[Trinity_Tx]

"Officials say they will be able, for instance, to determine whether a visitor who overstays his visa has come in contact with the police, but privacy advocates say they worry that the new system could give the federal government far broader power to monitor the whereabouts of visitors by tapping into credit card information or similar databases. The system would tie together about 20 federal databases with information on the more than 300 million foreign visitors each year."

Unbelievable. We're committing national suicide for the sake of not invading the privacy of "visitors".

Reminds me of the FBI's begging the judge to let them look at Moussaoui's hard-drive when he was detained as a terrorist conspirator months before 9/11. Judge said no, that would invade his privacy. After 9/11, they finally got permission, and there were the plans right there. We could have stopped 9/11 but it would have meant invading the private files of a "visitor" like Moussaoui.

Between this thinking and the thinking behind our refusal to stop the flood of unknowns crossing our borders...

Cue twilight zone music...

[Travis McGee]

It's not a question of programs, manpower or budgets, it's a question of Presidential will. The President can shut down the border cold at any time by executive decision, with no need to consult Congress. All he needs to do is issue "wartime rules of engagement" to the current Border Patrol. The current meant-to-fail Keystone Kops ROE are the problem.