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Flashback: Boeing virtual fence: $30 billion failure
zdnet ^ | By Michael Krigsman | August 23, 2007

Posted on 01/10/2019 2:11:58 AM PST by 11th_VA

The Department of Homeland Security "virtual fence" project, being built by Boeing, is in big, big trouble. The virtual fence is a high-tech network of cameras, lighting, sensors, and technology designed to intercept illegal border crossings. According to the Wall Street Journal:

Boeing Co. has changed the management of an electronic-surveillance project along the U.S.-Mexican border after falling more than two months behind schedule, marking the complications involved in setting up a new generation of border security.

The project, part of a larger Department of Homeland Security program called SBInet, is a critical link in the plan to use technology to monitor the borders for illegal immigrants, drug smugglers and possible terrorists. Towers set up along a stretch of the border near Nogales, Ariz., are supposed to use motion sensors, cameras and radar to keep track of wide areas. According to the government, Boeing has had trouble getting the different components to work together without glitches.

(Excerpt) Read more at zdnet.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: aliens; boeing; border; buildthewall; mexico; virtualfence
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Democrats invest in failure
1 posted on 01/10/2019 2:11:58 AM PST by 11th_VA
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To: 11th_VA

"...$30B failure..."


They were very disappointed when that glitch was found on the ED-209 security robot, too.

2 posted on 01/10/2019 2:18:25 AM PST by Blue Jays ( Rock hard ~ Ride free)
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To: 11th_VA

“Democrats invest in failure”

To some extent, in this case at least, intentionally.

I heard someone comment recently that the reason the Democrats/left are opposed to a physical wall/fence, is because it is a permanent structure that can’t be easily reversed once it’s built. That person was absolutely correct, and Democrat/leftist support for a ‘virtual fence’ is consistent with that point.

They can control what they do with the information that comes from a virtual fence. They can choose to apprehend or not apprehend. They can make that decision in a stealth manner as well, by manipulating the numbers of funded ICE agents available in a given area to do these apprehensions. They can control what happens to those who are apprehended (i.e. deport, catch and release, political asylum, or even eventual amnesty). In short, it keeps them in control. A physical wall takes this control away from them - which is exactly why it needs to be built.


3 posted on 01/10/2019 2:26:36 AM PST by neverevergiveup
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To: 11th_VA
I could have told them so before they built it - and saved the tax payers the $30 billions.

While Virtual Fences may be useful in some ways, real Fences & Walls works 100% of the time and don't need thousands of computers, networks, and tons of tech and supporting electronic components to do its job. The Great Wall of China is still standing for centuries and don't need billions of taxpayers money to maintain it every year.

4 posted on 01/10/2019 3:03:53 AM PST by prophetic (Trump is today's DANIEL. Shut the mouth of lions Lord, let his enemies be the Cat Food instead.)
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To: neverevergiveup
... the Democrat/left is opposed to Trump's wall b/c it is a permanent structure that can’t be easily reversed
once it’s built. A physical wall takes "control" away from the left - which is exactly why it needs to be built.

Nice take. Their constituents should be alarmed that these control-freaks represent them.

5 posted on 01/10/2019 3:05:16 AM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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To: 11th_VA

The simple & obvious solution to this debacle: outsource it to the Israeli company that built their wall. The number of terrorists attacks against them dropped off dramatically afterwards, but of course it’s gonna stem the flow of future democrats crossing illegally into the usa.


6 posted on 01/10/2019 3:11:40 AM PST by prophetic (Trump is today's DANIEL. Shut the mouth of lions Lord, let his enemies be the Cat Food instead.)
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To: TADSLOS; Tennessee Nana
(hat tip nevergive up)

The Democrat/left is opposed to Trump's wall b/c it takes control away from them.
They can control the information that comes from a virtual fence:

<><> They can choose to apprehend or not apprehend.
<><> They can make decisions in secret.
<><> They can manipulate the numbers of funded ICE agents available in a given area.
<><> They can control the fate of those apprehended.
<><> They can deport, catch and release, grant political asylum, even amnesty.

They'll do anything---even endanger Americans safety and security---to keep themselves in control.

7 posted on 01/10/2019 3:15:41 AM PST by Liz (Our side has 8 trillion bullets; the other side doesn't know which bathroom to use.)
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To: 11th_VA
Good fences make good neighbors. A virtual fence is not a real fence, hence not a good fence.

Build the wall!


8 posted on 01/10/2019 3:51:23 AM PST by Perseverando (For Progressives, Islamonazis, Statists, Commies & other DemoKKKrats: It's all about PEOPLE CONTROL!)
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To: prophetic

I believe it was Schumer who pointed out that a virtual fence enables intefception and arrest of border crosses. That is their goal. Get them in the country where they will ultimately be released. A wall keeps them out.


9 posted on 01/10/2019 4:09:19 AM PST by LibertyOh
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To: 11th_VA

2007... this is a Bush legacy item.


10 posted on 01/10/2019 4:37:51 AM PST by thoughtomator (Nobody is coming to save the day)
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To: 11th_VA

First problem is they went with Boeing - primarily an aircraft manufacturer. Raytheon builds sensors and has a long history of integrating them into systems. They also have a track record of integrating multiple systems, and a track record of border security. Notably in the middle east, in very hostile territory that just happens to geographically resemble the United States southwest. But I guess selecting Raytheon would have made the project too likely to succeed. I think someone wants it to fail.


11 posted on 01/10/2019 4:38:57 AM PST by ThunderSleeps ( Be ready!)
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To: Perseverando
Good fences make good neighbors. A virtual fence is not a real fence, hence not a good fence.

Build the wall!

Agreed! The "Ring" Doorbell Camera did not obsolete the Front Door.

12 posted on 01/10/2019 4:52:18 AM PST by Religion and Politics (It is time for more than one denomination of "Political Correctness".)
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To: 11th_VA
Hey, Roberto, can I borrow yoor rifle? I wanna see if doze camras and radar theengs eez bulleet-proof.

13 posted on 01/10/2019 5:08:58 AM PST by Right Wing Assault (Kill-googl,TWITR,FACBK,NYT,WaPo,Hlywd,CNN,NFL,BLM,CAIR,Antifa,SPLC,ESPN,NPR,NBA)
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To: prophetic

A “virtual wall” is like your home burglar alarm — it ultimately needs to be backed up a timely armed response. The border patrol is undermanned and stretched thin. What you would have is a tripped alarm that often goes unanswered.

A physical barrier would allow a small force to defend a large perimeter from a force many times as large. Medieval castles were often garrisoned by a relative handful of guards because it slows down the crossing by making it very difficult.


14 posted on 01/10/2019 5:16:52 AM PST by Tallguy
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To: neverevergiveup
They can control what they do with the information that comes from a virtual fence. They can choose to apprehend or not apprehend.

It's worse than that. The politicized leftist courts have degenerated to the point where one foot on US soil enables an invader to ask for asylum, in which case they have to be granted admission for processing. A fence prevents that one foot from getting to US soil.

15 posted on 01/10/2019 5:23:09 AM PST by Pearls Before Swine ( "It's always a party when you're eating the seed corn.")
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To: 11th_VA

Virtual equals fake, fantasy. I cannot believe we are debating a measly 5 billion dollars for a wall. Only when it’s national security do democrats suddenly feel stingy.


16 posted on 01/10/2019 5:33:27 AM PST by Phillyred
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To: 11th_VA

Not a failure for the pork rolling politicians and contractors.


17 posted on 01/10/2019 5:35:15 AM PST by Kozak (DIVERSITY+PROXIMITY=CONFLICT)
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To: Pearls Before Swine

Agreed.


18 posted on 01/10/2019 6:02:45 AM PST by neverevergiveup
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To: 11th_VA

That is by plan rather than by accident.

But a serious real (preferably high, double-) wall is of course needed as well.


19 posted on 01/10/2019 6:04:20 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: LibertyOh
I believe it was Schumer who pointed out that a virtual fence enables intefception and arrest of border crosses. That is their goal. Get them in the country where they will ultimately be released. A wall keeps them out./ Exactly. Don't hear this at all.
20 posted on 01/10/2019 6:47:32 AM PST by School of Rational Thought
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