Posted on 12/11/2018 8:16:46 AM PST by Olog-hai
President Donald Trump sought Tuesday to pressure Democratic congressional leaders into supporting his demand for billions of dollars to build his promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, threatening to have the military build it “if Democrats do not give us the votes to secure our Country.”
Trump tweeted the threat hours before Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi were to meet with Trump at the White House in an effort to avert a partial government shutdown on Dec. 21, when funding for some agencies is scheduled to expire.
In a series of tweets Tuesday, Trump said immigration and border patrol agents and thousands of active-duty service members he sent to the border have done a “FANTASTIC” job. But he said “A Great Wall would be, however, a far easier & less expensive solution.”
Trump said he looked forward to meeting with Schumer and Pelosi, but claimed they don’t want border security for “strictly political reasons.”
“If the Democrats do not give us the votes to secure our Country, the Military will build the remaining sections of the Wall. They know how important it is!” Trump said. …
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
The US Army Corps of Engineers is already managing the contracting for wall construction - they just need the money to make awards.
The Department of Homeland Security comes to the Corps of Engineers as a customer with money, and the Corps provides services like a general construction contractor.
The Corps of Engineers has two standing contracts that they have prepared to build segments of border barrier for DHS - an Eastern one (Texas) and a Western one (the rest).
Eastern Contract: W9126G18R0092 Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) for Horizontal Construction Services in support of the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, Del Rio, Big Bend and El Paso Border Patrol Sectors
Western Contract: W9126G18R0096 Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) For Horizontal Construction Services In Support Of The San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, And Tucson Border Patrol Sectors
Developing those contracts was a big effort. All the requirements had to be specifically defined. The routes had to be specifically identified and surveyed, to identify property and other legal issues, as well as drainage and flooding issues. Construction companies had to be screened and pre-approved to compete on segments, to ensure that they had the financial means to perform, and that they had good records of past performance on similar construction projects.
All of that difficult planning and contracting lead time is now complete, and the Corps has been making awards with the money that DHS was appropriated in 2017 and 2018. Three awards were announced just last month - two in the Rio Grande Valley South of McAllen, Texas; and another around Yuma, Arizona.
The Department of Defense could just identify something to sacrifice out of their budget, and send the Army Corps of Engineers an email with the fund cite code (account number) for the money. The Corps could go ahead and use that to contract more wall segments.
The only thing needed now is money, where ever it legally comes from. The whole wall program is staffed and operating. They are ready to execute the funds, and have already demonstrated that they do it well, with the segments that they have already awarded.
The dumbing down of history in our universities and high schools and making an emphasis on social programs and teachings is costing the US in many negative ways.
Trump should combine the names “The Great Wall of China”, and “The Mall of America, and call it the “The Wall of America”. That would drive the left total ape crazy.
I only wish it could be a double wall, higher, and incorporate real sheltered watch towers, C-RAM’s (for uav’s), and sections where the double wall could support elevated walkways with reinforced bunkers underneath - between the walls, in case of attack, and shelter for personnel.
We should also move some of our bases closer.
By any means necessary!
“We should also move some of our bases closer.”
The Texas Air National Guard should have a major presence at McAllen Int’l Airport, and if the other border states have international airports near their southern borders then they should all do the same thing for however long the situation warrants.
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.