September 18, 2004

Homeland Security making "extraordinary progress"

That's according to our borders czar, Asa Hutchinson:

Hutchinson also gave a lukewarm response to last week's report by the ranking member on the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. Rep. Jim Turner, D-Texas, who says the border needs a $1 billion infrastructure investment fund and a doubling of law enforcement on the U.S.-Mexico border. Turner also said there is need to screen all cargo trucks for weapons of mass destruction.

"The country is fighting a war against terror, but nowhere is the gap between rhetoric and reality greater than on our southern border," Turner said.

Hutchinson said the report "failed to recognize the extraordinary progress that has been made under Homeland Security."

"We recognize that more needs to be done, but we don't want simply to, for example, double the number of Border Patrol agents without looking at what technologies can be used," he said.

If you haven't already, you might now want to read this interview with Hutchinson: "Rounding up all illegals 'not realistic'"

Posted to Immigration2004 at September 18, 2004 01:38 PM

Comments

That is a correct observation; that our policy is aggressive and warlike at the locations thousands of miles overseas, while the southern border shows a defeatist or capitulationist practice. This contradiction of rhetoric will resolve as the terrorists read the white flags we fly towards the south, and not be greatly intimidated by the battle flags we wave over the mideast. One might wonder also, if these democratic politicians and major media organs, aren't sliding into position to denounce the administration for fatalistically allowing terrorist infiltration. They've got the border defender-in-chief saying he doesn't want more money for such defense, or implying that.

Posted by: John S Bolton at September 18, 2004 02:19 PM