Clark Griswold
Supreme User
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Everything posted by Clark Griswold
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It may be a pain but so it driving the speed limit, paying your taxes and pretty much anything else customer service related with the government but it is what we've got. Without it (the law, due process, general order and civility) we're nothing more than another loosely governed country that is not ruled by law but whatever group is the loudest or most violent. -
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The system would have tunnel detection capability - plus with the setback of buying property on the border makes tunnels have to run that much longer thereby discouraging them and making them more likely to be detected But look at the South Koreans - the crazy North Koreans dig underneath the DMZ does that mean they should get rid of their fences? Some illegal crossing will still happen but we will reduce it to a trickle then we will be in a position to deal with all the other related issues Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Not if we build a border security system and not just a tall fence. Here is a good example of what needs to be built in strategic areas where there is high traffic, not along the entire length of the border. You would need purchase private property and have state property transferred to the Federal govt. and I am sure it would cost a significant amount but it would be worth it. Not to stop legal immigration and legitimate commerce, tourism, etc... but just to fight illegal crossing. Is it going to stop all illegal crossing, no of course not but it will greatly hamper and deter the majority of it, make those who are going to try cross illegally go to rugged terrain where they will either be detected and arrested or stopped by the difficult terrain itself. If you doubt the effectiveness of a border security system, check out Israel's success with their latest border security system: Does a Border Fence Work? Check Out the Dramatic Change After Israel Put One Up Charles Krauthammer has had the most intelligent commentary on this issue(s) lately, he summed up what a majority of Americans want. Secure the border, stop the cycle of illegal immigration, treat the illegal aliens who are here firmly but fairly and be merciful but wise with the children coming from Central America. Krauthammer: "If Fences Don't Work, Why Is There One Around The White House?" Charles Krauthammer / Fence the border, close a loophole and enforce immigration law Not calling you personally out on this Vertigo but people opposed to the idea of serious concerted effort to stop illegal crossing / immigration keep trying to blur the line between legal and illegal immigration, blur and mix the issue of border security with racism towards the mainly Hispanic group of illegal immigrants that cross our Southern border. Border security has nothing to do with legal immigration policy or what is the status of these children coming from Central America.
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No problem with that pivot either, but in relation to what should our be high, much higher on our foreign policy to-do-list is Mexico-Central America-The Caribbean. They are the nations closest to us, some of our biggest trading partners and have problems that are not so big that we can probably help them solve them or at least effectively reduce them. Thanks, you're right in the middle of it so you have a better perspective on it than I do. There are illegal immigrants where I am (Southeast) but we are not currently seeing the massive influx that the border states and directly adjoining areas are. I agree with you that I see the Immigration Issue as more complex and nuanced than what a 10 second soundbite can convey but I see the Border Security issue very simply. Those are two different issues and the fact that people even coming from desperate conditions are able to cross freely a loosely governed country and then either cross clandestinely or merely cross and, present themselves to Law Enforcement, be released into the country they were illegally crossing into with only a court summons order that 80% of them ignore and then establish employment illegally, often use the government social safety net illegally and then agitate to be granted either permanent residency or citizenship with no end in sight for this problem strikes me as national suicide. No matter how bad it is for these people, letting them remain for any serious length of time only reinforces the risk-reward calculus to attempting to cross. I have no problem with providing immediate aid (food, shelter, clothing and basic medical care) but what is needed is not a capitulation but a repatriation and aid plan for their countries. Coming from this as the perspective of a Guardsmen, I can't for any reason (except for the most cynical) see why the Guard (Air and Army) have not been called up to assist the CBP. We have National Response Plans for these types of emergencies / situations and we are trained and equipped to do this, either use the Guard to secure the homeland or not.
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Initial report of TB among illegal immigrant minors at Lackland https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/07/07/immigration-crisis-tuberculosis-spreading-at-camps/ Not for a iron fist response, a lot of them are young kids in a very vulnerable spot but this is a turning point - we're going to control who comes in and stays or not. This latest crisis makes me think we don't need a pivot to Asia but a pivot to Central America.
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Not surprised that they are moving ahead with their own project, but surprised they (Japan), Australia or Canada has not warmed up to the Advanced Super Hornet. Fair;y LO when you need it, 4.5+ gen and helluva lot less risk. Japan is developing the ATD-X only because there was no way they could get an export version of the Raptor, the Aussies were/are in the same boat, I would not be surprised if they approached by them for a joint program.
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ATD-X makes its first appearance as Tokyo's warplane plans advance A little bit more on Japan's home brew fighter. Timeline for IOC is a ways off but I am sure Japan could speed that up if things got even more tense in their neighborhood.
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True dat A delivery of 50 or so would be a good piece of a security assistance package to prevent collapse but you would have to dangle that carrot with some significant conditions for political reconciliation (if that is possible now) As to the aircraft and the ability of the USAF to talk about a LAAR for umpteen and not do anything - standard Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/iraq-issues-rfp-for-coin-aircraft-03281/ Iraqis want the AT-6 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Mexican Military Helicopter Fires on Border Patrol Agents After Crossing Into U.S. During Drug Operation US, WORLD | Today at 9:46 | By Dave Urbanski Mexican Military Helicopter Fires on Border Patrol Agents After Crossing Into U.S. During Drug Operation A Mexican military helicopter crossed the U.S. border into Arizona and fired on U.S. Border Patrol agents during a drug operation Tuesday before flying back into Mexico, Border Patrol No injuries to agents or damage to U.S. property were reported, a Border Patrol spokesman said, according to KVOA-TV. The helicopter fired two shots at the agents early Tuesday morning as part of a "drug interdiction operation," Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame told KVOA. "[A] Mexican law enforcement helicopter crossed approximately 100 yards north into Arizona nearly 8 miles southwest of the village of San Miguel on the Tohono O'odham Indian Nation while on a drug interdiction operation near the border," Adame said in a statement. "Two shots were fired from the helicopter but no injuries or damage to U.S. property were reported. The incident is currently under investigation." Mexican officials contacted U.S. authorities soon after and apologized for the incident, Tucson sector Border Patrol union president Art del Cueto told KVOA. The incident took place on the Tohono O'odham Nation, which resides in southern-central Arizona and parts of northern Mexico. From The Blaze Not good - another reason to formally control (with coordination with the Mexican gov) the border https://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/06/27/mexican-military-helicopter-fires-on-border-patrol-agents-after-crossing-into-u-s-during-drug-operation/
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Decent article on why we should not intervene in Iraq. The Case for Doing Nothing in Iraq. I am trying to see the other side of the argument. I still think that a limited campaign is probably the way to go, just enough to keep the al-Maliki government from falling but not enough to do anything other than that. Bailing him out will change nothing on the ground and keep the Sunnis / Kurds ostracized and pissed, thus kicking the can for a later date.
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Not sure if I agree with this but it is an idea... OP-ED: Let the Islamists Have Their Caliphate - Then Bomb Them The idea of a new caliphate may seem crazy but if I told you in 1918 that a severely wounded corporal of a defeated army whose highest educational attainment was being a drop out of an art college would in less than 20 years become the absolute ruler of the most powerful fascist state on earth, that would have seemed crazy too.
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A bit flippant yes but his parting shot as to our sieve-like border was perfect. His article (Dexter Filkins) was good but just a rehash of what has happened. With the gang that can't shoot straight running the White House, the fourth estate is going to have to prompt him to take decisive action to forestall disaster. A smart air campaign with surgical strikes & persistent ISR will shore up the Iraqi government. But if they won't launch at least a cruise missile strike on Al-Assad after declaring a "red-line" don't hold your breath for anything. I don't mean to beat the war drum too loudly especially as I am comfortable in 'Merica and not currently over in the sandbox but if we want to influence events and shape the outcome over there (not even saying we should) then we should do it and not just look like a bunch of big talkers and then no action when the time comes.
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Taking a stand in the north against ISIS... Maybe Crazy Joe was right when he wanted to split Iraq into 3 parts based on Sunni-Shiite-Kurd Seems to be working towards that anyway.
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Shit keeps getting real... Ukraine crisis: Military plane shot down in Luhansk
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Need an army to do some work in a place you don't want yours to go? Send the FFL...
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Just finished this book, very informative and balanced view of the entire V-22 program and a good example of how the sausage gets made and eventually greatly improved.
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Just watched the video from the link, that is quite a stretch to believe the Canadian film company had nothing to do with it. When I first saw it, I decided to repost for the discussion but it reminded me of an article I read a while ago, the author made the case the Cartels will keep the mayhem in El Norte to an acceptable level and in Mexico to just below a threshold that would trigger a US response (military or direct LE involvement). I agree with that idea and it surprised me that they would start to invite a massive US security and LE response in the border areas. Still think a physical barrier and surveillance system with a NG mission on the border is what we need but glad that it appears to be a hoax.
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Yes, I think raising the minimum wage would be a good idea but I also think MASSIVELY simplifying our Orwellian tax code (both corporate & individual) while lowering the corporate tax and lowering the marginal rates for individuals are a good ideas also. Not exactly related, but could be politically possible to both labor and business oriented political actors but we can't get anything done anymore so put that in the snowball's chance in hell column... National policy can not be solely on what is beneficial to certain business interests, we had a war about this around the 1860's or so... there was a labor system that made a lot of people very rich directly by producing a commodity very cheaply and indirectly by supplying that commodity cheaply for production but we decided as a nation that it was not right and we weren't going to allow it anymore. Your right money talks and people flock to the cheaper option but does that mean we should allow: Goods produced by slave/child labor and/or sweatshop labor? Counterfeit or stolen goods produced and supplied illicitly? Goods produced from enemy nations to be freely traded in our economy? Should we allow Iran to directly supply the US energy market? Why do we control commerce and business on the national, state & local level? Should we let toxic waste dumps be put in the middle of low income neighborhoods because the land is cheaper? I also have to take issue with your idea that a genocide is required to secure the border and that it would be unbelievably expensive. Israel built a 143 mile fence system in two years for a cost of $377 million, it works and has dropped illegal crossing from 14,715 in 2010 to 36 in 2013 for the same stretch of the Sinai. We don't have to fence nor should be fence the entire border, we need only fence the adjoining urban areas, road crossings, and patrol with a combination of Federal & State LE in areas adjoining those areas, let the National Guard patrol the remote and wilderness area. The cost is not so great we can not afford it and it DIRECTLY adds to the security and sovereignty of the United States of America by keeping people out that are attempting to cross into it illegally. The combined cost of the CBP & ICE is $18 billion, that is equal to 2% of the entire DoD budget. It cost about $400K for every soldier to support & pay on average each soldier during the Iraq War, this is just a WAG but even at $200K per year to support & pay a soldier on the border, you could have 10,000 National Guardsmen for $2 billion or 0.2% of the DoD budget. That would average 5 soldiers for every mile of the 2,000 mile border but coordinating them with CBP, you have for a small cost in the overall scheme of things, actual boots on the ground in sufficient numbers to be in control. The ground and air support could average to $200K per soldier and you would still be spending only 0.4% of the entire DoD. Just to take another WAG at a part of the possible air support piece, you could have 25 MC-12s deployed to the border patrol mission, flying a 6 hour mission per day at a cost of $1,500 per flight hour (WAG) and cost $82 million per year for good ISR support, that is chump change in terms of the DoD budget and it would saturate high traffic areas with ISR to enhance your ground forces. Again, this is affordable, it is possible and it is what we should be doing. A border security system that is designed and funded to be effective does nothing more than stop illegal activity, if you have a problem with our labor & immigration laws then try to change them legally. Do not advocate for allowing illegal alien criminals, because they are criminals, to be allowed to keep committing their crime(s) by confusing the argument (whether or not we should defend our nation, enforce our laws and assert our sovereignty) by raising the red herring and emotional argument of it is cheap labor that benefits some businesses and individuals as being in some ways economically efficient so therefore, screw it let's allow it. The almighty dollar is not the end all be all of our decision making, it is a balance of what is right, prudent and in our long-term interest.
