Posted on 11/07/2002 10:38:31 PM PST by kattracks
Soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., shook up the homeland security debate Thursday afternoon by saying his supported deploying the U.S. military to guard America's borders.
Lott dropped the border bombshell during an interview with Fox News Channel host Bill O'Reilly on O'Reilly's nationally syndicated "Radio Factor" program.
O'REILLY: Why not back up the Border Patrol with military, whether it's National Guard or straight troops - why not do it?
LOTT: Well, I think we should do it. And I would be for....
O'REILLY: Do you really?
LOTT: Oh, absolutely.
O'REILLY: You're the first politician I've heard....
LOTT: Well, look. Most politicians run around worried about civil libertarians and being sued by the ACLU. This is not only a porous border in terms of illegal aliens. It's also a porous border in terms of crime and drugs. (End of Excerpt)
O'Reilly noted later on his TV broadcast that 79 percent of Americans told a recent Fox News survey that they supported military deployment along U.S. borders, though leaders on both sides of the political fence - including President Bush - oppose the idea.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
The military should have plans for responding to a military intrusion; nothing else. We should be investing in military technology to defend our borders not troops.
The military are for protecting our country in whatever way she must be protected. At this time in our history, with the enemy infiltrating our society daily, I think we need to rearrange our thinking re: what kind of protection is required. We no longer have a "battlefield" type of war to fight. This is a war on our own soil, against people who sneak themselves and possibly weapons of all kinds into our country through the open borders/ineffective customs serches etc. (Or, for maximum covert status, they just come here and enroll at a flight school). We must be aware of who is entering our country, for what purpose, where they will be, and when they are leaving. (And if they actually left!)
Flame away.
No flames from me. We share the same goal; we just disagree about the means to achieve that goal.
It's their mandate and their duty. Would you rather have citizens do it? That effort appears to be underway right now in Arizona and Texas.
Falser than usual, Tannochio.
I don't know. What do you think is going to happen, and what does it have to do with solving our illegal immigration problem?
How about some offering us some debate on the isssue?
For example, what would President PRND21 do about illegal immigration?
It was in response to name calling, try reading the quote.
For example, what would President PRND21 do about illegal immigration?
Enforce the law. Not use it as a campaign issue.
btw- Reagan did something...amnesty.
Would you give amnesty to those illegals who are dealing in stolen Social Security numbers and other fraudulent documents? Would you give amnesty to those working for the Mexican drug cartels? Or those committing Medicaid fraud?
We've through this 100 times, but I'll ask it once more...if Reagan were President today do you think he'd make that same mistake again? Because we did it once doesn't mean we keep doing it. Especially since it's proven itself to do nothing but encourage more illegal immigration.
Enforce the law.
Then what's the problem? This is exactly what most of us are saying on these threads. Close the borders and enforce the laws.
Woops, I forgot a word, silly me...We've been through this 100 times. Whatever, I look forward to your answer since you keep bringing Reagan up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.