Red Dawn?
CNSNews.com reported that inquiries are being conducted about possible incursions into the United States by either regular Mexican military personnel equipped with Humvees and fifty caliber machine guns or by imposters yet similarly equipped. If the military hardware is owned by the Mexican government, then it is either stolen or rented under very loose terms, uniforms included. Moreover, the military appearing Mexican troops appear to be escorting illegal drug convoys.
I have no doubt that there are those that believe our porous southern border is hopelessly so. But, it seems more likely it is a matter of money. In the 21st century, we should be able to place satellites in geosynchronous orbit capable of monitoring our southern borders. We should be able to afford to fly squadrons of A-10 Thunderbolts, better known as Warthogs, up and down our borders from several air bases in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. If the Warthogs can find and destroy tanks, escort troops and have a range of 800 miles, coordinated with squadrons of helicopters, they could close the border, if need be. A couple of squadrons of Abrams M1A1 tanks running up and down the border on live fire training exercises might tighten things up, too. The point is deterrence. Most likely, a couple of shots over the heads of these invaders would likely end the problem. Photographing them would also assist conventional law enforcement.
The U. S. Border Patrol is not trained or equipped to confront foreign military units, especially rogues, nor military weapons. The Patrol is not large enough to protect our northern and southern borders, nor the coasts, from penetration by any determined group. The Patrol should have the support of the military and the military budget would only need to be increased incrementally to sustain such an effort.
The U. S. Border Patrol has more than enough to do regulating entry by individuals. Our thousands of miles of border can only protected by the military. That is the only source of technology, weapons and trained manpower necessary to deal with the issues created by terrain, rogue military incursions, and terrorists traveling enmass supported by foreign militaries.
The alternative is to ask conventional law enforcement forces to under take major new investments in equipment, weapons, technology and training. While it is true we do not want to try and use our military as policemen, we do not want to be forced to convert our para-military police forces into actual military units. Not only is that not cost effective, it has other negative implications, as well, in confusion of mission and tactics.
