Obama to send 1,200 troops to US-Mexico border
 

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will send 1,200 National Guard troops to boost security along the U.S.-Mexico border, officials said Tuesday, pre-empting Republican plans to try to force votes on such a deployment.
Obama will also request $500 million for border protection and law enforcement activities, according to lawmakers and administration officials. The moves come as chances for action on comprehensive immigration reform, Obama's long-stated goal, look increasingly small in this election year. But Obama is under pressure to do something with the issue front and center after Arizona's passage of a tough crackdown law.
The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, analysis and training, and support efforts to block drug trafficking. They will temporarily supplement border patrol agents until Customs and Border Protection can recruit and train additional officers and agents to serve on the border, an administration official said.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of a public announcement, disclosed the plans shortly after Obama met at the Capitol with Republican senators who pressed him on immigration issues including the question of sending National Guard troops to the border.
Arizona Republican Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl have been urging such a move, and Republicans planned to try to require it as an amendment to a pending war spending bill.
In a speech Tuesday on the Senate floor, McCain said the situation on the U.S.-Mexico border has "greatly deteriorated." He called for 6,000 National Guard troops to be sent, and he asked for $250 million more to pay for them.


Obama to send 1,200 troops to US-Mexico border - Yahoo! News

Not surprisingly, McCain says it is not enough.

I say it is too much. Open the boarders and let everything reach its natural equilibrium. If you choose to live and work in the US then you pay US taxes and abide by US laws. If you choose to live and work in Mexico then you pay Mexican taxes and abide my Mexican laws. Why put up artificial barriers? Who benefits from this arrangement?

Why put up artificial barriers? Who benefits from this arrangement?
Answer? Those who have an interest in sovereignty to begin with, and those
who are interested in having a cheap labor force.

The real questions might be why doesn't Mexico demonstrate some
initiative and employ it's citizens? Develop some industry, end the
corruption, and catch up with the rest of the industrial world.

Wow, have you ever been to Mexico, I have no desire to lower my standards to match our southern friends.
I've become fond of indoor plumbing but thats just me:D

And who exactly should be demonstrating this so-called initiative? The Mexican government? I happen to believe in free enterprise and the human spirit. Get the government out of the way and let individuals drive the forward progress. Unless there becomes an unbalanced monopoly of power, let the free market decide the outcome.

I've read what you linked us to. Now tell me in your own words what your position is. :stickpoke

As a matter of fact I have. And I seem to recall that at some point in history the US was lacking in things we now take for granted, such as indoor plumbing. Does that make the citizens of Mexico a lesser class then those that were born and raised in the Midwest? Why do we need to lower our standards? What is so wrong with helping them raise theirs?

(wow, am I starting to sound like a Democrat or what? I really do need to stop hanging out with Kaefer)

First of all the link I posted was news off the wire so don't shoot the messenger.

My position is simple. I completely understand how
people want to improve their lives and I'm in favor of anyone
legally meeting that goal.

That being said if free enterprise and the human spirit is the driving
force then where's the so called free enterprise and human spirit
demonstrating itself in Mexico? Why do people need to leave Mexico
come to America and steal my social security number to get a job?

Who exactly should be demonstrating this so-called initiative?
How about the citizens of Mexico. And yes the Mexican government.
Governments are in position to run countries and provide not only
laws and standards for it's citizens but they should also help their citizens
to foster economic growth. Without government what you end up with is
anarchy.

So I ask you, what forward progress is mexico demonstrating that
the mexican government should get out of the way of?
What final goods and services made within the borders of the country
in a year can be positively correlated with the standard of living they have.

I don't believe people would leave a country in droves if the
free enterprise and the human spirit thing was making any progress.

Instead it appears that it's the drug wars, the illegal unauthorized police
checkpoints, a culture of corruption, and the refusal of the
Mexican government to put a stop to any of these activities that could be the problem.
I also believe there is an unbalanced monopoly of power being demonstrated

Marko Cortés, a senator from Mexico’s National Action Party (PAN), argued that the laws fostering competition in Mexico do exist, but that they are not implemented effectively. He noted that Mexico lacks the constitutional and judicial foundation to sustain those laws. It is also important, he stated, to generate laws that protect those who will continue to invest in Mexico’s economy. He mentioned that Mexican senators are proposing laws against that prevent the consolidation of monopolistic powers. What Keeps Holding the Mexican Economy Back? A Discussion on Competition and Consumers

You're scaring me J! :eek:

Mexico has no interest in doing anything to retain those who would cross into the US illegally. They are not Mexico's best and brightest and are only leaving Mexico because they have no place in their economy. Mexico tacitly allows and even encourages it because those illegals send back billions of dollars to Mexico. It is in Mexico's best interest to have illegal immigration into the US.

How do you propose helping them raise their standards?
Are you saying they are not aware of higher standards
and need to be shown how make progress?

Mexico is our neighbor. Enough of them have been here
to see what works in order to increase their standard of living.
So the question is... Why don't they step up and make
it happen? What's preventing them from making progress?