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Support Growing For UAV Patrols Of US/Mexican Border
UAV Online ^ | 22 April, 2003

Posted on 04/23/2003 1:50:05 PM PDT by 11th_VA

Before long, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) may be patrolling the US borders to protect against intruders of any type.

‘I am extremely supportive of the idea,’ said Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.), a member of the newly created Homeland Security Committee and chairman of a subcommittee that will have a major say in what kinds of equipment will be pressed into service.

Shadegg said two recent visits to the Mexican border underscored for him that ‘we don't have anything approaching control of that border.’ Support for putting electronic eyes in the sky is building in Congress, he said.

Senator John Warner (R-Va.), chairman of the Armed Service Committee, wrote to President Bush recently saying the case for non-military use of UAVs is ‘compelling’.

Currently the Mexican border is sporadically patrolled by fixed-wing aircraft and Black Hawk helicopters, which Shadegg said pose disadvantages of costly operation, limited range and relatively short periods for staying aloft.

‘High tech, including drones, is precisely where we should be going,’ Shadegg said.

As chairman of the emergency preparedness and response subcommittee, ‘I want to put all my energy into looking at high-tech ways to stop incidents from occurring, or detect them the instant they occur,’ such as in cases of sabotage of water supplies or unleashing of chemical agents, he said.

After testing drones in south Texas during the late 1990s, Border Patrol officials decided against using them. But Asa Hutchinson, the nation's top border security official in Homeland Security, told Congress last month, ‘I think that we have to revisit some of this technology since September 11th and see if it has greater application.’

You're going to see more personnel, but also . . . more high-technology equipment down on the border,’ Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), said at a news conference this month.

‘You may see unmanned drones.’

Shadegg wouldn't predict how soon UAV patrols could be launched but said, ‘If we can build enough support for them, I think they could be up pretty quick.’

(Source: The Arizona Republic)


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; US: Arizona; US: California; US: New Mexico; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: borderhawk; borderpatrol; homelandsecurity; illegalimmigration; johnwarner; uav
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To: Lee308
Then I decided that our govenment does not want to stop them. They are our source of cheap labor. Its keeps wages down and therefore keeps inflation down. Plus it keeps our population growing which keeps housing prices up. >>>>>>

My small town is LOADED with such cheap labor, and one of
our major employers just loves it. They pay barely living wages to all, and health coverage on employee's who will
sacrifice to PAY their part.

The hispanic's meanwhile are having litters of kids to quailfy for food stamps & free healthcare, and living better
than the "middle class" Americans.

While losing about 1,000 TAXPAYERS from 1990-2000 (pop. now
abt 18,000) residents have now been told we need to build TWO more elementary schools to accomodate these litters of children that we are already feeding and keeping healthy.
In five years it will be TWO more middle schools, then of course another high school.

Who's coming out ahead ?? The hispanic's & their kids, and
the NO. 1 retailer, who pays LOW wages, and no health care costs on more than half of their employees here.
21 posted on 04/24/2003 11:31:30 AM PDT by txdoda ("Navy-brat")
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To: 11th_VA
I'm sure the ACLU will be up in arms about this ... >>>>>

Natually, if the ACLU objets to it, it's usually something GREAT for the AMERICANS.

They need to change their name to ANYONE'S CLU.....
22 posted on 04/24/2003 11:34:57 AM PDT by txdoda ("Navy-brat")
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
Another military officer, General Franks said something the other day to the effect that any nation who wants to control its borders can. Hint hint... even the military is trying to wake up our government now to the dangers of open borders. Somebody needs to.

I got the same reaction from General Franks' comment and I'm glad he made it. Unfortunately, Bush has made it inordinately clear that he WILL NOT defend our borders from this epic invasion of millions under ANY circumstances.

This dereliction of duty along with his disastrous trade policies will likely make Bush's re-election prospects every bit the horse race that the last election was.

23 posted on 04/24/2003 12:43:36 PM PDT by WRhine
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To: WRhine
bttt
24 posted on 04/24/2003 3:25:38 PM PDT by madfly (AdultChildrenOfLegalImmigrants.org)
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To: ME4W
fyi
25 posted on 04/24/2003 3:26:03 PM PDT by madfly (AdultChildrenOfLegalImmigrants.org)
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To: madfly
As far as I am concerned they can use B-1-B's with cluster bombs.
26 posted on 04/24/2003 5:35:30 PM PDT by Brownie74
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To: WRhine
If immigration becomes a topic in the race then Bush may have a difficult time explaining why after 9/11 the borders are still so open. But the democrats won't call him on that, they're even worse, and neither will the press.

Sure wish Tancredo would run then maybe we'd be get some much needed discussion regarding this issue.

27 posted on 04/24/2003 6:48:03 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Brownie74
As far as I am concerned they can use B-1-B's with cluster bombs.

We can't do that Brownie, think of all those grasshoppers and cactuses who might get injured or destroyed. And heaven forbid we wouldn't want to impede the free movement of the poor field rodents now would we?

28 posted on 04/24/2003 6:57:51 PM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: 11th_VA
UAV's can't make arrests. We need people on the ground enforcing laws already in place - or at least someone somewhere who's willing to act on whatever pictures the UAV's send back. Any sign of a political will to do these very basic things?
29 posted on 04/24/2003 7:03:59 PM PDT by Puddleglum
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
If immigration becomes a topic in the race then Bush may have a difficult time explaining why after 9/11 the borders are still so open. But the democrats won't call him on that, they're even worse, and neither will the press.

I agree. What could sink Bush though is the economy and his handling of it.

I couldn't help but notice today during Bush’s speech on his economic package that he never once brought up the FTAA (Free Trade Americas) deal that he has been pushing so hard for behind the scenes. In fact I have never heard him once bring up FTAA during a speech about the economy. I have to ask WHY? I mean if FTAA is such a good deal for America, like Bush has suggested in the past, why would he not bring up this latest free trade proposal that builds on the NAFTA deal (that his Dad still brags about) when he is talking about economic cures?

I suspect Bush knows well that most Americans don't want anymore Free Trade deals. At least the kind we have seen in the last 10 years and for good reason. We associate them with massive job losses and the destruction of American Industry all of which makes me wonder then...why is he still pushing for FTAA then?

30 posted on 04/24/2003 9:34:21 PM PDT by WRhine
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To: WRhine
U.S. Wants Quick Ag Deals with Brazil

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Snow said the FTAA negotiations are a priority despite possible political ramifications for President Bush in Florida and California, the nation's top orange producers and key states for a Bush victory in next year's presidential election.

Brazil: Less talk, more U.S. trade action - Wash. Times

31 posted on 04/25/2003 8:34:06 AM PDT by madfly (AdultChildrenOfLegalImmigrants.org)
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To: WRhine
Very few politicians talk openly anymore about these so-called free trade deals, they're scams meant for one purpose, to make big corporations richer.

How do they help me anyway? I can purchase frozen apple or orange concentrate made from fruit grown in Brazil or China at the local wholesale outlet for .69 to.79 cents. Big deal. I can get that product for the same price when the fruit is grown here, always have, even before we started flooding the market with fruit from other countries.

The price hasn't gone down, but the cost of labor has, so that means the CEOs get those big bonuses. And they contribute nicely to the coffers of politicians elected to represent the people. If American farmers go out of business, who cares? These trade deals aren't even doing anything to stop the illegal alien flow. Like I said, it's a scam, and everyone knows it.

32 posted on 04/25/2003 9:36:49 AM PDT by Reaganwuzthebest
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To: Reaganwuzthebest
The price hasn't gone down, but the cost of labor has, so that means the CEOs get those big bonuses. And they contribute nicely to the coffers of politicians elected to represent the people. If American farmers go out of business, who cares? These trade deals aren't even doing anything to stop the illegal alien flow. Like I said, it's a scam, and everyone knows it.

You know, a cynical person could call this cozy relationship between CEOs and Politicians "Feather Bedding". It's interesting how our politicos can, by the stroke of a pen, "Make Legal" exactly the same kind of hanky panky activity that would land the average businessman in jail.

I agree with every point you made. Slowly but Surely America is moving from being a "nation of laws" to a "nation of political rulers".

33 posted on 04/25/2003 12:01:48 PM PDT by WRhine
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To: madfly
bttt
34 posted on 04/25/2003 12:02:58 PM PDT by WRhine
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To: madfly; Free the USA; B4Ranch; FITZ; Reaganwuzthebest; hsmomx3; Tancredo Fan; Joe Hadenuf; ...
All that is being suggested is ok, but nothing is going to solve it until one thing happens.

Implement OPLAN GARDEN PLOT!

NOW!

The ACLU, M.E.Ch.A., NAACP, RANBOW-PUSH, Amnesty International, U.N., or anyone else's self sanctimonious opinion be DAMNED! Just do it! Seal the frigging border.

35 posted on 04/26/2003 6:25:10 AM PDT by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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