Trump and his expensive border wall will not improve international security
"...overwhelming majority of illicit traffic (drugs, weapons, explosives, currency, counterfeit goods etc.) enter (usually hidden) at legal, U.S. land, sea and air ports of entry.."
An echo opinion published in the Capital Gazette an Annapolis Maryland notable newspaper (recognized by TIME as one of it's champions for truth in "Person of the Year").
A letter to the editor written by Robert W. Kelly who is an authority about the Latin American international security:
In the meeting, to negotiate an agreement (or not) on Trump’s $5 billion request for funding for his border wall, the discussion devolved into a shouting match over whether the government would be shut down as leverage to meet his demands.
Trump’s wall is a solution in search of a problem. Our nation needs to vastly improve border security and immigration integrity, however, the wall is a costly, ineffective and cynical prop. Trump, facts aside, urges the wall as a countermeasure against an exaggerated threat of criminals, drugs, terrorists and disease breaching our Southwest border.
I know a little bit about this. As deputy assistant secretary of defense (Drug Enforcement Plans and Support) in President George H.W. Bush’s administration and as the deputy chairman of the government’s Border Interdiction Committee, I frequently traveled to Latin America and the Southwest border.
Trump’s wall is a solution in search of a problem. Our nation needs to vastly improve border security and immigration integrity, however, the wall is a costly, ineffective and cynical prop. Trump, facts aside, urges the wall as a countermeasure against an exaggerated threat of criminals, drugs, terrorists and disease breaching our Southwest border.
I know a little bit about this. As deputy assistant secretary of defense (Drug Enforcement Plans and Support) in President George H.W. Bush’s administration and as the deputy chairman of the government’s Border Interdiction Committee, I frequently traveled to Latin America and the Southwest border.
I still remain involved in counternarcotics and counterterrorism issues.
The facts are that the overwhelming majority of illicit traffic (drugs, weapons, explosives, currency, counterfeit goods etc.) enter (usually hidden) at legal, U.S. land, sea and air ports of entry. The same applies to people with the biggest problem being visa overstays. The wall won’t fix this.
Our border region is mostly a vast, rugged landscape where, compared to the ports of entry, far less illicit trafficking takes place. Walling off these areas is nearly impossible and mostly ineffective. Virtual walls, using sophisticated sensors are in use here and work well. As in contested areas around the world, technology has proven to be a successful force multiplier.
America faces many varied challenges and the “wall” is a costly distraction. We can’t afford to be wasting our time, talent and resources on fulfilling a campaign pledge that should never have been made in the first place. Holding the government hostage in order to achieve this empty promise is irresponsible.
From Robert W. Kelly, Annapolis MD
The facts are that the overwhelming majority of illicit traffic (drugs, weapons, explosives, currency, counterfeit goods etc.) enter (usually hidden) at legal, U.S. land, sea and air ports of entry. The same applies to people with the biggest problem being visa overstays. The wall won’t fix this.
Our border region is mostly a vast, rugged landscape where, compared to the ports of entry, far less illicit trafficking takes place. Walling off these areas is nearly impossible and mostly ineffective. Virtual walls, using sophisticated sensors are in use here and work well. As in contested areas around the world, technology has proven to be a successful force multiplier.
America faces many varied challenges and the “wall” is a costly distraction. We can’t afford to be wasting our time, talent and resources on fulfilling a campaign pledge that should never have been made in the first place. Holding the government hostage in order to achieve this empty promise is irresponsible.
From Robert W. Kelly, Annapolis MD
Labels: Capital Gazette, Robert W. Kelly
posted by Juliana L'Heureux | 7:44 AM
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