Our 'Do as I say, not as I do' govenment

On February 1, 2008 a report was delivered to Congress by Jeremy M. Sharp, Specialist Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division regarding the border. According to the report, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert Danin and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mark Kimmitt recommended several solutions to diffuse tensions on both sides.
The report called for the United States to provide sophisticated tunnel-detection and demolition equipment, such as unmanned ground vehicles and acoustic sensors, to improve tunnel detection capability. They recommend we establish a security commission that would deal with all the issues related to the border such as weapons smuggling, border crossings by terrorists and general border control.
The report also called for a new physical barrier to be erected with piles driven deep into the earth and to construct a canal along the border. With the recent U.S. pledge to re-allocate $23 million for new equipment and training, the two U.S. officials believed the record on destroying tunnels should improve.
This all sounded like good news until I realized the report wasn’t about any American border. This is what the United States is recommending (and partially funding) for the border between Egypt and Gaza.
Talk about, “Do as I say, not as I do!” This must be the new motto for the State Department.
A few days later, on Feb. 11, Reuters reports the United States has offered to provide up to $20 million worth of radar and surveillance equipment to guard another porous border. The U.S. would help establish a coastal watch network to tighten maritime borders. The U.S. has already spent about $500 million and deployed 500 troops to train against Muslim militants and smugglers. All this was for the Philippines’ border.
Seems the United States believes the military must have some effectiveness guarding borders, yet we are unwilling to use our military to guard our own. In fact, Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel on ABC’s “This Week” says, "I think we have to be very careful here. That's not the role of our National Guard."
Meanwhile, Guatemala plans on sending hundreds of troops to its Mexican border to put a stop to the growing violence associated with drug trafficking. I wonder why President Bush would suggest using 1.4 billion American taxpayer dollars in part to send Guatemala troops to the Mexico-Guatemala border, but refuses to put American troops on the Mexico-United States border?
Do we even want to bring up the American military presence guarding the South Korean border since the late 1950s? Is there any wonder why the American people are so frustrated with their “Do as I say, not as I do” government?
Apparently it is appropriate for the United States to use or suggest to use military troops to guard borders in Bosnia, Egypt, Gaza, The Philippines, Korea, Afghanistan, Guatemala, but not here.
In 1986 after President Reagan’s amnesty bill, U.S. Congress told the American people they would stop illegal immigration by securing the border. That’s only 22 years ago. Twenty-two years of basically doing nothing, except paying for and telling the rest of the world the best way to guard their borders.
Some folks may believe Congress is just slow to get around, and things like this take time. Others may suggest it is just another glaring example of the politicians being dishonest with the American people.
Could it be that the U.S. military would do too good a job? Could it be that they would be too effective in stopping illegal immigration? Could it be that the U.S. Government does not really want to stop illegal immigration from Mexico? After 22 years I think we could come to that conclusion.
The solution to all this is simple. Wait until Congress returns to session after the August recess. Use the U.S. Military to surround I-495, the outside beltway that borders Washington D.C., and protect the American people from these politicians.
At least the illegal immigrants that cross into America seek honest work.
Contact — greg.awtry@yorknewstimes.com