Is this a good reason to increase security on the borders?

[advent]

This is a deadly combination, should Janet and obama be more concerned with border issues because of this?

Secret Army Report: Drug Cartels, Terrorists Join Forces to Infiltrate U.S.

Friday, June 5, 2009 6:53 PM

By: Nat Helms

A secret intelligence mission recently conducted along the southern border of the United States found that drug cartels are teaming with terrorists to exploit the numerous vulnerabilities along the sparsely defended 2,000-mile Mexican border.

The mission, dubbed Operation Red Zone was conducted in February and March by the Army’s Asymmetrical Warfare Group (AWG). The clandestine intelligence gathering organization is a 350-member “special mission unit” that works to “identify critical threats and enemy and friendly vulnerabilities through global first-hand observations,” the Army says.

The group is based at Ft. Meade, Maryland, also home to the National Security Agency.

Red Zone investigators discovered numerous alien smuggling and drug trafficking operations along the border. Perpetrators are using “maritime surface craft, semi-submersible watercraft, ultra-light aircraft and possess the capability [to] utilize other potential aerial infiltration techniques to circumvent ground border protection capabilities,” according to Asymmetric Observations Along the U.S.- Mexican Border released May 14 by the Army to federal and state law enforcement agencies.

“The AWG served as observers to advise the Border Patrol, Coast Guard and local law enforcement. During the operation AWG personnel were not authorized to enter Mexican territory and none were armed,” Donald Cicotte, spokesman for the AWG at Ft. Meade tells Newsmax.

After the mission was completed, AWG personnel prepared a classified report for the Department of Defense. A “cleansed” version, like the one viewed by Newsmax, was sent to civilian law enforcement agencies

“Obviously we don’t want to lose control of this [report,]” CiCotte adds. “We obviously don’t want to tell the bad guys what we know.”

Operating behind the scenes on the project was Joint Task Force – North (JTF-N), a joint-service command headed by Army Brig. Gen. Sean B. McFarland. The 180-member task force helps local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies plan and coordinate activities to thwart drug cartels, human smugglers, and other emerging threats, JTF-N spokesman Armando Carrasco tells Newsmax.

In this instance the U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the San Diego area requested assistance identifying new threats and the AWG was recruited, he said.

“We don’t have any resources of our own. We don’t have heavy equipment or helicopters. For instance we can’t call up an engineer battalion to build a road. We solicit units from all the services equipped with what we need and asked them for help,” Carrasco said. “We have three JAG attorneys that ensure we are legally authorized to perform the mission. The lawyers spell out in briefings to each unit that they cannot be deployed in a law enforcement role.”

Militarty theorists define assymetrical threats as strategies and tactics used by ill-equipped terrorists and criminals to circumvent sophisticated defenses of more powerful governments. Common examples include clandestine cross-border infiltration, smuggling, and defeating sophisticated electronics and optical sensors with simple counter-measures.

During the operation, the AWG worked with the Department of Homeland Security and state and local law enforcement in the San Diego area to “observe asymmetric infiltration operations and emerging asymmetric threats.”

The Army investigators discovered that drug traffickers and smugglers are employing “exceptional surveillance and counter-surveillance capabilities, robust technical communications capabilities as well as effective marking and signaling techniques to facilitate smuggling of illegal personnel and illicit cargo into the United States,” the report says.

Some of the aliens are suspected of being terrorists from Middle Eastern countries sneaking into the country by employing drug smugglers skilled in transporting human cargo into the United States, the report adds.

Few of the tactics employed by the border busters appear sinister at first glance. In one example, the AWG reported seeing a woman setting up a road-side tamale stand on the south-side of the primary border fence. Upon investigation it was found that her car was parked pointing toward “known fence breach points” as a signal to border jumpers.

Other seemingly innocent activities observed by the intelligence operatives revealed drug trafficking and “alien smuggling spotters” using taxis and other legitimate businesses located on the U.S. side of the border to monitor and report Border Patrol activities to criminals who pay them with drug proceeds.

http://www.newsmax.com/headlines/mexico_border_fence/2009/06/05/222148.html
There is more to the story but too long to post who

[aswynn81]

Well hell yes. How about preserving what is ours and not theirs. And at least slowing the flow of bunk BS coke, crank and hop from there to here. And helping our own less fortunate through city, county, state and federal programs, instead of helping them have 6 kids by the time they are 23 years old. Come on America, isn't it past pathetic yet????

[vipponah]

It has been know for a long time that this goes on at our border w/Mexico.The only difference is who is up there in Washington.We all know that Bush was soft on illegals and crimes that involved this country,but we now have someone that says he is for "Change",well we will see if he really for change or just for votes.I have to admit that I haven't seen that much change with Obama.In fact Im beginning to believe he is just the true "little Bush".But until those in Washington get on board and close this open border it will continue to happen.I email my Representatives every week as well as the WH.Im not foolish enough to think that they read these but its an hope that just one time someone will hear me.Everybody should do this as its the only way our govt will know what WE the tax payers want.

[delron72]

Yes because I knew something like this was going to happen. I said this over a year ago. Remember, the mafia and the terrorists are the same people.

[hawiovi]

YES!!

[colfre]

dont worry be happy

[fitche]

i read the first line.....comeon...


we're all immigrants.....you..me..them.

[nicolas]

Not going to read all of that...

But, yes, we should, to stop terrorists and drugs from coming in.

[jocheved]

The Canadian/U.S. border is over twice as long as the U.S./Mexican border. When checked years ago, every attempt to cross the Canadian border with a simulated nuclear backpack suceeded, attempts at the Mexican border were caught. I have no problem with border security, but it needs to be applied all around.