We've had a coupla gunfights here in Arizona, admittedly on their side of the border.
I'm here to tell ya, if my a$$ were on the line, I'd be armed.
We've had a coupla gunfights here in Arizona, admittedly on their side of the border.
I'm here to tell ya, if my a$$ were on the line, I'd be armed.
If the writer of this memo believes those are the facts he is dillusional and needs serious help. Here is the pertainent part of a post from late last year strongly suggesting only a fool would go unarmed on our southern boarder:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [San Diego, CA]-Shortly after noon on October 24, 2000, two U.S. Border Patrol agents patrolling the international border between the United States and Mexico were shot at by ten men dressed in military-style uniforms with tactical vests and carrying high-powered military rifles with bayonets.
The incident occurred in Copper Canyon, about eight miles east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
Almost immediately after the agents disembarked from a clearly marked Border Patrol helicopter, the soldiers fired approximately eight shots at them from Mexico. The agents took cover in thick brush and identified themselves in Spanish as Border Patrol agents, but were nonetheless pursued by some of the soldiers, who entered the United States by crossing a well-maintained barbed-wire fence.
The other Mexican soldiers set up two sniper positions, one in Mexico and the other in the United States. The soldiers searched the area, pointing their weapons in the direction of the Border Patrol agents and ordering them in Spanish to come out of the brush. The agents did not comply, but instead identified themselves again and told the soldiers to return to Mexico.
Once other Border Patrol agents neared the scene, the soldiers retreated to Mexico and drove off in a minivan.
This is the second confirmed incident this year in which Border Patrol agents have been shot at by the Mexican military. The other occurred on March 14 in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. As in the previous incident, disaster in this case was averted only through the exemplary professionalism, courage and restraint of the involved Border Patrol agents.
Local 1613 of the National Border Patrol Council, which represents over 2,100 Border Patrol employees in the San Diego area, is seeking immediate action by the governments of both nations to ensure that incursions and acts of aggression by the Mexican military cease and desist before a tragedy occurs.
For further information, contact L. Keith Weeks, Local 1613 Vice-President, at (909) 600-2566. The freerepublic link is http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39fab4e86461.htm
Agents say the decision to disarm unilaterally puts them at a disadvantage against heavily armed adversaries. They blame some lawmakers in Washington who they say think M-16s and automatic pistols look mean.
It looks like we've achieved our goal of being a kinder, stupider nation.
Is this a joke?
The enlisted personel posted as security on the deck of the USS Cole in Aden, reportedly had M-16's but no ammunition. I think that this practice is dereliction of duty on part of the OD in charge; that is to "appear armed", but in fact be unarmed. The Captain of the Cole should have been court martialed.
This is the type of policy that lost Viet Nam. This is a mistrust of the troops in harms way that they might get trigger happy and ruin an officers career. There is no honor for a commander in a policy such as this. If a superior does not trust the soldier, put a supervising NCO or Duty Officer with the armed detail.
As a "Buck" Sgt. I told a captain that I would rather go to the stockade than mount guard with arms and no ammunition. I got the ammo and so did my squad.
I would like to see the UCMJ address this situation that to seem armed and not be armed, is unlawful.