Posted on 02/27/2006 9:21:47 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Motivated by an important issue — but bloated by self-importance — the Minutemen patrolled the border to stem the tide of illegal immigration.
President Bush called them "a vigilante group," a potentially dangerous intrusion into the realm of law enforcement officials.
That was almost a year ago, and his words ring truer than ever.
Already unnecessary, the Minutemen have been rendered even more superfluous, thanks to a state program dubbed Operation Linebacker, which has allocated nearly $10 million for border security since December.
With much of the money going to bolster sheriff's departments from Brownsville to El Paso, the program created a second line of defense for the Border Patrol.
"They served their purpose by attracting attention," El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego told the El Paso Times recently. "They made their point. Now that we have (Operation) Linebacker, I don't think we need them."
The Minutemen, as stubborn as they are unnecessary, may not go away quietly, but if they really want to serve their country, they will let more qualified people — the law enforcement officials on the border — address the problem.
"We've got a lot of Border Patrol agents trying to chase the good, hardworking people down," Bush told the U.S. Conference of Mayors more than a year ago. "If we make the system work right, if we make it legitimate, then our Border Patrol will be able to chase down true threats to our national security."
With the assaults against journalists in Nuevo Laredo and the intimidation of deputies in Hudspeth County, those threats have become more serious than ever.
Instead of helping solve it, the Minutemen aggravate the problem.
Samaniego is right; Texas does not need them.
We still need a (Operation) Line, Sheriff!
Vigilantes Ping!
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off this South Texas/Mexico ping list.
President Bush called them "a vigilante group," a potentially dangerous intrusion into the realm of law enforcement officials.
That was almost a year ago, and his words ring truer than ever
The Minutemen have never tried to replace law enforcement.
They have tried to aid law enforcement by providing them with information.
I haven't seen any evidence that the Minutemen have interferred with the border patrol or with law inforcement.
I'm happy to see that law enforcement is getting additional funding, however no rational person can argue that the border is even reasonably close to being secure.
The Sheriff may not want the help of the Minutemen. However, they aren't breaking any laws. They are providing information to law enforcement and in doing so they are also providing information about what law enforcement is doing and what they are failing to do.
A Sheriff who is trying to do his job should appreciate that more exposure on this topic should help him get the resources needed to attack the problem.
Even though I did not particularly like the San Antonio Light, I do miss media competition. With one newspaper for the City, this is the kind of crap reporting that we get.
I seem to notice the Officer didn't seem to think the illegal workers are a bad thing. He just wanted to stop terrorist. That seems like selective law enforcement to me. Do they get to do that now-a-day?
Perhaps the San Antonio Express-Sleaze can document a single incident involving the Minutemen in Texas where they engaged in anything else than the border equivalent of a Neighborhood Watch.
So then we should see an editorial tomorrow from these yahoos saying that Neighborhood Watch groups are vigilantes as well.
Already unnecessary, the Minutemen have been rendered even more superfluous, thanks to a state program dubbed Operation Linebacker, which has allocated nearly $10 million for border security since December.
Wow. Ten million bucks.
That amounts to a bit over $11,000 dollars per mile of Texas-Mexico border. Which means that might pay for one extra man every eight miles or so after all costs are factored in - and that doesn't even cover the cost of holding illegals for deportation or legal proceedings.
Window dressing.
One should question why he doesn't want citizen envolvement. Perhaps the Sheriff has something to hide.
It would seem that when the money is spent hiring and training new recruits (and common sense would dictate hiring from the Minutemen, as possible), then I would aree the Minutemen are superfluous.
At that point they also should be Thanked, as individual volunteers for the defence of their country, officially by the government. IMHO.
Apparently. I'd say that that is why they want the minutemen to "go away".
aree......? agree.
The minutemen proved that it is possible to seal the border; all you have to do is want to do it.
That is why law enforcement doesn't like them, they prove that the current state of affairs is not an unstoppable force of nature, it is a decision. People with names have decided not to enforce the law.
The writer has an obvious bias against citizen involvement in law enforcement. He probably is unaware that this is a republic; that we are citizens. We delegate our powers to our government employees, but we do not cede them, we do not give them up. In the end, a policeman has no power that we do not ourselves have.
If our leaders do not do their jobs, we have the right to take action.
Thanks for posting this article.
"With the assaults against journalists in Nuevo Laredo and the intimidation of deputies in Hudspeth County, those threats have become more serious than ever."
So now the state has a fund to buy more gear and staff.
Where will the money go? How much increase in manpower is planned? Seems the author is short on info, but high on fear. The enemy says put down your weapons or we will kill you. If you don't cooperate with us, we will kill you.
Journalists shot, intimidation of deputies......??? So... sounds like more is better. Not less. Show me more first, I say to the journalist who is an editorialist.
"Instead of helping solve it, the Minutemen aggravate the problem. Samaniego is right; Texas does not need them."
But Texans think so, and they are Texas.
This Texan think we need them. Heck, if I could manage the time, I'd BE one of them.
hahahahahahaha!!
El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego
Oh yes. The illegals the Mexican racists have won. Let's all give up now. :)
He He , hiding behind "editorial?" Right. No one willing to put their name on this hate spew fest, right? Well here is a bit of info for the OBL lurkers out there. In my FACE TO FACE TWO HOUR MEETING with El Paso County Sheriff Leo Samaniego he was very clear that the Texas Minutemen are very welcome anytime, wether he NEEDS the help or not. I will let everyone know what his opinion is of the Border Watch operations as well as the opinions of Sheriff West and his Deputies of Hudspeth County Sheriff's Department when we meet with them in about a month during the April Operation.
By the way, Mr. hide behind the "editorial" staff of the San Antonio Express, Operation Linebacker has yet to put one (1) additional LEO on the border, stop one load of dope or report a single illegal border buster.
In the meantime, we will let you know how many illegals are flooding across the border THIS year.
sheesh, what an utter pinhead...
Did a search and it looks like ineed to STFU!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.