Border Security follies

[CARLHAYDEN]

The Bush administration has a long record of opposing border security.

When Congress ordered them to implement a border fence, the Bushies came up with a "virtual fence," which has been ineffective (surprise) at providing border security.

Now, finally, someone has pointed out that the "virtual fence" doesn't meet the requirements of the secure fence act.

For once, thanks to the ecofreaks, who are protecting America from a fraud.
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Interior Dept. hasn't given its required OK to use land for border surveillance towers
By Brady McCombs
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.19.2008

Work on "virtual fences" planned for Arizona's stretch of the U.S.-Mexican border has been brought to a halt.

The Interior Department has not granted the Homeland Security Department permission to use the land for constructing the surveillance towers that form the backbone of the virtual fences, said Barry Morrissey, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C.

Without authorization to use the land, no work could begin, which prompted agency officials to instruct the lead contractor on the project, Boeing Co., to suspend activities until further notice, Morrissey said.

The agency has until the end of the calendar year to construct the remaining 332 miles of primary fencing and vehicle barriers to meet the mandate of 670 miles of primary fencing and vehicle barriers established by the Secure Fence Act of 2006. Through last Wednesday, the agency had completed 338 miles.

The decision to suspend work stems from the Interior Department's decision not to sign off on Homeland Security's proposed finding of no significant impact in the environmental assessment for the Tucson West project, Morrissey said.

The surveillance towers are not covered by a waiver created in the 2005 Real ID Act, which allows Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to waive border projects' compliance with federal regulations, said Matt Clark, Southwest representative of Defenders of Wildlife, a group that works to protect endangered species.

Homeland Security is being forced to go through National Environmental Policy Act steps, which in this case require the approval of the Interior Department, Clark said. "If that wasn't the case, trust me, they wouldn't be doing this environmental assessment," he said.
Chertoff has invoked the waiver four times in the past three years to move forward with fence projects, including three times in Arizona.

[dead0man]

I blame the Democrats for nominating a douchebag in 2004.  If they had nominated somebody that was electable we could be blaming him now for the same sh**t.

[Cubby]

I blame the Democrats for nominating a douchebag in 2004.  If they had nominated somebody that was electable we could be blaming him now for the same sh**t.

He was electable. But the voting booths were infested with Evangelicals that day thanks to Karl Rove.

[dead0man]

A better candidate could have beaten Bush, period.  You can blame Rove and the Fundies all you want, but if you guys had a decent candidate you would have ran away with it.

[Chief Justice PiT]

A better candidate could have beaten Bush, period.  You can blame Rove and the Fundies all you want, but if you guys had a decent candidate you would have ran away with it.

     Yeah, Kerry got the bare minimum any sane Democrat could get. If the Dems had nominated Clark, they would have won easily.

[NDN]

A better candidate could have beaten Bush, period.  You can blame Rove and the Fundies all you want, but if you guys had a decent candidate you would have ran away with it.

     Yeah, Kerry got the bare minimum any sane Democrat could get. If the Dems had nominated Clark, they would have won easily.

Totally agree. Hell, if Dean had played his cards right we'd probably be talking about his eminent re-election right now.

[War on Want]

A better candidate could have beaten Bush, period.  You can blame Rove and the Fundies all you want, but if you guys had a decent candidate you would have ran away with it.

     Yeah, Kerry got the bare minimum any sane Democrat could get. If the Dems had nominated Clark, they would have won easily.

Totally agree. Hell, if Dean had played his cards right we'd probably be talking about his eminent re-election right now.

There are so many reasons why this is wrong but I'll let it pass because I too am pissed we didn't nominate Gephardt, or Dean.

[HardRCafé]

Totally agree. Hell, if Dean had played his cards right we'd probably be talking about his eminent re-election right now.

PiT did specify any sane Democrat.

[Chiahead]

It was more like the American people didn't want lurch to be their representative.  Who was John Kerry really, I don't think he even knew after the election was over.

I blame the Democrats for nominating a douchebag in 2004.  If they had nominated somebody that was electable we could be blaming him now for the same sh**t.

He was electable. But the voting booths were infested with Evangelicals that day thanks to Karl Rove.