Why are there more U.S. troops on South Korea's border than on our own border?
(PHOTO CREDIT: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
The 1,200 National Guard troops deployed along the U.S. border with Mexico will stay in place until September, a Homeland Security spokesman said late last week. The troops were scheduled to leave June 30th. But a sheriff in southern Arizona calls the move "pandering" on the part of the Obama Administration. That number, he says, falls far short of what's needed to keep the country safe.
Sheriff Paul Babeu of Pinal County in southern Arizona went on to compare the number of troops we have along the U.S. border with Mexico to the more than 28-thousand U.S. troops stationed along the South Korean border with North Korea. The 1,200 guardsmen aid a little more than 20-thousand border agents along the Mexico border, and it's just not enough. For Babeu, who has been named Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs Association, illegal immigrants, drug smuggling, and human trafficking are commonplace in his county. He knows what's needed to protect the border and it's far more than the federal government has been willing to do.
The sheriff's statement comes at a time when Senator John McCain is under fire for some comments he made about immigration over the weekend. After touring the scene of the devastating wildfires in his state, McCain told reporters that there was "substantial evidence" that some of the fires were caused by illegal immigrants. McCain went on to say, "The answer to that part of the problem is to get a secure border."
Senator Jon Kyl and Congressmen Jeff Flake and Paul Gosar, also Republicans from Arizona, released a joint statement backing up what McCain said. But immigrants' rights groups have jumped all over McCain, accusing him of using illegal immigrants as scapegoats.
Here’s my question to you: Why are there more U.S. troops on South Korea's border than on our own border?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Rebecca in Virginia:
Because the part of the Constitution that reads "For the People" no longer means for the American people. Our government is more concerned with the rest of the world than they are with the citizens of this country
David in Alexandria, Virginia:
I don’t know, but I would bet they don't have a problem with illegal aliens. Maybe we should give this a try.
Loren:
Because North and South Korea are still at war. C'mon, Jack, these politicians are pandering. Yes, we should have a more active police presence on the border, but a military presence is uncalled for. We are not at war with Mexico.
Mark in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma:
Jack, isn't it obvious? The North Korean invasion, should it come, will be very violent. Mexico, on the other hand, is carrying out a very "peaceful" invasion of this country. In fact, I think just asking this question may be a violation of illegal immigrants rights. Shame on you, sir.
Eve in Texas:
Because corporate America doesn't want to limit undocumented workers and whatever corporations want, the politicians will do. And, the average voter doesn't possess the courage or critical vision to vote the corrupt, lying politicians out.
T.P.:
The reason for more troops in South Korea is to insure the cheap labor sweat shops serving the Pharaoh's of Wall Street. The reason for less troops on our southern U.S. border is for the same reason. Just think about it a minute.
Mike:
That's easy. To stop all those South Korean border jumpers from entering North Korea and taking all those jobs the North Koreans are too proud to do.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
We wouldn't want those pesky North Korean's sneaking into South Korea and take jobs from American businesses now, ...would we?
We still have this feeling that we need to be in everyone's lives to protect ourselves from Communism. This isn't the '60s and '70s anymore, our issues are more domestic now and that needs addressed
I thought we own " HYUNDAI," don't we?
becuz the 2 party sellouts inpartnership with the eurocentric backstab deemed it neccessary to secure more cheap labor where nontaxes are paid..and becuz people miss interpret the intent of the statute of liberty, including our own political leaders who start bleading thier heart for every money worshipper in the world to come here. and becuz liberals always play the race card here
That's an apples and oranges question, Jack! The troops in South Korea are there to enforce a UN resolution and to deter North Korea from breaking the truce. The National Guard and Reserve troops on the border are mostly a "feel good" public relations deployment since they have no power to detain suspected illegals. To be fair, our weekend warriors have "observed and reported" suspected border crossers to the Border Patrol and engineer units have helped build the fence. To his credit, President Obama has increased the number of Border Patrol agents but the problem is still too big to solve.
Jack, you mention McCain getting heat from immigrant's rights groups? Really? So now the people who break our laws have a their own lobby group too?
Jack my husband served in the Army in Korea from 1961 and
1962 and there were 50,000 troops then as there are now with
the question the threat of an invasion from the North is always
there. Did I miss the invasion during the last 50 years or so.
Bring our troops home now and let them guard the 38th parallel
with their own and stop making cars that they ship to America.
Jack
The reason for more troops in South Korea is to insure the cheap labor sweat shops serving the Paroah's of Wall Street. The reason for less troops on our Southern US Border is for the same reason.. Just think about it a minute.
Treaty obligations Jack. One would think that through all the changes of administrations through the yeas, both Demoncratic and Republican, someone would have called our armed forces back home. This then begs the question: Why? Is it, that once in office they all find out that it's not that simple.. That it's just too dangerous a world for the United Sates not to be there.
Simple: South Koreans do not vote in U. S. elections. Obama and his band of merrymen are playing the "politically correct" game while the citizens of Arizona are forced to defend our country as it moves towards third world status.
In Korea, US troops assist the enforcement of a tenuous truce; the Korean war has yet to reach a conclusion. Besides, North Koreans are not an economical source of cheap labor for the US.
There is an old saying Jack that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. There is a lesson to be learned by history although i am not sure that our government is capable of grasping the concept. While America is out nation building and jockeying for the strategic advantage across the globe their own borders are being invaded daily by thousands of people who are sapping our local, state and federal assets. Not to mention terrorists who can cross at will. With a 9.2 percent unemployment rate we need each and every job that is available for the people who are in this country legally.
We never even ended the Korean War. North Korea has shown that it is unpredictable with a significant national military. Mexico? It has no military threat, but it does funnel the drug trade from South America into the US. Which ultimately makes its way to the US Government for profit and leverage against other countries.
Jack, isn't it obvious? The North Korean invasion, should it come, will be very violent. Mexico, on the other hand, is carrying out a very "peaceful" invasion of this country. In fact, I think just asking this question may be a violation of illegal immigrants rights. Shame on you, sir.
Denial.
Obviously, the troops along the South Korean border serve as a deterrent to the North Koreans. Unfortunately, the current and previous administrations don’t want to admit that there really is a problem with the illegal aliens entering the US or contraband being smuggled in never ending amounts.
The politicians only provide lip service. They believe that the drug problem can be solved by saying ‘NO.’ Similarly, they make the false claim that the illegals perform jobs that pay too little for the average citizen. Both of these claims are absurd and false.
If there were troops on the border with shoot first orders, these problems would become almost nonexistent in a matter of days.
********************************
That's is really a good question. Jack, you need to direct that question to Obama. I'll be waiting for an answer from him. Keep on asking that question every day on TV until you get an answer. Don't give up. I'll be watching CNN so I can hear the answer/spin??? Thanks.
Because North and South Korea are still at war! C'mon, Jack, these politicians are pandering. Yes, we should have a more active police presence on the border, but a military presence is uncalled for, we are not at war with Mexico.
Because the U.S. has not or cannot face its debt problems–the U.S. is like a old man seeing a young fighter in the mirror. It is high time for a reality check.
By leaving those 28,000 soldiers on the North Korean border has two danerous potentials. One, those 28,000 soldiers are in harm's way. Two, they are a liability for dragging the U.S. into a war that the U.S. cannot survive economically.
Reduce the number of troops we have on the South Korean border by half and bring them home to the US and put them on the Mexican border. While visiting in Texas a few years back,my husband and I went on a day trip to Monterrey Mexico. On our return trip the bus stopped about a half mile from the border town bus station and about 10 young people got off and ran down a path to the Rio Grande River. I was told that this is common practice. There were only 2 American Custom Officials in this little town of Roma,Texas. As we walked across the River we saw No Border Patrol. This is an easy fix. Bring the troops home and protect this Country.
My guess is So. Korea doesn't have the need for cheap labor like we do here in the US. You know, Jack, we're all about the bottom line, even if it involves exploitation of other human beings. Makes you wonder just who is benefiting from the drug trade, too, no?
The civil liberty nut cases in this country think it is unconstitutional to keep Mexicans out. I would like someone to show me where the Constitution says Mexicans are allowed to come into this country illegally.
You got me. But it shows that our government cares more about a foreign nation’s security that it does our own. Time for the Second Revolution. Lets get all these lousy bums out and put real people with ethics in office. Top to bottom, left to right and I mean all three branches.
Jack, at the pace we're going, we're headed to become the Military Police, MPs, of the world; the 911 for every unfortunate social, political and religious crises. One of the questions in the last Republican Debate referenced the number of military bases we maintain around the world, and that number is staggering, and their cost is staggering too. The argument for these bases is a national security one; however, there is a fine line between what is a security interests and what is simply sticking our nose in things that are none of our business. Right, we believe in our values, but are we forcing our values on other people? And, if so, who has given us this right? Then it comes down to cost. Should our tax payers bear the burden of a global Military Police and 911 for each social, political and religious crises? I agree, they look terrible on TV, and thanks to internet, we have immediate access to these events, but should we interfere, and who has given us the right to interfere? UN, Congress? I don't think so. And, who will pay for it? UN, Congress? I don't think so.
"Well it has to be so! It has always taken 250% more to defend another country, than the home-land. You have a whole network of protection here in North America, where as I see the network in Korea with nothing but faults. They can't even protect their own ships in their waters. Plus your guys are better to be there in Korea, so as to cover the wider area. You always had troops in Turkey during the cold war, nukes too."
Because Oama's trying to sell us out to the Illegals he's looking at as future votes.
Jack, In a word Jack, POLITICS. We've never really finished that war. South Korea should have taken over border security decades ago, but have never wanted to spend the money. Funny, now with the new trade agreement, they'll be taking away as many jobs as they can from us. Who, exactly, is running this asylum?????? Layne A. Antioch, Il.
Because our government believes it is more important to meddle in other people's affairs, more than our own!
That's a good question Jack. The drug cartels can come across at their pleasure and we are woefully under manned to effect it. South Korea has a viable army and could handle things nicely. It might be wise to move interest from the 38th paraelle to the 31st paraelle namely our border. We could have troops from Ft. Hood motor down and have manuvers along the Rio Grande and engage actual live targets. Frankly the sound of a M-1 Abrahms headed my way would scare the piss out of me. Maybe it would do so with the cartels.
Because corporate America doesn't want to limit undocumented workers and whatever corporations want, the politicians will do. And, the average voter doesn't possess the cajones nor critical vision to vote the corrupt, lying politicians out. Eve
Why indeed, it is a mystery to me. If North Korea wanted to send a nuclear bomb to America, they should ship it over on a boat and smuggle it across the Mexican border because no one is watching!
Jack,
It makes no sense, to me, that our government wouldn't do more to beef up the security at our border with Mexico. Especially with the problems we've been having with Mexican drug dealers, immigrants, and human trafficking. How long before terrorists, if they haven't already, exploit that fact?
Jack, the answer is simple: because the federal government, in cahoots with businesses that prefer to hire illegal aliens because they can pay them less than a dollar a day, work them 15 hours per day, and threaten them with deportation if they don't spend every waking moment working. Illegal aliens are cheap help–business doesn't worry about paying overtime, providing benefits such as paid breaks, health insurance, sick time, vacation time, or paid holidays. Nor does business have to worry about paying illegal aliens a living wage because they know that they'll live 25 to a single bedroom slum apartment. Congress doesn't want to bite the hand that feeds it (businesses making all those contributions to their election and re-election campaigns), so even though there are immigration laws on the books, I do not ever expect to see them enforced in my lifetime.
Add to that the dismal conditions in the home countries of most of these illegal aliens, and the fact that plenty of American businesses are more than happy to look the other way when it comes to hiring them, and that's why there are not any troops guarding our borders. Business wants the illegal aliens–they're exploitable and by paying them so little, the difference between the wages that business would have to pay to legal Americans vs. illegal aliens goes directly into the pockets of the business owners and shareholders. A win-win for everyone EXCEPT the legal Americans who want to work and can't find work.
Our country is falling apart at the seams; maybe, just maybe we should be more concerned about the US for now and let South Korea defend its own border.
The efficiency of drug bribes is hard to underestimate.
You would have to ask Hillary Clinton. It seems like governmental and political leaqders are the only ones to really know why we do things like this. I have a feeling the answer is "For no good reason" , just more governmental waste.
The US Mexican border is an outrage topic, however, the American people and even many US legislators are powerless to fix it. The border = apathy from the Latino community which equals Democratic votes. So, therefore, dont expect any action from the Democratic Whitehouse.
For that matter, why do we have soldiers and military anywhere in the world while our own home is burning?
The American people ahve been getting duped for a decades now on this issue, and nothing ever changes!
I am really puzzled by this.....the lack of border security has been aproblem for years.....and years and years......and its sort of strange that one of the ole Albatrosses [that would be John Mccain] is complainin........he along with many others have been part of the problem, for years , and years, and years......i say bring everyone home and man the Borders.....
Jack,
More US troops are on the border with North Korea, than in the USA, because we are still fighting communism, the Taliban, and all other mythical enemies in the world, which increase our burden of responsibility and debt.
We will never learn Jack, so in a few weeks do not expect our economy to be any better than Chicago's privatization of their parking meter program only to find out the private industry will raise rates to whatever levels the buyer will pay, and such is our situation protecting the so called "world," as long as we continue to pay ... everyone will take advantage of us.
The least South Korea, Japan, Germany, and now China can do ... is to give us a big discount on their cars, since we have already purchased enough of their products to allow them to give us loans. Don't worry Wall Street will bail us out with high interest loans, or is it with our money they will give us a loan?
Joe, Binghamton, NY
Jack,
The South Koreans face an army of over 1.1 million troops led by a dictator who likes to 'rattle his sword' from time to time. We need to do far more to secure our own borders, but the issues are hardly comparable.
Rick,
Medina, OH
Military industrial complex runs the country.
South Korea is afraid that Kim Jong Il will cross the border, and American farmers are afraid that their harvest workers won't.
North Korea in the minds of politicians must be a bigger threat than who can cross our southern border illegally. It will take a tragedy of some sizeable proportion that was caused by illegals from the south for our politicans to wake up. We always seem to active defensively instead of proactively.
Because we like the North Koreans more than the Mexicans.
Obviously the Korean border is more important to US corporations. What money can be made off the Korean border? Whereas US corporations can make more money with an illegal workforce who they can pay less. American citizens lose their jobs, lose their houses, and the banks get those houses. US Corporations can make more money off of drug addicted Americans who get arrested and sent to for-profit jails. More US troops along our border would stop all that. Jack there's money to be made with our porous borders and the powers that be know it, wise up!
There was this lady who watched her neighbor's house like a hawk. No chance anyone was going to break in and rob their house! Unfortunately she didn't bother to close and lock her own door. Imagine her surprise when she found out her house was robbed and she was being held at gun point! Lesson learned? Seems the capital would say "not yet".
This is an excellent question that all Americans should be asking their representatives and our President. It makes no sense to police every country but our own. Unfortunately, our states not only have no army to protect them, but have also lost the battle to protect themselves! Keep asking the question and bring this issue front and center to the public!
Military vendors have to keep more troops overseas than at home because their profits soar when troops are in hot zones and vendors do not consider the USA a "Hot Zone".
Because South Korea is obviously more valuable, more important to corporations who use sweat shop labor, they pay higher bribes to our Congress and are the shinning beacon of liberty throughout the world. Mexico on the other hand is only waging a war on our border.
Because the illegals from South of our border has already taken over our country. Because the illegals from South of our border doesn't have nuclear weapons. Because slave labor farmers North of our border need the illegals from South of our border.
The difference is that South Korea's neighbour has nuclear weapons ready to go on a moment's notice. Talk about tense!
Obama doesnt want to stop the flood of new voters for him and his party.
Because our government wants to protect S. Korea. They don't care about protecting us. It's more important to them to get hispanic votes. That;s what the "dream act" was all about.
A one word answer: VOTES.
Probably because there is not as much money to be made on OUR border, as there is on the South Korea border. I mean that the military contractors who supply our troops in Asia probably make a LOT of money. Whereas, on OUR border just about all the stuff that the military needs is truckable from Houston!
In fact, much of what the troops on OUR border need/want can be picked up in the MEXICAN borgder towns a lot cheaper than on our side of the border.
Any time there is a military presence in some other country you can bet the real reason is the bottom line of some contractor/contributor to political coffers.
Could it possibly be that neither party in this country wants to upset the huge Latino voting block in this country? Or maybe huge agribusiness that employs these illegals? Hmmm.
It's called the Constituion, Jack. It is illegal for the President to deploy US troops on US soil.
Anybody in South Korea going to vote Democrat in exchange for American citizenship? There's your answer
If America really wanted to secure the border we would build the equivalent of the Berlin Wall from one end of the border to the other and go deep underground with a cement barrier to prevent the ever present tunnels that exist underneath the border. We would also have to man the border heavily. But that's deemed politically incorrect. We don't need to have our troops in S. Korea, Germany, and every other nation in the world. We don't need to spend our country's limited resources protecting the entire world.
Thats easy Jack. There are no South Koreans who are going to pic fruit for 2 bucks a day in the US. If the South Koreans start lobbying Congress and putting millions in there coffers then you'd see troop numbers decline there also.
Its very simple answer actually, the sheriff has a problem that must be solved and solved by the Federal Govt as it is within their perview and responsibility but be that as it may, this is the answer
"The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 18, 1878, after the end of Reconstruction, with the intention (in concert with the Insurrection Act of 1807) of substantially limiting the powers of the federal government to use the military for law enforcement."
For better or worse, for those hung up on family values!
because the part of the constiution that reads "for the people" no longer means for the american people, our government is more concerned with the rest of the world than they are the citizens of this country
Jack
The dirty secret is neither the Democrats or the Republicans want the border shut. The Democrats want as many new votes as they can get. The Republicans want as much cheap illegal labor as they can get for their big business buddies. They make up all this hoopla and finger pointing just as a front so that they can keep the status quo and appear to their voters like they get it.
Steve D
New Windsor, Maryland
Jack:
There is no political will to secure the border, US corporations need the ilegal aliens for cheap labor.
South Korea, we should have been out of there many years ago and save needed billions of dollars in the process.
Daniel Melendez
New York City
Because Communism is EVIL. [Note: Sarcasm]
-Stephen
Yarmouth, NS Canada
Why base a question on anything Paul babeau says? He and mcCain are master panderers; neither would know the truth if it bit them in the keister.
Jim in Scottsdale
The answer is simple. You can't control the world if you keep your troops at home guarding your borders.
Of course the Korean border is more heavily fortified because it's a more imminent concern. North and South Korea are still officially in a state of war and things could go to hell there any minute. Of course illegal immigrants from both Mexico and Canada are a source of concern, but not the level of concern a million-man army led by a madman elicits.
Jack i think the answer to your question is that politicians are afraid of losing votes if they do anything to enforce the borders. I mean they don't mind sending federal dollars to build fences to make an appearance of doing something but it is way too hot a political issue for politicians to really deal with the issue and do something meaningful to reduce illegal immigration.. In a nut shell our politicians lack the political courage and are cowards plain and simple.
Answer is obvious isn't it? Who has more nuclear capabilities/an obvious distaste for the US of A? Mexico's threat to America's stability as a nation is credible, but only slightly. People blame illegal aliens for a lack of jobs when they should blame the employers.
The boarder between South and North Korea is one of most dangerous boarder's in the world, considering that the North is a rogue state with nuclear weapons. The US needs troops there to demonstrate a nuclear check on the North because an invasion with the South would necessarily bring the US into conflict. Thus, troops are best served securing the Korean peninsula as migrant workers hoping across our boarders creates a miniscule threat compared the Nuclear tension in Asia.
Imperial pretensions. There could be another factor. The US has troops in Japan and makes Japan pay for them but keep the payments secret although the secrecy part of the agreement is obviously defunct. Perhaps Korea is required to pay as well and is better at keeping secrets.
Every President has failed us. We do not need to be in Libya. We should be in Mexico.
Mexicans would not be trying to come to the U.S. if they were safe in there own country. Drug Cartels are killing everyone in Mexico. The Mexican Government is useless.
If we can finally go into Mexico and Destroy the Cartels once and for all, that would keep over 90 percent of the Mexicans in Mexico.
We are in South Korea because all of our Presidents have failed us and refuse to confront North Korea. We should just drop a Nuclear Bomb on them.
Good question! We act as the world's police; do not get paid; and, we wonder why we are broke?! If we are going to provide protection to South Korea, they ought to pay for it. With respect to the Mexican border, it makes absolutely no sense. The flow off illegal immigrants is not only a security risk, but an economic debacle. If you do not have borders–you do not have a country. We should have 10,000 troops on the border with authorization to shoot if necessary (not pencil pushers). President Obama's 1,200 troops is pure political pandering–nothing more. The average American "gets" this–Washington just thinks we're all just too stupid. This country is being sold down the river and no one seems able to stop it. Very sad.
For the same reason – cheap labor. Korea provides cheap labor for consumer goods consumed by US citizens; illegal immigrants provide cheap labor for goods and services in the United States (that would not be cost-effective is produced or provided by citizens.) Both sources of cheap labor have to be protected.
Why are there more U.S. troops on South Korea's border than on our own border?
Good question Jack. When the drug lords in Mexico are threatening us or our ally with rockets and creating nukes I'll get back to you.
Jenna
Roseville CA
Obviously, North Koreans are more offensive to us than Latinos. A significant percentage of our population are Latinos not north koreans. If we had as many north koreans here as we do Latinos, we may not honor our agreements with South Korea: this would never fly with our sophisticated electorate. Besides, who in this country would eat north korean kimchi.?
It's 100 times harder to eliminate any government policy than it is to start one. Gitmo v. Lybia. Why? it's politics man, politics. But, the reality of our debt is about impact this paradigm.
I have been asking this question forever, protecting the borders of other countried and not our own is just palin stupid!
Why did we pay for Iraq to have universal health care while American insurance companies command their attack dogs in the GOP to destroy even modest reforms here? Why are we blowing up muslims in FIVE different countries while cutting aid to Americans who are old, poor and hungry? Why do we reward corporations for moving jobs to Asia and refuse to spend money for economic stimulus at home? I could go on, but the answer is simple: We are the stupidest people on the face of the earth. Cy from Arlington, VA
Jack I thought troops could not be used for domestic issues on American soil.. Or should it be considered terrorist activities? Korea is foreign soil.
I dohowever think we need more agents on the border..
So we can hide billions in the defense budget.
Why Jack we all know that is easier to misplace millions of dollars in funding if we have to ship that funding to a foreign country. If we lost a couple of million of dollars in protecting our own borders I believe that the general public would want answers about the where that funding went, but when it is lost overseas it can be swept under the carpet easier. You know and I know Jack that those who are really in power would hate to have to reveal where the taxpayers money went when it is discovered that billions are missing and millions not accountable for are in the bank accounts of the CEOs of the corporations that are helping to wage the war with their private security forces.
Great issue! Then add the thousands of troops in Japan, Germany, and many other countries around the world and it adds up to hundreds of thousands of troops and unknown dollars! It's time to stop this nonsense! Let's pay our own bills and let the others, many better off than we, pay theirs.
We have more troops on the Korean border because North Korea is a nuclear power, led by an unstable dictator. Also, the two Koreas never declared peace; stability is held together as a result of a fragile armistice. I think it is sophistry to equate the situation on the US southern border as regards illegal immigration with a complex geopolitical challenge in northeastern Asia. Why is it not possible to discuss such matters separately with equivalent seriousness instead of reducing it to a contrived "either/or" proposition?
That's a good question. Here's another one: Why is the 3rd Marine Division still in Okinawa?
We'd be better off returning the Marines (and several other forces) to new bases along the Mexican border...would be good training to have these forces constantly patrolling the border areas to curtail illegal immigration, and drug and weapons smuggling.
Building new bases along the Mexican border would also create jobs.
With 2 wars in the Mid-East, our troops could stand some assignments that are not overseas.
As prior military I understand the idea of Forward Projection of Power (now it's Winning Heart's and Mind's). What's lacking is "Inward Power Projection" to protect our own country's borders. When I think of all the money this country has spent "projecting" we could have had a Great Wall of America by now.
People seem to forget North and South Korea are technically still at war. If some wacko happens to start a gunfight in that border, we will see the Korean War reignite once again. Our service men and women have bigger threats to worry about than preventing forest fires. Let Smoky the Bear take care of that one.
Because North Korea is a hostile country, with a lunatic dictator.
Federal law prohibits the deployment of US Army troops on the border. The protection of a states borders is left to the National Guard. I know. This is stupid. Change the law, station troops, cut the flow of drugs, illegals and illegals bearing drugs. Change the law so that a baby born in the United States is not automatically a US citizen. The rest of the world has the child bearing the citizenship of the child's mother. As for the drugs on the border I'll bet the 3rd Armored Cav, the 11th Armored Cav and the 1st Cav would do an outstanding job sealing the border.
"Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses... " anyway we can get them, because no one in the U.S. has the education or desire to be able to hold down a job. So keep those borders open! We need them.
I don't know Jack. Neither country has OIL... Isn't that why we usually place troops on the ground?
The North Koreans have nukes and the drug cartels don't. Yet. Cy from Arlington, VA
Why? Jack, you need to ask the people who's pals are making a lot of money keeping them in Korea and many, many other locations, Congress. It's just another Big Business.
Read your history and understand that we are still at War WITH N. Korea and that they are more of a threat to our national security than Mexico. Go there and look across the line and you'll understand. Yes, we've got to secure our border, but we've also got international obligations as well. Posing one issue against the other is short-sighted and isolationist to the extreme. What's next, leave NATO?
The banks are getting lots more laundering money and our politicians are getting more money in their pockets by pretending the aren't seeing this happen on the Mexico border.
I wish someone would tell me why.
It's all about keeping our number one power status. And nothing more. We would let our countries infrastructure decay and our people go without jobs to keep that #! spot. Corporate America keeps their money in these countries and send nothing back to the US to keep us strong. We will put troops on our borders to keep us in and them (ha ha) out. They only pride the congress has is being the #1 country in power only. This new batch of politicians are out for one thing, themselves and their bank accounts. Until we limit the power of Washington we are living in a decaying and dying country. But don't be fooled we have to have a powerful government with laws or each states becomes a rouge country of its own. We have a very powerful batch of bad seeds in government, like wolves in sheep's clothing...
The American presence on the South Korean border is not critical because South Korea needs 28,000 more men to protect them. It's critical because it has to be made clear to the North that the South is not at a disadvantage for lacking nuclear weapons and that any hostile action will not be regarded as a regional dispute. Mexico is a nation with rogue elements. North Korea is a rogue nation.
Because we have a broker government Jack you know that. A more secure border, fair tread, jobs and a new government is what most Americans wont but our government gives us none of them. They just make us sick at our stomach and poor.
Using our own troops to defend our borders that we share with Allies is a gross mis-allocation of Military resources. Our own borders really should fall to police rather then military. But after last year with a South Korean ship lost and territory attacked by North Korean, that is a good reminder that there is still a war going on over there.
Jack,
I agree that we should remove the troops from South Korea, but first we should bring all the troops home from Japan. They don't want us in Okinawa and why should we continue to spend money to keep our soldiers, sailors and airmen in a land that thinks we spend too much money on defense.
Mike
As a veteran of wartime service in the Army, I support the Texas sheriff's position. We have what amounts to a full division of troops near the Korean DMZ that should be redeployed to Ft Bliss and given the mission of securing our southern border with Mexico. Our obligation to help defend South Korea is still in place, and our Korean War obligations were satisfied over 50 years ago. South Korea is very capable of handling its own defense today.
Because our government wants to feel like some big shots overseas ..They don't care about the people in good old USA if they did we would have all the borders with troops keeping illegals out .Also we wouldnt have so many people in the USA starving and Homeless if the motto on these canidates was Guard american borders and feed our hungry first I would vote for a person like that ,,
Money and power. To get elected into any office you need money, donations from different activist groups pushing their own agenda. You also need votes that organized activist groups can also offer. I doubt if there are any groups involved with the Korea border.
It's strictly about politics and getting the Latino vote. The administration would rather compromise national security and deny the drugs, death, and human traffcing associated with illegal immigration than to risk not getting re-elected. Not only will they not do their job, but they take the states who attempt to protect themselves to court. Our refusal to control immigration is bankrupting schools, hospitals, localities, state and the federal government. The utter lack of common sense shown by our government can only be attributed to their determination to stay in power at any cost. God help us.
The number of people guarding our border with Mexico has DOUBLED under the Obama administration. Unlike North Korea, which poses a nuclear threat, Mexican immigrants do not pose as a threat to our national security.
It's hard to believe that a nation with satellites and drone aircraft cannot stop the traffic moving freely across its southern border. Politicians on both sides of the political fence are hesitant to seem insensitive, but it's more than that. There's a huge market in drugs and cheap labor, both of which are undermining the American way of life. If we don't get on this issue, and do so now, we will pay a heavy price in the not-too-distant future.
Even though there is a drug war going on beween the US and Mexivo and illegals are jumping the border to look for better living conditions in the US, the US government does not see that as much of a threat as they do with North Korea. North Korea has nuclear weapons and can hurt both South Korea and the US on a much larger scale. If countries like North Korea fire off some of their nuclear weapons, who knows who will also join them in a nuclar battle.
Pretty gutsy of you, Jack, to question why our tax dollars are being squandered in a place that most Americans could not care less about. I don't agree with McCain, but if it gets our troops home, I'm all for it. Illegal immigrants cause fires like flies cause garbage. Now if we can just connect Afghanistan and Iraq with tornadoes and flooding we may have a new policy to consider
I like to ask Sheriff Babeau how many Americans are allowed to cross the border into North Korea like Americans are free to cross the border into Mexico wihtout being met by a mighty military. North Korea is an actionable threat to the U.S. and others while Mexico is a neighbor and friend to the U.S.
Simple. Follow the money. Someone is benefitting by having the might of the US military there. Whether it be the South Korean government or some other "entity". If it don't make dollars...It don't make sense!
Well how about, South Korea is technically still at war with North Korea and as allies, participants, and I even dare to say part instigators in the war between both, we have a responsibility, in addition we are not at war with Mexico and I think it's a misuse of our Armed Forces, because it's not a military conflict. As a veteran, I would be livid if I was told to get ready for a deployment to the US-Mexico border.
Jack,
I believe the reason for our boarder not being secured is because the government wants the United States, Mexico, & Canada to be all one country without any boarders. Corporate america (who runs this country) would not allow it. They want the cheep labor and thats the way it will be no matter what the people want. If north and south Korea were to combine it would end up in mass distruction for the rest of the world. THANKS
A state of war exists between North and South Korea. The U.S. and Mexico are at peace, and in this country the armed forces are barred from playing a police role (thank goodness); that job is left to others. U.S. troopsin Korea, whose numbers have been steadily decreasing since the 1970's, have helped keep the peace there for more than 50 years. (That sure beats another war.) Whatever one may think of illegal immigrants seeking to enter this country, unlike the North Koreans and their threats to our South Korean treaty ally, they do not have the capability in war to rain down artillery on our capital and kill hundreds of thousands of people, send in assassins to kill our president, sink our navy ships, launch missiles, or conduct nuclear bomb tests.
Because it was NOT a war. It was a "police action" and we are the policemen of the world. Besides, if they put troops on the border it would disrupt the drug trade, and the prison companies that have sprung up in the last ten years would suffer. Are you against American business? Seriously, it makes more sense to have them in Korea than in Iraq or Afghanistan. At least there is an army for us to fight.
Jack,
Thanks for the opportunity to comment:
We better keep the defensive perimeter as far out as possible (S. Korea is a good place). Afghanistan and Pakistan are also good perimeter hard points to maintain. We need to control the immediate border perimeter with something closer to political might (leadership). The Mexican Government needs to be a better partner and military might will not make that happen. What will??
If Mexico was North Korea, we would have 28,000 troops on our border. But we don't have a problem with the country of Mexico, we have a problem with it's people slipping over to the US. And not all are hostile, they are just looking for a better life. It's the kind of threat they pose that warrants the troops. The country of Mexico is not our enemy.....That's the difference.
I think it's more of a presence thing. It's probably to show off our power in the region to the North Koreans, the Chinese, and the Russians. I could be wrong, but it seems like that's what it is.
It's all about money & power don't let anyone tell its not. The democrats will stop at nothing to get votes. They don't care if their legal, illegal or dead so long as its a vote for them. And add the bonus of the "race card" ( which is how the 2012 elections will be framed ) & a liberal leftest agenda of the president is the answer.
For the same reason our politicians keep putting other peoples interests ahead of our own. Some how we've gotten to the point to where if you oppose criminal immigration your a raceist, if you oppose sacrificing our men and women for other countries freedom your unpatriotic, we are in real trouble, and it's time for the adults among us to have adult discussions. This country is headed for civil unrest not seen since the civil war. There are only so many seats at the table, like it or not. As one of our founding fathers stated, " if there is to be strife, let it be in my time, so that my son may know peace in his".
We are honoring a treat and thats what is keeping our forces in South Korea. Its high time we reassessed our obligation to South Korea and let them take over their own defense. We can no longer afford to be the world policeman. This is a task that the United Nations was designed for and we pay for. Let them fulfill their obligations now.
Gerry
Ash Fork, Az.
Why not? It's not like protecting Americans from drug lords is more important than our 'sticking our nose into everyone else's business' foreign policies.
Two simple reasons; the democrat politicians want the vote of the Hispanic community and the republican power structure wants the cheap labor.
What the rest of us want is not material.
tampa, fl because of our corrupt, inept, self-serving politicians. who benefits from the illegal alien invasion? politicians. they get to spend more on welfare, health care, education, etc. on everything they can't give us legal, american, voting taxpayers as we are broke from doing so. illegals also vote, no matter that that's against the law too. and when did a politician ever listen to what the majority wants anyway?
I'm totally amazed at the attempt to compare the Mexican-US border with the 38th Parallel. Apparently, the sheriff doesn't recall that what exists in Korea is a tenuous CEASEFIRE, not a negotiated peace, that North Korea continuously issues staggering threats of military action that could inflame the whole region, that North Korea is run by an unstable dictator, that North Korea has an active long range missile program that could threaten our west coast and an active nuclear weapon development program to go along with the missiles. That's like comparing a grapefruit to a kumquat; actually, there's no really comparison.
Those personnel that are coming back from the mid east will need jobs. Put them on the border just as we have in Korea. Protect our borders for a change.
You are only counting Nat. Guard troops on our border. We also have INS,DEA,ICE, local and state police on the border. There has been more killings in Juarez and the rest of Mexico since Nixon declared war on drugs. The drugs continue to cross northward, the guns and money continues southward. In Korea the US is a deterrent in keeping the North from military incursions, in the US the Nat. Guard is not stopping a military force, so all they do is observe and give a false impression they are a force stopping illegal immigration. This is a waste of the Nat. Guard. Why do we need INS and ICE if the Nat. Guard is protecting the border? The answer is that the war on drugs has incited more violence and illegal activity than if we treated the problem on our side of the border. The money spent on the drug enforcement and incarceration is not well spent. We are supporting a police and incarceration industrial complex. The deployment of Nat. Guard troops on our border reinforce the fact that drug polices are out of date and ineffective. However, forces in Korea have been an actual deterrent to military action. Bottom line, the troops in Korea are effective because the mission is a military mission. In the US the mission is political and ineffective.
Why are there more U.S. troops on South Korea's border than on our own border?
Because both Republicans and Democrats use illegal immigration to exploit the middle class private sector into full submission! Democrats are picking our pockets to align themselves with Racist activist groups like La Raza. Republicans use Illegal Immigration to get around labor laws so they can keep wages depressed for all of us.
Then all the social welfare ensures that all tiers Government from Public Schools, Family Law, the War on Drugs, Immigration, and the Military Complex continue being able to grow their budgets by getting a cut of the exploitation of Illegal Immigration.
Tell me something Jack, why are law-makers forcing E-Verify on small businesses but giving all the public schools, hospitals, welfare lines, city lines, county lines, state lines and federal lines a pass? Sounds a little like an Oligarchy run by Government Unions, and Racist Community Action Committees gone wild to me!
Jack, I live in Arizona and I'm tired of hearing Sheriff Paul Babeu whining about the border when his county, Pinal, does not even butt up next to the boarder. Funny that you don't hear about Santa Cruz Countie's Sheriff, Tony Estrada, or Pima Counties Sheriff Clarence W. Dupnik, or Sheriff Dever of Cochise County, or Yuma Countie's Sheriff Ralph Ogden complaining as much as Babeu does. The The AzRep story notes: “DHS records for last year show that the Border Patrol seized 18 times as much marijuana and arrested 15 times as many illegal immigrants in Pima County as in Pinal. In Santa Cruz County last year, the agency seized nearly 10 times as much marijuana and arrested six times as many illegal immigrants as it did in Pinal. The agency also says 90 percent of all drug interdictions occur within 5 miles of the border and says only 3 percent of marijuana seizures made in its Tucson Sector occur in Pinal County.” You don't hear the other Sheriff's complaining and grandstanding like Babeu, who is 70 miles from the boarder, and he has no data to prove his claims.
As for our Military being present on the boarder of North and South Korea. If we leave North Korea will definately attack South Korea. North Korea has bombs. The illegal Mexican's crossing the border do not have bombs, and I haven't heard anything to the contrary on Arizona's new stations. Most illegals are over here to make a decent living, one that they cannot make in Mexico. Getting papers to allow them to work in the U.S. can take years, and I'm not talking 2 years, I am talking 15 to 20 years.
Maybe it's because Mexico doesn't have a million armed troops ready to attack at any time.
Jack:
Sterling here, volunteer soldier 1970-73 with two volunteer tours in Vietnam.
The question should be, "Why haven't we left South Korea long ago?"
They have a strong economy, North Korea can't even grow beans.
We should have "bean" out of there decades ago.
There is no longer any need for these troops to be on the border between the two Koreas.They both look evenly matched troop wise and if necessary leave a few nukes for the south with a few troops left behind to over see them in case of need.Bring the troops home and put them on the borders.That alone would help the economy a bit.