This is a very poor start to what really needs to be done. The Mexican military has performed (by all accounts) at least 200 armed incursions onto US soil in the last ten years. Why have they not been taken under fire? This is what is demanded by the US Constitution. Here is the solution. Popular it ain't.
#1 Build the frickin' Berlin Wall, but better.
#2 Bring home most of the US troops currently stationed under NATO and let the EU take care of itself.....not to mention saving us a load of $$$ (which we can put into construction) while at the same time adroitly spanking the Eurotrash for not backing us up as allies should. I guess the Korean contingent should stay put given the realities of that situation.
#3 Replace all Border Patrol agents on the southern border with US troops, with rules of engagement that allow ....no....mandate shoot first, shoot often against any armed incursions. Put the Border Patrol on the northern border as a short term panacea.
#4 Give the US landowners on the border instructions and classes on use of military night observation gear, military commo gear and "Call for Fire" radio procedures. Use them as in place recon elements. Should they spot border crossing intruders they are able to whistle up a quick reaction force consisting of both air and ground assets. Divisions pulled from USAEURA (US Army Europe) could be permanently stationed at Fort Hood for maintenance and rotated into the border regions. Everybody should be fully armed and loaded fer bear. I'll bet that after the first five or so successful ambush ops on our side of the border, the rate of incursions will drop significantly.
I hear a lot of crap about the futility of building a barrier. Some activists communist politicians here, keep chanting this line about building a 50 foot fence will only grow 51 foot ladders....let me tell you folks, the Berlin Wall, once erected...worked. It worked because it was a layered fortification with guards and mines and dogs and patrols. That is what will be needed. If we hope to stay free it is our only choice.
I honestly don't know how to reply definitive to this.
I have check marks in both columns on this issue. Maybe once I'm Stateside again, with a few new perspectives, I might tackle this.
All I can relate, is this: since 2001, ARNG/ANG units have been involved with the borders and internal security. It's nowhere near the tempo it needs to be, for your scenario to come about - and for obvious reasons.
Given the current administration's relationship with our southern neighbors, do you truly think something will change prior to 2009?
The immigrant's offspring in me wants to remind of this: the Berlin Wall, and the rest of the Iron Curtain, were erected by Leftists, at the height of their power. It was not to keep the forces of capitalism out. It was to keep those in bondage to Socialism, in.
"...he Berlin Wall, once erected...worked."
Indeed it did. To the degree that when ONE person got thru it was a major story.