I guess you completely missed the fact that our border is 2400% longer than Israel's. That is like comparing your backyard fence to the Berlin Wall. There is no comparison. The wall separating East and West Berlin was one of the most impenetrable walls in history. It was only 48 miles long and lasted 28 years. During its existance there were 5000 successful escapes over, under or through it. Your 2000 mile long fence just ain't gonna work.
"What do you think the cost of another 9/11 would be?
That argument would carry more weight if the people involved in 9/11 hadn't entered this country legally. You could have built a wall from the surface of the earth to the moon along our entire border, and 9/11 still would have happened.
"Or the costs we are already shouldering supporting illegal immigrants in healthcare, education, welfare benefits, jailtime for the many that commit criminal acts, etc"
Now you're talking. These people are illegal. Criminals. Lets stop paying for their healthcare, education, welfare and jailtime. When one steps into an emergency room, you throw him in jail and ship him back. When one tries to enroll his kids in school, you throw the whole family in jail and ship them back. And since you mentioned welfare...lets dump the whole program altogether. You want to talk burden on our country...you don't have to look much farther than the completely legal welfare rats feeding like ticks off of our money.
"During its existance there were 5000 successful escapes over, under or through it. Your 2000 mile long fence just ain't gonna work."
You are ignoring the fact that in Israel, their fence HAS worked well. Virtually 100% success, except for where the fence currently is not built. Once it is completed, Israel will be pretty much hermetically sealed. It works. And better than your Berlin Wall example, as the Berlin Wall had more possibilities for escape. It didn't have the series of barriers that the Israeli's have built w/their fence (there is another thread somewhere on FR that show's the series of barriers and roads, ditches, etc.).
Obviously our border is long, but in the most important and strategic areas along the border, a series of fencing would help. It has already been successful in the part built in California along the border (except for the hole in a small area that needs filling in, but that the Bush Admin hasn't wanted to fund).
Yes, the 9/11 guys got in here on visa's under false pretenses. However, we already know that Islamists have been entering our country illegally along the Mexican border, as ranchers whose land is routinely crossed by these illegals, have found prayer rugs and Koran's on their properties (there is another thread on FR that speaks to this, posted recently).