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Again I repeat the kind of thing that Americans don't apparently understand: If today there were an emergency threat at the Canadian border and the President wanted to relocate thousands of INS and border patrol personnel, he could not because of collective bargaining agreements.

Did it ever occur to you that some of us people "just don't believe it"...

How would you like to be relocated across the country, without your family at the drop of the hat??? And besides, I have a feeling that inside one of those "Presidential Executive Orders" lies buried the authority to supercede any bargaining contract...Fact is, I know it's there...

The President has the use of the military and the National Guard to protect the borders if he feels an emergency has arisen...Apparently thousands of potential terrorists already crossing the borders doesen't phase George or the National Guard would already have been posted there...

I am still a long way from being convinced that this "Homeland Security" plan has any merit at all...

Yes, I'm sure there are people who don't believe it. I recommend you pick up the phone and speak to Sally Canfield, Director, Policy and Plans, Office of Homeland Security. I think you'll find that those agreements do not have such flexibility. And, I suppose there are many who don't believe that it takes 30-60 days to hire a new security worker and anywhere from 12-18 months to fire an incompetent.

I'll bet you cheered the fact that 2 airline pilots who show up drunk for work are canned within 48 hours. You, however, don't want the same for a federal employee directly impacting on national security who shows up in the same condition.

As for those who wouldn't be relocated in an emergency situation or otherwise "put out"....tell it to the FDNY workers who put in 16 hour days the weeks after 9/11.

You go ahead and sit in the Gore/Daschle camp. I'm sure you'll be quite proud of yourself when your community water supply is poisoned.