US begins air patrols south of Prairie borders.

[Cheese]

U.S. Department of Homeland Security opened its third air surveillance base focused on the Canadian border on Monday, eroding claims the shared border is the longest undefended one in the world.
The Great Falls Air Branch in Montana will patrol the border that Alberta and Saskatchewan share with Montana and North Dakota. When fully staffed, the operation run by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol is expected to consist of 52 federal law enforcement officers, pilots, aircrew and support personnel.


Not the Rat Patrol



So what in the heck are you Albertans doing to get the Dept of Homeland Security so upset?

[Table 5]

the guys will have about as much work to do as the maytag repairman. talk about a great way of wasting millions.

[calculoso]

Don't you know? All the BC Bud (etc) can't go through the BC/US border, so it comes farther east...

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Cheese

So what in the heck are you Albertans doing to get the Dept of Homeland Security so upset?

I admit it. I smuggled in two oranges the last time I drove to the states. . .

[SeeGeeWhy]

Maybe it has something to do with all of the jihads CP runs.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Table 5

the guys will have about as much work to do as the maytag repairman. talk about a great way of wasting millions.

Maybe they can lease some air time to the Montana Dept of Fish and Wildlife. Those boys don't have enough money to do what they need to do. The airtime would be invaluable.

[icarus]

I love how the US/Canada border is claimed to be the "longest undefended border in the world". What exactly constitutes 'undefended'? Because it is always a pain in the ass to go across there, especially into the states. Meanwhile I have driven across the German/French border and all there was was a sign indicating you are now in another country. This on the border of two countries who have been at war three times in the last 140 years.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by icarus

I love how the US/Canada border is claimed to be the "longest undefended border in the world". What exactly constitutes 'undefended'? Because it is always a pain in the ass to go across there, especially into the states. Meanwhile I have driven across the German/French border and all there was was a sign indicating you are now in another country. This on the border of two countries who have been at war three times in the last 140 years.

I would guess "undefended" means non militarized border.

Ya it sucks sometimes going to the states but you are a guest in their country. As for Europe...thats why they have some many problems with immigration and illegal aliens. You can go where ever you want in Western Europe without anyone asking questions.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Don't you know? All the BC Bud (etc) can't go through the BC/US border, so it comes farther east...

That is a BIG reason. Although...I think it would still be pretty hard to catch these guys. A lot of space and if they cross by Waterton....trees for miles. It was only a couple of years ago that US Border Patrol caught something like 13 Koreans trying to sneak into the USA in Waterton Park.

There is a place in Southern AB called whiskey gap. Between Del Bonita and Carway that people can just drive across. Lots of weapons smuggling.

Not sure if your aware of this but the US has remote sensors placed along the border that will sound an alarm (and in some cases cameras) if there is movement near by. The US border Patrol office in Havard Montana monitors it.

[RougeUnderoos]

The Herald story had a couple great quotes:

"It only takes one getting through to create havoc" -- Dennis Reinberg, Montana's Republican representative

"We would be concerned with somebody coming through Canada and crossing the border undetected with a weapon of mass destruction"-- Michael Kostelnik, Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine assistant commissioner

I have to wonder if these guys actually believe this hype or they are just towing the company line.

This strict "surveillance" approach has worked brilliantly on the Mexico border.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

This strict "surveillance" approach has worked brilliantly on the Mexico border.

It's not that the surveillance is not working on the Mexican border...it's the fact that US Border Patrol doesn't have the resources to stop the huge flood of illegal aliens. They klnow what is coming across, they don't have the means to stop them. And I would think no matter how much you put into a system on the Mexican Border, it would be very limited in success. Short of building the Great Wall of America, they won't be solving that problem.

But your right about the remarks they are saying. It would probably be just as easy for a terrorist to enter from Mexico as from Canada.

[Resolute 14]

Its also not like it is impossible to just build a weapon in the US itself. Mr. MicVeigh figured that one out.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

But your right about the remarks they are saying. It would probably be just as easy for a terrorist to enter from Mexico as from Canada.

That is not what I was saying. I was saying it was silly to justify all this on the idea that they'll nab one guy intent on "creating havoc" or carrying a backpack full of weapons of mass destruction. It's not a movie.

[Table 5]

maybe a six pack of kokanee is the secret ingredient you cant get anywhere but canada. i know that swill creates a weapon of mass destruction out of my ass.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Your right. Instead of them trying to pass this off as an anit-terrorist program, why not just say it is for catching criminals....because really....thats probably all they are going to find.....and a few illegal immigrants.

So far it has been the terrorists MO to actual try and get into the US in a legal maner, not some covert operation.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

This is a political issue and nothing more. An illegal can caught 44 time before being prosecuted. They get caught, put on the next tranport back to Mexico, and then released. In most instances those same people are trying to cross within 24 hours. A guy here in Arizona caught the same "illegal" three times in a 10 hour shift trying to cross at the same spot. If the legislature were serious about this issue they would put some teeth into the law. They don't, and instead elect to build a big wall, which people will still get around, over or under. This is nothing but politics.

BTW... I predict that in our lifetime that we will see a Latino President of the United States and that we may see the Southern United States become part of Mexico, or join it in new union. The Latino population is getting huge, and the voting blocks are quickly developing around the country.

[Clarkey]

They asked me if I was bringing any beef products in when I went into Montana this summer, I lied and had a big bag of longview jerky in the glove box. I wasn't giving that up!

I know the U.S. is supposedly more fiscaly conservative than Canada but you sure see a lot of silly government solutions, waste and excessive regulation there.

[jolinar of malkshor]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Lanny_MacDonald

This is a political issue and nothing more. An illegal can caught 44 time before being prosecuted. They get caught, put on the next tranport back to Mexico, and then released. In most instances those same people are trying to cross within 24 hours. A guy here in Arizona caught the same "illegal" three times in a 10 hour shift trying to cross at the same spot.

I agree

If the legislature were serious about this issue they would put some teeth into the law. They don't, and instead elect to build a big wall, which people will still get around, over or under. This is nothing but politics.

To what end? Put them all in jail? Short of building a huge barrier to help prevent them from entering so easy....the government either sends them back (in which case they will come right back) or put them all in Jail. There is no possible way they could jail that many people.

I think the first step is to build the wall.

BTW... I predict that in our lifetime that we will see a Latino President of the United States and that we may see the Southern United States become part of Mexico, or join it in new union. The Latino population is getting huge, and the voting blocks are quickly developing around the country.

I don't agree....why hasn't there been a black president or a female president? Also....don't you elect your president through votes based on the state not the number of people that actually vote for the person? There may be lots of latino's in the southern states but there are more state without. I may be wrong but isn't that how it works?

[Lanny_MacDonald]

[quote=jolinar of malkshor;597705]

To what end? Put them all in jail? Short of building a huge barrier to help prevent them from entering so easy....the government either sends them back (in which case they will come right back) or put them all in Jail. There is no possible way they could jail that many people.

That's why you have to have political support from Mexico. You have to make it so a crime committed in the United States is punishable in both countries. You get caught sneaking into the United States, you get sent to a Mexican prison.

The problem is that there is a massive gap economically in Mexico. They have no middle class. It's the haves and the have-nots. The government must do what they can to establish a way for people to make a living in Mexico and not encourage people to sneak into the United States and work illegally. But there is a reason why that political pressure doesn't happen. The United States government is raking in a massive amount of money each year from illegals paying into Social Security ($87 billion). They stem that flow, and that money disappears. As well, businesses lose a cheap form of labor. Why would the government want to deprive their partners the right to make gross profits and fill the government coffers with money that can't be used for Social Security and can be directed elsewhere?

I think the first step is to build the wall.

Dumbest idea around. How anyone in their right mind thinks this is going to work is beyond me. People will always find a way in. Jesus, the most common way for an illegal to enter the country is through legal means. They come for a visit and then just never leave. It's as simple as that, and completely gets around a wall. A wall does nothing but builds a false sense of security. It's a waste of time, money and effort. It will accomplish nothing.

I don't agree....why hasn't there been a black president or a female president? Also....don't you elect your president through votes based on the state not the number of people that actually vote for the person? There may be lots of latino's in the southern states but there are more state without. I may be wrong but isn't that how it works?

Latino communities are all over the United States, and they are growing fast. The west is dominated by the Latino block. California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Utah (!), Idaho (!), New Mexico (already has a Latino Governor), Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma already have very large Latino populations. Add in Florida, Virginia (!), Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and you have another large block of states with huge Latino populations. Latinos are quickly surpassing Blacks as the primary minority in most states. The idea that Latinos only live in the south is grossly incorrect. I was ignorant to the facts myself until I was required to look into it. It's a growing issue that is completely flying under radar. The trend is that by 2050 Latinos will be the majority in many states and closing in on the majority in America itself. People forget that Latinos are not just Mexicans. They are also Puerto Ricans, Carribeans, Latin Americans, and South Americans. They also forget that Latinos still belive in the nuclear family and are increasing their numbers quicker than any other ethic group. This is an issue that will continue to grow.

[jolinar of malkshor]

[quote=Lanny_MacDonald;597894]

Dumbest idea around. How anyone in their right mind thinks this is going to work is beyond me. People will always find a way in. Jesus, the most common way for an illegal to enter the country is through legal means. They come for a visit and then just never leave. It's as simple as that, and completely gets around a wall. A wall does nothing but builds a false sense of security. It's a waste of time, money and effort. It will accomplish nothing.

Yes...once they get in it is pretty hard to find them. But if it was so easy to get in the legal way...then people wouldn't be risking life and limb crossing the Reo. Can people get over or under a wall or fence? Yes of course...but it makes it much harder. So you either do something about it or you might aswell forget about it.

Latino communities are all over the United States, and they are growing fast. The west is dominated by the Latino block. California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Utah (!), Idaho (!), New Mexico (already has a Latino Governor), Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma already have very large Latino populations. Add in Florida, Virginia (!), Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and you have another large block of states with huge Latino populations.

What is your definition of large?

As for the southern states....it is usually a larger proportion the farther south/south west you go.