Bush Set To Send Guard to Border (temporarily)

Washington Post ^ | May 15, 2006 | Peter Baker

[mathprof]

Assignment Would Be Temporary; Critics Cite Strain on Troops.

President Bush tried to ease the worries of his Mexican counterpart yesterday as he prepared for a nationally televised address tonight unveiling a plan to send thousands of National Guard troops to help seal the nation's southern border against illegal immigrants.

Mexican President Vicente Fox called to express concern over the prospect of militarization of the border, and Bush reassured him that it would be only a temporary measure to bolster overwhelmed Border Patrol agents, the White House said.

"The president made clear that the United States considers Mexico a friend and that what is being considered is not militarization of the border but support of Border Patrol capabilities on a temporary basis by National Guard personnel," said White House spokeswoman Maria Tamburri.

Yet the idea has further stirred an already volatile debate about immigration on both sides of the border even before the president makes his prime-time speech from the Oval Office at 8 p.m. A number of Democrats and even a few key Republicans voiced skepticism or outright opposition to the reported plan yesterday, calling it a politically motivated move that will only further strain units already stretched by duty in Iraq without solving the underlying problem of illegal immigration.

"We have to be very careful here," Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) said yesterday on ABC's "This Week." "That's not the role of our military. That's not the role of our National Guard. . . . That's a short-term fix, and I'm not sure that's a very wise fix."

[futurerulerkch]

Silly Senator, the National Guard is supposed to protect the homeland, if protecting the border isn't their job then what is?

[WoofDog123]

I am honestly very skeptical about the intent of bushgov in this announcement. I do not believe he wants to 'control' the US borders, as he has demonstrated time and time again the last 5 years that he is ok with the status quo. While once he sends the ANG to do whatever it is they are going to do (if anything) it could develop a life of its own, I do not believe it is his intent to create a long-term alteration in the immigration (all, not just legal) rate into the US from latin america.

It has to be painfully obvious to anyone following this story that bush WANTS open borders. He is going to condemn his party in october over this, since as far as I can tell a great majority of CITIZENS (aka little people) do not agree with him on this subject.

[WoofDog123]

october = november elections, its early...

[tobyhill]

My guess is that he will announce the guard will be down there temporarily and begin to draw down as sections of the 850 mile wall or fence is in place or as more border guards are ready to assume the duty whichever comes first. I will also venture to say that he will announce that he expects congress working on a comprehensive guest worker plan that will not give amnesty and tougher enforcement for employers hiring undocumented workers.

[Echo Talon]

I wouldn't mind seeing the national guard at the border on a temporary basis, if they were going to stay until the wall is built and completed. The wall is must, it will stop the Mexican military(or cartel) vehicle incursions and also slow the massive flood of illegals. If they want to be serious, they need to put in the necessary barriers.

[Echo Talon]

My guess is that he will announce the guard will be down there temporarily and begin to draw down as sections of the 850 mile wall or fence is in place or as more border guards are ready to assume the duty whichever comes first.

Thats my wishful thinking also, the guard can support border patrol until the wall is built, all 2,900 miles of it.

[devolve]

[WoofDog123]

i agree on a wall, but there ain't no way bushgov is gonna go along with that. He is more accurately opposed to any permanent tangible barrier.

[browardchad]

My guess is that he will announce the guard will be down there temporarily and begin to draw down as sections of the 850 mile wall

My guess is that there will be no mention of a wall.

[Echo Talon]

lets wait and see, I have my doubts as well...

[tobyhill]

The government already has a cost estimate of $2.5 billion ($6 billion in the end) so why don't you figure he'll mention it?

[roaddog727]

"While once he sends the ANG to do whatever it is they are going to do..."

The ANG won't do squat on the border except play golf - ANG=Air National Guard.

What he will send will be the ARNG (Army National Guard).

[Raycpa]

The BorderBots won't buy anything Bush does. To them they need to complain about Bush and give them a reason to vote 3rd party. Most of these folks are the same GOPAT folks with different T-shirts coupled with a few join-the-band-wagon rats dressed as elephants.

They have done an effective job turning many sincere conservatives away from Bush on this issue but as soon as Bush comes around and puts reasonable actions on the floor, the BorderBots will be marginalized. They will still be loud screamers but ineffective.

[Raycpa]

Where excatly is the fence supposed to be?

[WoofDog123]

i am corrected, ARNG isn't going to be doing much either though, in reality.

[Kakaze]

" lets wait and see, I have my doubts as well..."

I agree heck its only about 13.5 hours from now, no need to get worked up until you hear the man out.

He's frankly always been soft on this issue, my hope had been he'd change and secure it as part of the WOT.

I guess we will see soon enough.

[jveritas]

The Bushgov?! Is this close to DUmmies Bushco? Who the f*** are you people?

[Echo Talon]

I was wondering the same thing LOL

[tobyhill]

I think at one time they were trolling DU for us but stayed too long and became brainwashed almost beyond repair. It's sad because the only cure now is a frontal lobotomy.