Insecure Borders: Let’s Give Blame Where Blame Is Due

There is only one person who has the power actually to do something about the egregious state of our immigration law enforcement and lack of border controls. As FSM Contributing Editor Peter Gadiel charges, that person is the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

For five years, members of 9/11 Families for a Secure America have lobbied in Washington and in many state capitols for immigration law enforcement and secure borders. The opponents of our goals are many throughout Congress and elsewhere, but during this period the most powerful of them has been that individual with the sole authority to require the federal government to enforce these laws and who, by his refusal to do so, has made that government a co-conspirator in undermining the security of this Nation. That person is of course, George Bush.

As chief of the Executive Branch he has under the Constitution not only the sole power but the duty to enforce the laws of our country, a duty he refuses to honor. He thumbs his nose at the obligations imposed on him by the Constitution, which, in the name of the God he claims to worship, he has sworn to uphold. Since the people of the United States have no recourse through the court system to make him enforce the law, he alone has the power to decide that illegal aliens will be permitted to prey on Americans, and he has made that decision.

The harm that George Bush has done to this country is seen by many but felt most severely by those who have been the victims of crimes committed by illegal alien criminals, many of whom, after all, are in the United States due to Bush’s refusal to enforce federal laws already on the books.

The president’s efforts to undermine the collective security of the Nation and the individual security of citizens have caused many to ask: “Why does Bush allow illegal aliens, every one a law breaker, to enter the United States freely? Why does he refuse to enforce existing law and to allow terrorists, violent felons and drug smugglers full access to their intended American victims? Why does he continuously ignore the Constitution and the oath he swore to uphold it? Why doesn’t he care about Americans suffering as a result of depressed wages and working conditions, or about the Americans who have been the victims of crimes committed by illegal aliens?”

Each time I speak with a person whose family has been shattered by the violent act of an illegal alien, an illegal who almost invariably has had numerous previous encounters with the law, I wonder anew what kind of man it is who occupies the White House and tolerates, and by that tolerance encourages, these crimes. What kind of man is this who lifts not a finger to acknowledge his role in these acts of violence and refuses to take action to prevent future crimes?

I have been meeting such victims and families for almost six years. As time passes I’ve grown more disturbed by what the Bush malfeasance indicates about his character. In part this is so because I meet ever more victims and see the list of victims grow longer. But there is another list that is also growing and this too affects my view of the man: the number of elected officials I have spoken with who, because of their positions in the government, have had one-on-one conversations with the president and who insist he is fully aware of the crimes inflicted by his illegal alien friends. There was a time when I gave Mr. Bush the benefit of the doubt; I believed he was insulated from the facts…that he didn’t know what was happening in the states. But now I grasp the truth: He does know. He doesn’t care: What kind of man must this be?

Shortly after September 11, I began encountering 9/11 family members who were convinced that George Bush had had advance knowledge of this conspiracy and that for his own purposes he refused to interfere. Vehemently, I disagreed for two reasons. First, I did not believe that George Bush would intentionally allow thousands of Americans to die. Second, I believed that the incompetence of our government was so highly perfected that it would be impossible to keep secret for very long the fact that officials had advance knowledge of such a catastrophic event.

Today, I have had over five years’ experience in meeting with bureaucrats and members of Congress. I’ve read Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports; transcripts of Congressional Committee hearings and testimony; the 9/11 Commission Report and its associated documents; reports produced by private think tanks and individual experts on crime, immigration and national security. These have confirmed my judgment that our government is staffed by so many individuals who are incompetent or corrupt that it is insane to believe that a secret such as advance knowledge of 9/11 could remain a secret six years after the event. (The 9/11 Commission, in an exquisite formulation of words succeeded in describing and excusing the pervasive incompetence and negligence of federal officials with the phrase “a failure of imagination.”)

But as to George Bush (and many other elected officials and bureaucrats) I have come to realize my original appraisal was wrong. His actions since 9/11 have, for me, established that he lacks concern for the lives of individual Americans. Three thousand people died on 9/11, but since that day far more than three thousand have been killed, individually or in small groups, by illegal aliens. And still he refuses to enforce the laws that would end the killing. Thousands of Americans have been killed in intentional murders, or as ‘by-products’ of robberies, rapes, beatings or auto accidents caused by drunken illegals driving automobiles. Thousands more lives have not been ended but have nevertheless been shattered by acts of violence short of murder, such as child molestation. (The Bush Administration makes a proper accounting of these crimes impossible by virtue of its refusal to require local police to inquire into the illegal status of those arrested.)

That George Bush’s refusal to enforce the laws of this Nation has been the direct cause of these Americans’ death and suffering is simply beyond dispute. He and the Tony Snows and Michael Chertoffs he hires can protest all they want about the “impossibility” of securing our borders. He and they can pretend to be merely incompetent for only so long before Americans wake up and realize they’re not just incompetent, they are misrepresenting the truth.

To the many who wonder why Bush is doing what he’s doing, I offer some advice. For a long time I wondered too. Finally, I realized the futility of spending another moment on this imponderable. The reason why doesn’t matter. The fact that it is so is all that matters. But for those who need to have an answer as to the ‘why’ of the Bush actions I suggest you look at the motives of others who have betrayed our country: ideology, revenge, greed.

One or more of these pretexts must be what Bush employs in his own mind to justify his tolerance of violence and death. In that sense he is undoubtedly conventional, typical of his breed. But in one respect Mr. Bush has carved out a place that is unique among corrupt politicians. In his obsession to pass his amnesty, a major tool in the permanent elimination of our borders, he offered what amounted to a bribe, in public, to members of the US Senate, telling them that if they would vote for his amnesty bill he would provide 4.5 billion dollars to build the border fence that a 2005 federal law he signed required to be built. In those two years Mr. Bush has managed to get only a few miles of that fence built, but suddenly he saw that enforcement of this federal law could be used as a payoff to be offered to Senators to vote for his amnesty. Presto, he promises to come up with four and a half billion to build it.

Of course Mr. Bush is far from the first politician to engage in illegal or immoral behavior. But it is customary for politicians to try and keep their corruption a secret. For example, Boss Tweed of New York; Sen. Tom Dodd (father of the current Sen. Dodd) of Connecticut, Ted Kennedy. These bribe takers, philanderers, drunk drivers and lady killers at least tried to keep their crimes hidden from the public. As reprehensible as they were or are, they at least comprehended that their actions deviated from the norm and felt sufficient concern for public opinion that they didn’t want their crimes exposed. Mr. Bush appears to be unique in this regard, for either he lacks awareness that his behavior is wrong, or his contempt for the people of the United States is so absolute that he is doesn’t care that we see him offering bribes.

Naturally, when corrupt politicians are discussed Bill and Hillary Clinton cannot be ignored: Whitewater; cattle futures; Travelgate; Vince Foster; pardons for Susan McDougal, Puerto Rican terrorists, and Marc Rich; questioning the meaning of the word “is.” We also cannot forget that for eight years prior to September 11, while Moslem terrorists escalated their attacks against the United States these co-Presidents successfully schemed to avoid dealing with terrorism by sweeping it under the rug for their successor. These are the two who paved the way for September 11 by their refusal to respond with sufficient force to the numerous terrorist acts that occurred during their presidency: the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, the embassy bombings, the Mogadishu atrocities, the bombing of the USS Cole, etc. By their inaction they encouraged and permitted the growth of the power of binLadin. Ultimately, the greatest responsibility for September 11 lies not with Bush but with the Clintons.

Yet it is George Bush who has been in office for six years after the murders of 3000 on 9/11. It is he who has been president since then as crimes by illegals have killed thousands more. It is possible to excuse the inaction of the Clintons as opportunistic passing of the buck to their successor in the White House. But George Bush cannot claim that excuse. The resulting damage was obvious for all to see. He cannot claim ignorance. He cannot avoid his guilt. Yet, he marches on, completely dismissing the blood that is spilled and the pain that results from his refusal to act.

It is useless to speculate about “why” he permits these crimes. So to those who continue to wonder, my advice is: don’t waste another moment of thought on the matter. Use your energy to contact your members of Congress, your governor, state legislators. Then contact them again, and then again. Educate your friends and enlist them in the cause of immigration reform.

Elected officials do respond to pressure from constituents. You have power, but only if you use it by communicating repeatedly with them. The richly funded campaigns of LaRaza, Chamber of Commerce, Ford Foundation, bankers, lawyers, et al., to open our borders succeed precisely because they make themselves heard while others remain silent. Your silence in the face of their campaigns is as powerful an ally of the open borders lobby as the open borders lobbyists themselves. So, make yourselves heard. You have a voice. Use it.

FamilySecurityMatters.org Contributing Editor Peter Gadiel is the president of 9/11 Families for a Secure America. He is a lifelong Republican who voted for George Bush in 2000.

And puhleeeeze don't anyone say he could do it if he wanted...or it's back to Civics 101 for you. And yes, what y'all call the amnesty bill was a farce, but the fence issue is being held up by the Dems, Bush signed the bill approving the fence and also gave Chertoff permission to waive environmental regulations that were also holding it up. Yes,...let's DO put the blame where it belongs...on Congress.

First DHS has more than a billion dollars to build the fence. I don't see the WH or Chertoff demanding more money for the fence or the President using the bully pulpit to urge Congress to provide whatever funding is required to get our borders secured asap. The national guard boost was just a photo op. There is no sense of urgency. Chertoff mentioned recently that we won't have the border secured until 2013.

Last year, when we had a Rep controlled Congress, the House passed an enforcement first bill, H R 4437, but the WH walked away from it. Sensenbrenner: Bush Turned Back on Bill --We worked very closely with White House in the fall in putting together the border security bill that the House passed," he said. "... What we heard in November and December, he seems to be going in the opposite direction in May. That is really at the crux of this irritation," he said of Bush.

The point is that the WH doesn't favor the fence and has held it hostage to comprehensive immigration reform. There is no reason for such linkage, especially after 9/11. You can make all the excuses you want for Bush, but the buck stops in the WH.

>>Border bots<<

You mean the American people?

>>are opposed to border enforcement. We saw that in their defeat of the most recent immigation bill.<<

Are you that easily deceived? When they saw that we actually read the bill and saw corrupt senators killing amendments such as Cornyn’s amendment that would have excluded gang members and criminals from amnesty, Bush and Chertoff hastily offered $4.4 billion, supposedly for “enforcement.” Now that amnesty has been defeated, they are not interested in asking congress for enforcement money.

Bush and many senators have been shameless in the amnesty debacle.

As usual, I urge border bots to focus on influencing the current process. Bush is not running in 2008— so you will not have to feel betrayed— which is a silly assertion often made.

Border bots? How about national security? Do you comprehend how secure borders [including tracking and deporting visa overstays] figure into our national security? Did we learn anything from 9/11?

FBI's Mueller: Hezbollah Busted in Mexican Smuggling Operation

Illegals from terrorist nations are crossing the border into Arizona.

Myrick gave as a reason for proposing the bill the recent capture of three al Qaeda terrorists at the U.S.-Mexico border.

(And it's not like he's breaking any campaign promise to seal the borders.)

What he "broke" was much more than a campaign promise. He violated his oath of office to protect America from invasion.

There is absolutely no excuse for what he has knowingly and willingly done to this country. He has not only allowed invasion, he has actually encouraged it!

He has ruined every chance he had to make his legacy great.

1) Most illegals were here before GWB took office. 8.4 million in 2000.
And there are over 20 million today. That means 12 million have come since then.

2) GWB’s position was always comprehensive reform. He was elected President with that position. Bitching about his beliefs now is more than a little lame. Seems like this guy would prefer a flip-flopper to a man that tells the truth.
We were scammed. Governor Geroge Bush did not mention immigration prior to getting the nomination. He was the supposed conservative candidate annointed by the media and elites. Suddenly, at the RNC convention in Philadelphia, he morphed into Jorge Arbusto and gave a speech were he proclaimed that his nomination was the signal that the HOP had chosen to transform America into a Latin American nation.

We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture.

Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende.

For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America.

As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico.
George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000.

That was a subterfuge of Democracy and treason to the Republic.
Some of us voted for Buchanan, despite hating many of his policies. Others held their noses and voted against Gore. I don't know anyone who voted for Arbusto's New America.

“No matter how lax prior administrations were, or how individuals around those administrations may have benefited from illegal immigration:
it has been Jorge’s promises and alliances with mexican presidents and mexican interests that have opened the gates as wide as they are today.

It is Jorge who is responsible for the illegal problem metastasizing out of the border states and into previously unmolested states and small towns all over the USA.

It is this president, who most of us voted for twice, who not only refuses to allow the modest remedies already on the books, but who arrogantly tries to force a free pass for 20 million (plus) criminals in our society.

Sorry, but there is no one else deserving of the blame for our living, today, at a national crisis point.”

I reposted, because it is well written, and the Gospel truth!!

3) After 9/11, GWB had more important things to do than chase down Mexicans.
It was alsays his responsiility to do his job. It was his moment to live up to his responsibility and ask for the necessary resources.
Also I would note that some of the 9-11 hijaakers had benefited from the culture of illegality created by said "mexicans" and we don't know how amny "TM's have come from the southern border.

4) GWB has stepped up enforcement, the number of BP, and the amount of barriers. Border crossings were down last year. That is more than anyone since Eisenhower (with Operation Wetback) has done. Once the Republican congress forced him to do something, 5 years late!

5) In 2004, 1.4 million law enforcement officers effected 14 million arrests. You do the math on how many it would take to get 12-20 million illegals off the street even if the cities and states would cooperate.
Heard of the IRS and employee sanctions?

6) If illegals commit a violent crime, they are still subject to arrest and conviction. What has illegal got to do with it? We’ve had a war on drugs for forty years....is it GWB’s fault everytime someone OD’s?
LOL. We don 't deport more than a handful of criminal aliens. Stop lying.

7) Violent crime is down, employment is up, the economy is booming. We have not had a terror attack since 9/11. Where is the damage to this country other than in this guy’s own mind.
A. Violent crime is up again.
B. We heave had plenty of attacks by Islamists since 9-11. There was the LA airline counter, the Seattle Jewish Center, the Anthrax letters, and the DC Sniper. And in case you have conveniently forgotten at least of the DC Snipers was an illegal alien! For all the border rhetoric I have seen the last two years, NOTHING has been accomplished but putting Dems back in power. We won’t even be able to identify illegals till at least 2009 now. That’s really good for security, isn’t it?
The failure to do anything about the border has created new Democrat controlled congressional districts and thanks to rampant voter fraud has allowed them to cheat their way into victory in a few races.

Bush signed the Partnership for Prosperity in September 2001, before the WoT began.

The one sure fire way to expand an economy is to expand the gross number of people. Remember that Bush inherited a poor economy, so it was imperative to open up all channels of investment - including illegal immigration. Once 9/11 occurred, they simply accelerated the process by essentially turning a blind eye to the border.

I understand why Bush did what he did. I disagree with his tactics, and think the US will have to deal with the results of his misguided policies generations after the WoT is over.

You’ve got some nerve! How dare you! Illegals are absolutely ruining peoples lives. They are invading and we have to pick up our lives and move because everywhere they go they destroy. I have lived in my community for 14 years. When my oldest started school there were 596 students, he is 16. My youngest is 10, each year they lose more and more playground space because of the trailers. In the past 5 years they have taken one of our elementary schools which was a National School of Excellence and bankrupt it. The crime and the gangs are invading fast. They have had to close a park a town over because of the attacks. The initiation into the gang is rape. We now have to hire police to ride around our park while the kids are playing Little League because of the LATINO gangs. They cram 5 families into a 3 bedroom house and park their 6 vehicles on the front lawn. This year the school system sent a bunch of teachers to Mexico so they can learn the culture to teach the illegal kids. Wouldn’t that money be better spent on our kids, hell, it’s my freaking money. I have to buy enough school supplies for an entire classroom, my son cannot put his name on anything because I have to compensate for the illegals. If my child’s lunch account is overdrawn by 50 cents he gets peanut butter and jelly and water for lunch, if he were mexican he’d doesn’t pay for lunch or breakfast. I have to pay for my kids healthcare and dental visits, the Mexican’s don’t. We are moving, far out, it will now be a hardship on my husband because of commute time, but my town is being invaded. But I guess that’s just too damn bad for me, I’m a citizen, I’m not one of the protected class. Oh and by the way, everyday it gets worse and worse.

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