transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/16/sitroom.02.html
(snip)BLITZER: Well, what do you think? Some of your conservative friends think this is a facade, that these troops going to the border for two-week periods of time without even weapons is useless.
GONZALES: Well, I think having a strong show of force along the border will have a deterrent effect.
BLITZER: Are they actually going to be on the border, though, or as opposed to being behind the scenes?
GONZALES: Well, I don't -- there will be a sign of force that will be visible along the border. Clearly, the National Guard troops will be there to support the work of the Border Patrol officers. They're there to provide a supportive role. They will not be engaged in law enforcement.
But I think any time you have that kind of visible show of force, I think it will have a deterrent effect.
BLITZER: Will they be armed? In other words, are you fully clear on the rules of engagement these military forces will have?
GONZALES: Well, obviously, that will be something that will have to be worked out. Those rules of engagement will have to be very, very clear so there's no misunderstanding. Clearly, though, these folks will have -- will have the opportunity and the authority to defend themselves, to protect themselves. But as to the specific rules of engagement, that will be something that will have to be worked out.
BLITZER: Will they carry weapons?
GONZALES: Again, I think -- that will be something that will have to be worked out. But I'm quite confident they certainly will have the authority to protect themselves.
BLITZER: If there's a show of force, as you say, along the border of Mexico, isn't this the same thing as militarizing the border with a good friend, Mexico? And people in Mexico would understandably be upset about that?
GONZALES: We want to be very, very careful, of course, about making it clear to Mexico and other folks along the border that this is not about militarizing the border. We have had National Guard troops working along the border for quite some time...
BLITZER: But only a few hundred.
GONZALES: ... on counter-narcotics efforts. Clearly, this -- we're talking about an increased number here, but one of the reasons the president went out yesterday to talk to the American people and to our friends in Mexico is to make it clear what his objectives are here. And that is to secure the border. This is not to militarize the border.
---GONZALES: Well, I don't -- there will be a sign of force that will be visible along the border. Clearly, the National Guard troops will be there to support the work of the Border Patrol officers. They're there to provide a supportive role. They will not be engaged in law enforcement.---
What a sorry joke.
The State Department is doing some underhanded deal to give money to the Palestinians, in spite of all their rhetoric to the contrary. I have supported the President wholeheartedly, but it's always something with the Bushes. With his father it was the turnabout on the assault gun ban and now his son on the immigration issue. These are not small things.