S.'s southern border, but with the Democrats controlling both houses of Congress and the Bush Administration being weak on border security, the plan switched from a real fence to a virtual fence using high-tech equipment.

Unfortunately, the Department of Homeland Security’s latest failure to protect the United State, was a costly program to place crucial electronic surveillance systems along the U.S.-Mexico border that is years behind schedule. The security project is grossly over budget because Secretary Janet Napolitano's agency hasn’t adequately managed the contractor doing the work, according to a Washington, DC watchdog group.

As a result, hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars will be wasted and the porous southern border will continue to be vulnerable despite the Obama Administration’s assurances that it’s as secure as it’s ever been. So far the troubled project, known as Secure Border Initiative Network, http://newsblaze.com/story/201010231914 ... story.html has cost the government $672 million although it’s nowhere near completion, according to Judicial Watch, a public-interest group that investigates political corruption.

After years of debates, congressional votes, government studies and political posturing by lawmakers, the so-called "virtual fence" continues to cause more problems than it solves, according to testimony at a session of the House Homeland Security Committee.

In a compromise that met with disappointment by those who advocate tighter border security, instead of walls or chain link fencing, the U.S. Border Patrol and Homeland Security Department created the concept of virtual fence security that includes surveillance cameras, motion or heat sensing detectors, radar, and supposed state-of-the-art control towers designed to detect and prevent illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the United States.

According to a report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police, the security contractor -- Boeing Co. -- http://www.boeing.com/bds/a_to_z.html is installing the hi-tech physical security system. The original plan called for a completion date by December 2009 at a cost of $1.1 billion for a virtual fence. According to the report obtained by NACOP, Boeing requested that completion date to be amended by seven years.

Physical security experts told this writer it should surprise no one that a relatively simple project would become complicated and unmanageable given that fact that most of the decision-makers probably have no law enforcement, security or engineering background.

The Obama initiative aims to enhance border security by designing technological tools that enable Border Patrol agents to detect and respond to incursions along unmanned stretches of the 2,000-mile Mexican border. This includes installing unattended ground sensors, radars and cameras. The so-called virtual fence was supposed to be completed by 2011, but Homeland Security officials recently pushed the date up to 2014, well after Obama's 2012 reelection campaign.

That’s because the agency has failed to properly oversee the project’s prime contractor, resulting in costly rework, numerous delays and lots of extra money. In fact Homeland Security officials stood by as the contractor provided information that was “replete with unexplained anomalies, thus rendering the data unfit for effective contractor management and oversight,â€

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

It is estimated that criminals smuggle $18 billion to $39 billion a year in bulk cash across the southwest border, according to a U.S. government estimates.

"ROAD TRIP!"

SURPRISE!! NOT!! This should of been stopped years ago. It never showed promise and never was on budget.
So, now the border will only be more dangerous and wide open. And what will the government do to secure those areas now? Na Da. This is all part of the plan.
I pray our newly elected officials will see the truth and do something about it. But for some reason, I doubt it. Securing the border with barbed wire, a wall, or massive agents would do a lot for making jobs in our country. And we could save money by not having to pay for illegals that are here, maybe deter new ones, and we could be a secure nation for a change.
Hey, a gal can dream can't she?

Originally Posted by stevetheroofer

Originally Posted by AirborneSapper7

It is estimated that criminals smuggle $18 billion to $39 billion a year in bulk cash across the southwest border, according to a U.S. government estimates.

And we wonder why our economy is tanked! Alot of money is going south of the border.