National Guard to Head to the Border(The first 800 next week - 6,000 troops first year)

The Chron/The Associated Press ^ | May 24, 2006 | LOLITA C. BALDOR

[IrishMike]

WASHINGTON — The first wave of about 800 National Guard soldiers will head to the U.S-Mexico border next week, including planners and leadership personnel who will stay longer than the planned 21-day missions, the National Guard chief told lawmakers Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum said 200 soldiers are preparing to go to each of the four border states _ California, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico _ around June 1. He said the initial troops will be part of a longer-term force of project managers who will stay on the job over time to provide continuity in the new border program.

The troops represent the launch of President Bush's plan to dispatch up to 6,000 National Guard members to states bordering Mexico to support the Border Patrol and help stem the flow of illegal immigrants across the border.

It was not clear whether the initial influx of Guard members would come from the four border states or from other units across the country. Blum said the Guard troop that will be deployed longer than three weeks are volunteers.

[philman_36]

Doesn't this, if they're heading out before the immigration bill passes, go to show that no new bill is needed to send the troops there?
This could've been done at any time.

[BlueStateDepression]

Okay, now what's gonna happen when the first American Guard personnel is shot?

That all depends on how it gets reported. Quite a few border patrol officers have been shot and many more have been shot at over the last several years.

I must say I fear the same eruption you do but I do not think there is anything we can do to stop it.

[timydnuc]

If the first National Guard, or INS agent, or Border Officer gets hurt we should shut down the border (tanks and artillery if need be), and issue a shoot to kill order to all troops and agents in the area. Issue a mandate to Mexico that if this border is violated by civilian are military forces it will be met with deadly force. Next step: close the American Embassy in Mexico City and withdraw all personnel.

Next step: cancel all tourist activity in Mexico. Advise all Americans the travel in Mexico is dangerous and that Americans will not be allowed to travel there. Next step: stop all foreign aid going to Mexico. Next step: embargo all products produced in Mexico. Next step: stop all daily crossings of Mexican nationals into this country on the border states.

Do you see where I'm going on this?

[IrishMike]

Doesn't this, if they're heading out before the immigration bill passes, go to show that no new bill is needed to send the troops there?
This could've been done at any time.


PING

[houeto]

Our National Guard forces are currently at 460,000. Less than 20% are currently overseas in Afganistan and Iraq. 6000 troops are nothing!

[CPT Clay]

Yes we are...
Just got 5000 back from Iraq in Dec
625 from Afganistan 2 week ago
Have Several thousand going to Iraq this year.

This is just in Texas.

We are central to this border mission and Hurricane season is upon us.

Yes we are a little thin.

If any of you Texan's know of anyone who would like to enlist(lots of bonuses,perks and etc.) FREEPMAIL Me

[txhurl]

Also, we'd have to call back all our expats living in mexico and demand Amb. Garza divorce his wife; hopefully they haven't spawned.

[philman_36]

A lot of good stating the obvious does. Few will see it and even fewer will recognize it.

[timydnuc]

Good point!

[Savage Beast]

Permanently station the U.S. Army on the Mexican border with orders to prevent illegal immigration.

Reinforce the entire Mexican border with fences.

[Pilsner]

A couple of points.

(1) When considering the number of National Guard troops deployed overseas, multiply by at least two, and possible three. By that I mean 70,000 overseas, 70,000 preparing to go overseas (to replace the 70,000 overseas when they rotate home), and 70,000 who were rotated home when the 70,000 overseas were deployed.

The 70,000 in the second category need to worry about getting ready for their overseas deployment,and the units of the 70,000 in the third category are usually in a lesser readyness state due to losss of personnel (retired, transferred, schooling, did not re-enlist) who were not allowed to go during the deployment, wear and tear on material, and a general reluctance to redeploy folks just returned from overseas, absent dire need.

(2) Under the Posse Comitatus statute (USC 1385), National Guard troops in Federal service cannot perform direct law enforcement functions unless the President finds that the area in question is in a state of insurrection, rebellion, or that there exists an unlawfull combination against, or that impedes the execution of, the laws of the United States.

Now Bush could probably find an unlawfull combination, but he is not about to. That means that the National Guard may serve only in support functions, unless the Governor of a border state declares a state of emergency (however named under local law) and uses his or her her National Guard to perform law enforcement functions.

[hawkaw]

Well that is what I am getting at. People around here make it sound like the USA is sending unarmed troops to the border to do nothing but supporting roles when apparently that is not quite true.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I liked the monologue, the Two A-Holes at a Crime Scene skit, and the "Usual Suspects" skit.

[txhurl]

That means that the National Guard may serve only in support functions, unless the Governor of a border state declares a state of emergency (however named under local law) and uses his or her her National Guard to perform law enforcement

In Texas, increased attempts at crossing over the rumored forthcoming amnesty could qualify as an emergency. Rounds fired at TNG/TANG could also constitute an emergency. Thanks for the clarification.

[Libertina]

Year 1 6000
Year 2 3000
Year 3 1000, intermittantly
Year 4 American people fall back asleep....

[ohioWfan]

Good first step. Our National Guard is AWESOME!!!

[Arrowhead1952]

Hey there gal!! How are you doing?

I expect to be in a support role for this operation in the near future.

[ohioWfan]

There was a map of all the National Guard troops in the country with numbers..........after the dopey leftists said that the Guard couldn't go to NOLA because they were all in Iraq.

There are PLENTY of available Guard personnel.

I'll see if I can find the map for you.

[txhurl]

I figured you'd already left! Hadn't seen you around. OK if we stamp a few, i dunno, sombreros in advance on the craft in your yard there? :)