Well, I guess he was listening.

President Barack Obama will deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border, according to an administration official and an Arizona congresswoman.

Obama will also request $500 million for border protection and law enforcement activities, they said.

The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence and blocking drug trafficking.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052503227.html?hpid=topnews

Good move, and hopefully more punch and follow through comes from Congress.

Interesting, very interesting....

Why would a President be so adamantly opposed to kicking out illegals, and yet want to look like he's securing the border?

Opposed to kicking out does not equal opposed to keeping more from illegally entering the place.

sjmvsfscs08 wrote: Interesting, very interesting....

Why would a President be so adamantly opposed to kicking out illegals, and yet want to look like he's securing the border?

Because kicking out illegals already here is not the same as stopping people from getting here in the first place?

Calderon is going to be pissed haha.

We'll see if people are actually happy with this move, a start to what many have been calling for, or if they'll be pissed because it is Obama that is doing it.

Hopefully just the beginning of a larger military presence along the border.

Will be nice to see the military actually doing something they're charged to do, PROTECT OUR BORDERS.

Maybe Obama's balls have finally dropped.

But, he needs to give them the authority to take part in ACTUAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

I would prefer the numbers get up to 8,000 or so.

Bush sent about 6,000 in 2006, but they're mostly gone now i believe, so lets get them there and keep them there.

cbus4life wrote:

sjmvsfscs08 wrote: Interesting, very interesting....

Why would a President be so adamantly opposed to kicking out illegals, and yet want to look like he's securing the border?

Because kicking out illegals already here is not the same as stopping people from getting here in the first place?

And, what do you mean "look like."

Hard to make it "look like that" way when you're sending the freaking military there.

Calderon is going to be pissed haha.

We'll see if people are actually happy with this move, a start to what many have been calling for, or if they'll be pissed because it is Obama that is doing it.

Hopefully just the beginning of a larger military presence along the border.

Will be nice to see the military actually doing something they're charged to do, PROTECT OUR BORDERS.

Maybe Obama's balls have finally dropped.

While I applaud your optimism....I believe this is nothing more than a PR move.

Just so it 'looks like' he is doing something to secure our borders and he cares about this issue.....

ptown_trojans_1 wrote: Well, I guess he was listening.

President Barack Obama will deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border, according to an administration official and an Arizona congresswoman.

Obama will also request $500 million for border protection and law enforcement activities, they said.

The National Guard troops will work on intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence and blocking drug trafficking.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/25/AR2010052503227.html?hpid=topnews

Good move, and hopefully more punch and follow through comes from Congress.

Will they have bullets also?

The article did not state what the rules of engagement would be. Would they actively be able to apprehend illegal invaders? Or would they just be able to engage in survailance and support ativities? We will see if Obama means business. If they are actively repelling illegal invaders or symbolically supporting border patrols. I hope he means business.

Yea, it is a waste unless they're able to take part in direct law enforcement activities.

This move by Obama is nothing short of racism, profiling, and violations of civil rights at its finest. Obviously all those troops are there to harass and prevent people with brown skin from:

A) finding a better life of crime, ERRRR, freedom, here in the US
B) going out and eating ice cream with their families

As a result of this move, I and others who feel the same way will be boycotting Washington DC and preventing all of our friends and families from traveling there.

cbus4life wrote: Yea, it is a waste unless they're able to take part in direct law enforcement activities.

I heard on a radio report that it would be surveillance.

My guess it would be just like when Bush sent troops and they would be restricted from apprehending illegals. invaders. More symbolic than affective border control.

majorspark wrote: The article did not state what the rules of engagement would be. Would they actively be able to apprehend illegal invaders? Or would they just be able to engage in survailance and support ativities? We will see if Obama means business. If they are actively repelling illegal invaders or symbolically supporting border patrols. I hope he means business.

They are there to pass out cards notating their Miranda rights, so when they are arrested later that part of the process will have been streamlined ........... all per Eric Holder.

Yeah, total PR move. Unless the National "Guard" are actually going to be arresting and detaining illegals, it's pretty much a waste of time. It's pretty sad when the National Guard can't even do what it's name implies and guard our borders.

If they are allowed to be directly involved with enforcing the laws/protecting the borders, then great job Obama.

If they are just there to "watch" like the last time Bush sent them, then Obama, your PR move is even worse than the one Bush did.

I think Obama is bringing the troops in to insure the border patrol, policemen and US citizens are not harassing or racially profiling the Mexicans as they cross the border.

As other indicate, total CYA move.

Hopefully the troops have shoot on site orders.

What site are they shooting on?

I see this as a pure PR move as well.

This is a PR move, it's pretty obvious based on all of the other news surrounding the border right now.

But either way, I can't say I'm upset with it.

In a related story, Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman has promised to send a couple Columbus policeman to the Arizona border....

.... nah.... Mike still is holding out on that ban for city workers.

considering the military is not a law enforcement agency, they will never be allowed to make arrest and such. they just arent trained for it. but in the end, its better than doing nothing. them being there and just driving around should be able to deter some illegals and maybe atleast force them to turn around.

I'll wait until more info comes out on this before I wonder if his nuts are still between his lungs or dropped down to behind his belly button.

As it stands right now, Michelle seems more manly than he is.

Glory Days wrote: considering the military is not a law enforcement agency, they will never be allowed to make arrest and such. they just arent trained for it. but in the end, its better than doing nothing. them being there and just driving around should be able to deter some illegals and maybe atleast force them to turn around.

One of my best friends is an MP who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and from what he told me of his training and service, i would trust those specific detachments to perform a real law enforcement function.

cbus4life wrote:

Glory Days wrote: considering the military is not a law enforcement agency, they will never be allowed to make arrest and such. they just arent trained for it. but in the end, its better than doing nothing. them being there and just driving around should be able to deter some illegals and maybe atleast force them to turn around.

One of my best friends is an MP who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and from what he told me of his training and service, i would trust those specific detachments to perform a real law enforcement function.

I mean, I could make an arrest. Especially if I were an illegal, correct me if I'm wrong but you aren't required to read them their rights are you? (Because they don't have any.)

Before passing judgement as to the overall effectiveness of spending a half billion on this show of force, I want to hear what the people on the ground have to say... especially the governor of Arizona.

cbus4life wrote:

Glory Days wrote: considering the military is not a law enforcement agency, they will never be allowed to make arrest and such. they just arent trained for it. but in the end, its better than doing nothing. them being there and just driving around should be able to deter some illegals and maybe atleast force them to turn around.

One of my best friends is an MP who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and from what he told me of his training and service, i would trust those specific detachments to perform a real law enforcement function.

yeah, but your friend is an MP. the rest of the military is trained to engage and destroy the enemy with fire power. for example, my tool was a M1A1 Main Battle Tank, not a set of handcuffs. if only MPs were being sent to the border that is one thing, but the MP branch is not very large and already has duties here stateside, so i doubt these 1,200 are MPs.

SQ_Crazies wrote:

cbus4life wrote:

Glory Days wrote: considering the military is not a law enforcement agency, they will never be allowed to make arrest and such. they just arent trained for it. but in the end, its better than doing nothing. them being there and just driving around should be able to deter some illegals and maybe atleast force them to turn around.

One of my best friends is an MP who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and from what he told me of his training and service, i would trust those specific detachments to perform a real law enforcement function.

I mean, I could make an arrest. Especially if I were an illegal, correct me if I'm wrong but you aren't required to read them their rights are you? (Because they don't have any.)

technically they only have to read them there rights if they plan on questioning them while they are under arrest. you can arrest someone without reading them their rights aslong as you dont question them in regards to the crime they are suspected of committing.