Gunmen Attack National Guard Border Patrol Site in Arizona

Fox News /AP ^ | Friday, January 05, 2007

[IrishMike]

TUCSON, Ariz. — National Guard troops at an observation post near the Mexico border were forced to flee a group of armed people, who later ran into Mexico, authorities said.

The troops, who are not allowed to apprehend illegal border crossers, withdrew safely and no one was injured, said National Guard Sgt. Edward Balaban.

U.S. Border Patrol officials are investigating the 11 p.m. Wednesday incident and trying to determine who the armed people were and why they approached the post near Sasabe, in the desert corridor between Nogales and Lukeville. Balaban said the troops didn't know how many people were involved because it was so dark.

That area has been the busiest in the Tucson Sector for marijuana seizures. Agents have seized 124,000 pounds of marijuana there since Oct. 1, said Rob Daniels, spokesman for the Border Patrol's Tucson Sector.

"We don't know if this was a matter of somebody coming up accidentally on the individuals, coming up intentionally on the individuals, or some sort of a diversion," Daniels said.

With more Border Patrol agents and National Guard troops patrolling the Arizona section of the U.S.-Mexico border, it has become more difficult to smuggle drugs and people across and "that heightened frustration may have been connected to what took place last night," Daniels said.

Balaban said officials would investigate and then determine whether to change any procedures for troops at the border.

Since arriving in mid-June, the Guard has assisted the Border Patrol by manning control rooms, repairing roads, fences and vehicles, and spotting and reporting illegal border crossings to the Border Patrol. President Bush said last spring he would have up to 6,000 National Guard troops deployed to assist the Border Patrol.

[AppyPappy]

They retreated fom our border???

[roses of sharon]

Where are Arizona's citizens and government on border issues?

Didn't they just dump Hayworth?

Obviously they could give a rats arse, just like CA and other border States.

If THOSE citizens don't have the numbers to rise up, then how can the rest of the nation?

[rabscuttle385]

It appears that they did...but hey, in the new North American superstate, there won't be a border to retreat from! </sarcasm>

[Long Island Pete]

The troops, who are not allowed to apprehend illegal border crossers...
Then why are they there? To give directions in?

[kittymyrib]

AZ deserves to be over-run. They voted for the Democrat open-borders crowd, so they don't have anything to whine about now.

[Vaquero]

fer crissake

SHOOT TO KILL!!!


(I know I know...there are homorable loyal American border Guards going to prison for killing armed perps right now and the POTUS is not doing anything about it)

What a country.

[johnny7]

Sends a clear message: Cross illegally and armed... and we'll run like rabbits.

[RSmithOpt]

Not only that, they hand out water and food too. Wonder why the NG isn't armed and allowed to at least return fire? Besides, isn't the NG in all states under state control and and extension of the governors' offices that have no problems shooting unarmed American looters during riots and after major storms?

[arthurus]

No. We can't pul away from the AZ/MEX border. The US/AZ border is much too long and too hard to watch.

[arthurus]

They are on the border as Facilitators, maybe.

[winodog]

You are correct. The new world order crew will not stand for Americans protecting their country, let alone their rights.

[angcat]

According to Glenn Beck, Phoenix is a terrorist haven just like Pakistan?

What the hell is going on there?

[SomeoneNeedsToSayIt]

Our guys are not even as well armed as Barney Fife. At least Andy let Barney carry one bullet on his front pocket!

[Constitution Day]

"forced to flee"?

That is simply blanking unacceptable!

[alicewonders]

The powers that be will get their way - regardless of what the people want. When our leaders refused to strengthen the border - that's when I lost faith in the GOP & President Bush. I was the biggest supporter ever, and now - they've lost me.

[Tigen]

I didn't vote for open borders nor for any of the open border crowd and yes we all need to stand on that border with weapon in hand and be willing to do what ever is necessary. Nuf said!? That said are you willing to drive on down to the border?

[RSmithOpt]

Well the gov and the prez need to change the ROE for the NG, otherwise we're going to have some dead soldiers.

[Dixie Yooper]

Isn't there a movie called Southern Comfort about a squad of unarmed National Guard that are hunted down in a swamp by locals?

[Delta 21]

Just a simple probing attack and retreat. Used by third world terrorists everywhere.