http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/63800.html [rquoter]Obama: Troop move to Mexican border under consideration Maria Recio | McClatchy Newspapers last updated: March 11, 2009 08:08:55 PM WASHINGTON — President Obama weighed in Wednesday on the escalating drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border, saying that he was looking at possibly deploying National Guard troops to contain the violence but ruled out any immediate military move. "We're going to examine whether and if National Guard deployments would make sense and under what circumstances they would make sense," Obama said during an interview with journalists for regional papers, including a McClatchy reporter. "I don't have a particular tipping point in mind," he said. "I think it's unacceptable if you've got drug gangs crossing our borders and killing U.S. citizens." Already this year there have been 1,000 people killed in Mexico along the border, following 2008's death toll of 5,800, according to federal officials who credit Mexican President Felipe Calderon for a crackdown on drug cartels. But the spillover on the border -- for example, to El Paso from neighboring Ciudad Juarez -- has created a political reaction. In a recent visit to El Paso, Texas Gov. Rick Perry called for 1,000 troops to protect the border. Obama was cautious, however. "We've got a very big border with Mexico," he said. "I'm not interested in militarizing the border." The president praised Calderon, "who I believe is really working hard and taking some extraordinary risks under extraordinary pressure to deal with the drug cartels and the corresponding violence that's erupted along the borders." Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Calif., chair of a key subcommittee on border security, will hold a hearing Thursday on Mexican border violence. "Last week Mexico sent an additional 3,200 soldiers to the border," Sanchez said in a prepared opening statement for the hearing, "increasing the total number of Mexican soldiers combating drug cartels to more than 45,000." Sanchez chairs the House Committee on Homeland Security's subcommittee on border, maritime and global counterterrorism. "It should be noted that over 200 U.S. citizens have been killed in this drug war, either because they were involved in the cartels or were innocent bystanders," she said. "With those concerns in mind, it is essential that the Department of Homeland Security, along with other relevant departments, continue to pursue a contingency plan to address 'spillover' violence along our border." At a hearing this week, Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, who visited Mexico last month as part of a congressional delegation tour, praised the so-called Merida Initiative -- a drug cartel fighting agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that provides Mexico with $1.4 billion to control drug trafficking. "From helicopters and surveillance planes to non-intrusive inspection equipment, the U.S. investment is intended to provide the hardware necessary for the Mexican government to extend its authority to those remote and hard-to-access parts of the country ravaged by the drug trade," said Granger. That agreement between Calderon and President George W. Bush will be updated, Obama said. "We expect to have a comprehensive approach to dealing with these issues of border security that will involve supporting Calderon and his efforts in a partnership, also making sure we are dealing with the flow of drug money and guns south, because it's really a two-way situation there," said Obama. "The drugs are coming north, we're sending funds and guns south," he said. "As a consequence, these cartels have gained extraordinary power. Our expectation is to have a comprehensive policy in place in the next few months."[/rquoter] perhaps the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo should be revisted.
Has Obama ever been to the border or South of it? Every Latino who voted for him should be ashamed of themselves for not doing their homework.
Wow, you couldn't be more wrong. It's a huge population center for Latinos. Go argue about what pizza toppings you like in the Hangout.
This thread is CLASSIC. Here you have a President about to launch a military assault on one of our largest trading partners and allies, which would be extremely significant from a foreign relations standpoint, and people don't even take notice. The kool-aid has made the Sheeple comatose, I suppose. Or delusional. This would represent a HUGE escalation in the war on drugs, yet no comment from the usual 420 brigade. And of course the cherry on top is pgabs thinking that no Latinos live in Chicago. HILARITY
I find it ironic that Perry is perfectly fine accepting federal troops to combat drug violence but not willing to accept federal money for unemployment benefits. Perry under his power of governor could already deploy national guard troops to the border at the same time if he's worried about increasing violence has he considered that many unemployed people without benefits might turn to crime.
Woah dude, you still gettin' your intel from Walker, Texas Ranger? Today's my 56th birthday. I had Twinkies and Vince Young Hot Links for breakfast. Come and get me Death!
"I'm not interested in militarizing the border." and "We're going to examine whether and if National Guard deployments would make sense and under what circumstances they would make sense," = we are about to launch an assault on Mexico
Please refer to the thread "Mexico is Failing and will Descend into Chaos." I'm sure that President Obama has spoken with Felipe Calderon, who knows that the drug cartel chaos on the border is crippling his country. The cartels supply America with drugs and we give them the weapons they use to kill civilians and fight the Mexican authorities. The situation there is beyond terrible, especially in Ciudad Juarez.
I'd support putting security measures on the border. There's a reason why Phoenix is the #2 kidnapping capitol in the WORLD. Drug violence isn't welcome here, nor is lawlessness.
