It was a program that was a detection system, not a fence or wall. It was like an AWACs on the border. Boeing sold it as such. Boeing did not claim a “virtual fence.”
The detection system was to replace the smaller and less capable MSS system.
Apparently I was the only Boeing employee with a son in the Border Patrol. Boeing would trot me out at all the DC parties and such. I would never defend Boeing, didn’t like them at all, but would defend the Border Patrol and the program. The Agents in the field wanted this detection system as it helped give advance warning of where they were coming from (it could look deep into meh-he-co) and the Agents could then ambush them when they crossed the border.
It was the DHS Director Nappypants that cancelled the program. It was actually starting to make a difference and the technology was maturing and she couldn’t let THAT happen.
Yes the politicians named it the virtual fence because then they could claim more miles of fence.
In our area it never worked. I am sure it would be wonderful if it did.
Of course, the biggest problem of all is that we haven’t had a president who wanted to enforce the border for several decades. I’m sure the BP could do a much more effective job if they were allowed to decide how to do their job. But it’s been said often that Obama has removed most of them from the border and those still there are a welcoming committee for all the unaccompanied ‘children’.
But if an effective physical barrier were in place, at least it would still have some effect no matter who was president.
The voters will have to stop electing members of Congress and presidents who will not enforce the law. They’ll have to make immigration a vote deciding issue every election to bring about any long term change. Maybe Trump will be the first step toward that.
Calm down.
No one is picking on Boeing.
It’s our doofus, two-faced, criminal politicians who deserve our scorn.