Yes, but you know what I meant.
What you are proposing is a new, land based mission for the CG. We already have 10,000 border patrol agents in DHS who are doing the same thing. What we need are more border patrol agents, physical barriers, and technology to control our southern land border with Mexico. The Coast Guard is tasked with protecting our sea coasts. Why create a new mission for the Coast Guard?
The border patrol ain't cutting it and they are too tied up with "la Migre" to be anything but "the enemy" to immigrants. If they are moved in as part of the CG structure you have a very good beginning of the force structure necessary. Add in the MEU type RDF under the CG command structure and tradition and I think you have a winning formula.
It's all about how they are perceived.
The BP has an image which is both incapable of doing the job and universally perceived as "the bad guys." How many movies can you think of where border patrol types were the bad guys? I can think of quite a few. Now, how many movies can you think of with CG types as the bad guys? I can't think of any.
And the drug cartels would s**t bricks.
As a former naval officer, I couldn't let it pass.
The border patrol ain't cutting it and they are too tied up with "la Migre" to be anything but "the enemy" to immigrants. If they are moved in as part of the CG structure you have a very good beginning of the force structure necessary. Add in the MEU type RDF under the CG command structure and tradition and I think you have a winning formula. It's all about how they are perceived.
I don't know if you are aware of what logistical support and training you need for a MEU, but it is not small. I have no idea what kind of force structure you are proposing, but it would probably result in the doubling of the Coast Guard. I just think what you suggest is a viable or desireable solution. I was in the Gator Navy and know a little about MEU's from Vietnam. I also spent a year ashore in Danang supporting them. Asking the Coast Guard to do a mission they have never undertaken before seems like a non-starter to me.
The BP has an image which is both incapable of doing the job and universally perceived as "the bad guys." How many movies can you think of where border patrol types were the bad guys? I can think of quite a few. Now, how many movies can you think of with CG types as the bad guys? I can't think of any. And the drug cartels would s**t bricks.
Perception aside, the objective is to secure our borders. It can be done if we provide the requisite resoures to the BP. We don't need to give another mission to the CG to do that. In that retard, the DHS was unnecessary as well. It is part of the way Washington gives the illusion of solving problems, i.e., moving the organizational boxes around.