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Dem Congress may scrap border fence
By SHAUN WATERMAN
UPI Homeland and National Security Editor
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- The incoming U.S. Congress will review the law mandating 700 miles of fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, and may seek to scrap the plan altogether.
Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., told reporters this week that he expected to "re-visit" the issue when he becomes chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee in the 110th Congress, which has a Democratic Party majority.
He said that the high technology Secure Border Initiative, or SBI Net -- essentially a set of monitors, cameras and other integrated surveillance systems to monitor the border -- was a viable alternative.
"We might do away with it, or look at (integrating it into) SBI Net," he said, "A virtual fence rather than a real one."
The Secure Fence Act, one of the laws passed by the GOP-controlled Congress in a pre-election flurry of border security legislation, mandates 700 miles of fencing in five sections, and defines where on the 1,951-mile southern border they should go.
As a result, some administration officials view it as an example of congressional micro-management, and might welcome changes that gave them more flexibility.
Department of Homeland Security Spokesman Russ Knocke told United Press International that in remote border areas, "virtual fencing ... is more advantageous," whereas "traditional fencing has a core role in our border security strategy ... especially in urban areas."
"We're optimistic that working with Congress we'll get the flexibility to integrate traditional fencing into a seamless, high-tech border security system," Knocke said.
Im sure they will find ways to waste it elsewhere but one can hope can't we.
Or the money we will save when withdraw from the War on Poverty or the War on Drugs or the War on Education. Those wars make Iraq seem like a piggy bank by comparison.
Not even close... Iraq is what's screwing up the national debt and giving China ridiculous amounts of power over us.
But better to use money to kill people than help someone, eh? Besides, it's the puritans who like the war on drugs. As for educating people... yeah... keep 'em ignorant and only let 'em read one book, huh?
And let's not forget about the "bridge to nowhere" and all the rest of the perks you guys gave yourselves.
War on Drugs has cost us close to $300 Billion
Iraq War has cost $150 Billion.
When are we going to pull out of those other wars first?
I think the only good thing that can come from Democrats in power is the country will be reminded just how corrupt and idiotic democratic policies are, especially in the post 9/11 world. Lets just hope the Dems show enough of their true selves before the next election.
Actually, the War On Drugs estimated costs are nearly 100 Billion a *year*. This is including the costs of incarceration (with the highest prison population in the world, of which a very large percentage is due to drug possession).
I personally think the War On Some Drugs is the biggest misuse of public funds, and the hugest public policy failure of the last several decades.
CL
I think the only good thing that can come from Democrats in power is the country will be reminded just how corrupt and idiotic democratic policies are, especially in the post 9/11 world.
Would you prefer communist policies?:bat:
