National Guard May Provide Security At Borders
May 12, 2006 9:31 a.m. ESTAndrea Moore - All Headline News Staff Reporter
Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Defense officials say the Pentagon is looking at ways the military can help provide more security along the U.S. southern border, drawing the nation's armed forces into a politically sensitive domestic role.
According to defense officials, Paul McHale, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, asked officials this week to come up with options for the use of military resources and troops - particularly the National Guard - along the border with Mexico. There are no details yet on a defense strategy.
Defense officials say they have been asked to map out what military resources could be made available if needed - including options for using the National Guard under either state or federal control. The strategy would also explore the legal guidelines for use of the military on domestic soil, the officials said.
The National Guard is generally under the control of the state governors, but Guard units can be federalized by the president. Active duty military cannot be used for law enforcement unless the president specifically decides to exercise that option.
thanks for the info and link
there's certainly precedent for troops on the border and in fact crossing the border as they did when they were chasing Poncho Villa around...
now about that wall, Mr. President?
The National Guard is composed of citizens with civilian jobs, so that no one contingent could stay on the border indefinitely. Further they are a combat force and guard duty is an underutilization of their capability. Better would be a new full time volunteer border guard force. I believe many people would volunteer. Further since it is primarily guard duty you could recruit people from 18 to 65.
And just how long can the over stretched National Guard provide enough troops to cover the long Border with Mexico?
My Nephew in the Texas NG has been on active duty 2 out of the last 3 years and is currently deploying to Iraq.
They should be deploying to the Rio Grande instead of the Tigris or Euphorates.
These guys cannot guard both the Iraq and U.S. borders. They have civilian jobs and families to support and mortgages, etc. to pay and cannot stay deployed indefinitely. If this crap keeps up it's going to be hello to the draft or one Helluva big pay raise to the NG.