Nope:
Heeding conservative demands to shore up the southern U.S. border to prevent illegal immigrants from freely crossing into the country, the Senate voted Wednesday to build 370 miles of triple-layered fence.Personally, I applaud this decision, though I am skeptical whether it will accomplish anything on a 2,000-mile border. What it is most likely to accomplish is to make it easier for the 18,000 US Border Patrol and (now) National Guardsmen to actually accomplish anything. I haven't read anything about the costs, but I would guess they are somewhat offset by the increased capacity of those guarding the border.
Senators voted 83-16 to add fencing and 500 miles of vehicle barriers along the southern border.
Construction of the barrier would send "a signal that open-border days are over. ... Good fences make good neighbors, fences don't make bad neighbors," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. He said border areas where barriers already exist have experienced economic improvement and reduced crime.
It is nice to see that the US is working to secure the border in order to ensure that whatever solution they do come up with does not last for just a short period of time. Many of the proposals are good ones, provided that they never need to be done again. Perhaps the government will even choose a proposal similar to the one Nephtuli proposed a few weeks ago.
Back to the title, however... It is very interesting to see the United States building a fence, just a short time after complaining about the fence that Israel was building. Granted, the automatic response will be "There are different issues in Israel", but many claimed that a fence would do nothing in regards to stopping terrorists from getting into Israel. Perhaps they've finally realized that - while not foolproof - a fence dramatically cuts down on the entry points available to those you want to keep out.
What about the dreck already in the US?
ReplyDeleteCheck the article. Lots of proposals...
ReplyDeleteWhile you are correct that a fence cuts down on entry points, once the Israeli Fence is complete, Israel will be in a lot of danger, strategically. Meaning, just like Israel has now, if the US were to have an incomplete fence, they would have a lot of strategic advantages over their "enemy" (in quotations because Mexican illegals aren't really an enemy). They would creat bottle-necks, therefore making points of entry predictible. Complete fence, and you have no strategic depth and no offenisive manuevering on the other side. The Mexicans, as well as the Palestinians, have concocted numerous ingenious methods in order to get across the fence. A complete fence will only make them smarter and the collective us more vulnerable. As in Israel, I hope the US never decides to make a complete fence.
ReplyDelete-OC
I both agree and disagree. While it does force those on the other side trying to get over to become smarter and it becomes less predictable, it still cuts down overall on people getting over - particularly if the security is set up properly.
ReplyDeletewell, at least only the smarter ones will be able to get it. who wants the dumb ones anwyay?!
ReplyDeleteMordy S - LOL
ReplyDeleteEzzie, take a look at the situation on the Lebanese border, and you'll understand what I mean. I'm researching this very subject right now. Defensive and fixed/static positions have historically been proven to be disastrous. Take a look at the Bar-Lev Line of 1973. I have several other examples that I can give you. Granted, the US border fence would be used for different purposes, when you are placed in a defensive position with no offensive capabilities. Meaning, that static position becomes your first line of defense instead of a supplamentary position or last line of defense. That's very very bad. That also means that it is impossible to set up "proper" security.
ReplyDelete-OC
But that's the point: The US border fence is not to protect against an invasion, but to keep regular people from crossing the border easily. For that purpose, it can be effective.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, OK, I wanted to make sure what you were talking about. In a sense, the US is trying to protect against invasion. I agree, though. Why? Because like Israel has now (and, G-d willing, against Olmert's plan, it will stay that way), the fence will become a supplamentary tool to the bigger arsenal that the US will be employing to stop immigration. That's the bottom line. As long as the US, as well as Israel, utylize the fence as one tool instead of a source of dependence, the fence will be a great thing. However, if the fence transforms into the first line of defense against illegals, the US will be back at square 1.
ReplyDelete-OC
I don't disagree...
ReplyDelete