What do you think of THIS????

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Billions at stake in border contract
By Dave Montgomery

McClatchy Newspapers

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Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif.





Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff sees a mix of technology and manpower.


WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is expected next month to choose an industry consortium to erect a high-tech security shield along the U.S. borders, launching one of the federal government's most ambitious public-works projects in years.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) calls the proposed Secure Border Initiative Net (SBInet) the "most comprehensive effort in the nation's history" to gain control of more than 6,000 miles of border with Mexico and Canada, and 2,000 miles of coastline.

SBInet is a centerpiece of President Bush's efforts to fortify the U.S.-Mexico border at a time Congress is locked in a struggle to revise the nation's immigration laws. Administration officials say they intend to proceed with the security net regardless of the outcome of the debate over immigration legislation.

The multibillion-dollar undertaking has ignited a contract battle among industry teams headed by four leading defense companies — Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon — and Ericsson, the Swedish-based telecommunications giant with U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas.

Competitors diverse

Collectively, the teams are composed of nearly 40 companies in more than 15 states, a diverse lineup that includes global engineering firms, niche industries adept at biometric identification or surveillance, and aerospace corporations better known for churning out warplanes, tanks and missiles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a branch of the DHS, is expected to announce a winner by Sept. 30.

As envisioned by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, SBInet would marry industry expertise with the 42,000-employee Customs and Border Protection to create a wall of technology, manpower and infrastructure in the next six years. The initial cost is projected at $2.5 billion, but the price could be much higher.

The shield is a dominant component of the Secure Border Initiative that Chertoff announced in November to stem the flow of illegal immigrants. More than 1.2 million illegal immigrants were arrested in 2005, nearly all on the southern border.

Although Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Michael Jackson told industry officials the project is "not about simply buying gizmos," much of the attention has focused on the potential mix of technology. Most of the proposals include state-of-the-art sensors, mounted cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles, radar and other surveillance hardware.




Calls for toughening the border have intensified with the approach of the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the recent alleged terrorist bomb plot in Britain. But the project has come under heightened scrutiny on Capitol Hill after a congressional report last month blasted DHS procurement polices.

The bipartisan report, released by the House Committee on Government Reform, identified $34.3 billion worth of DHS contracts marred by significant overcharges, wasteful spending or mismanagement. The troubled projects include a largely ineffective camera-surveillance system along the Mexican and Canadian borders.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., complained that SBInet could be exposed to the same problems, contending the DHS is giving industry too much latitude in determining how the system should be tailored. "That's not governing," he said. "It's utter incompetence, and it's going to cost the taxpayers billions."

From the bidders' vantage point, SBInet could create thousands of jobs and illustrate the defense industry's expanding transition into homeland security. Tools of war — such as radar and satellite surveillance — easily can be redirected into the campaign to guard the home front, industry officials say.

"We see it as an increasing market," said John Douglass, president and chief executive officer of the Aerospace Industries Association. "Many of the technologies that make you a successful aerospace contractor would also make you a successful homeland-security contractor."

Several of the team members started preparing for the project more than two years ago, when the DHS was considering a since-abandoned border initiative called America's Shield. Team representatives spent months on the border, and several bidders set up remote border-area test sites to evaluate equipment.

Nearly 60 potential bidders expressed interest in the project before the DHS winnowed the field to the five rival teams. Universities in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are aligned with several of the teams, reflecting academia's growing expertise in homeland security and border demographics.

Bidders made oral presentations in the past two weeks and have until Monday to update their proposals.

While SBInet bristles with opportunity, the winning team will face immense obstacles in trying to create a leakproof "virtual wall" traversing rugged desert terrain in the south and mountainous, wooded landscape in the north. The challenges probably will include property-rights disputes and environmental issues.

Sensors and cameras have been operating along the borders for years; the SBInet team will be charged with building a system tying all the pieces together. In addition to technology, the industry team will provide contract personnel for non-law-enforcement jobs and train government agents to adapt to the new system.

Sensors popular item

In January, Jackson urged industry officials to be innovative without straying "onto the wacky edge of creativity." Most proposals call for a network of thousands of sensors that would detect movement, sound and, in some cases, odor.

The sensor then would flash an alarm on a computerized map in a command-and-control center, where an operator would train a long-range mounted camera on the site to determine whether an animal or a human intruder tripped the alarm.

If necessary, agents would be dispatched. Several, if not all, of the teams would augment the protection with unmanned surveillance aircraft and, in some cases, high-altitude surveillance balloons

'alberto" this is a REALITY that IS going to happen!!!! Get USED TO IT!!!!!! DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS>>>>>>>>>>
SUPPORT HR 4437!!!!!!!!!
Hasta la bye bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Hmmmm.....

Looks Good On Paper
Sounds Real Nice

But If It Came Out Of Chertoff's Mouth
It's Probably BS

We Can HOPE He's Not Giving Us Lip Service
But He Probably Is
I'll Believe Him When I See Fruition Of The "Project"

high-tech Gizmos
radar and satellite surveillance
a leakproof "virtual wall" (LMFAOff)

"Most proposals call for a network
of thousands of sensors
that would detect movement, sound and,
in some cases, odor."

That Sounds Like Area 51
And Even THEY ^ Have A FENCE

Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon — and Ericsson, the Swedish-based telecommunications giant with U.S. headquarters in Plano, Texas.

HaHaHa Who's He KIDDING
The Contract For ANY Border Developement
Will Go To Halliburton





An Aggressively Patrolled FENCE Or WALL
Would Be More Effective
AND
More COST Effective Than Chertoff's "Proposal"

What Good Is An "unmanned surveillance aircraft"
Without A Wall Or Fence






Thanks For The Post

Answer 2

That was interesting.

I too want to see if they will do. As posted before-there is a better and cheaper way. But I guess our government doesn't want to go that way -which is no surprise. But many of the same methods are being used in this plan. It would work if used right.

And JD and Sassy have each brought up good points.
Very nice Information!


hanks tay ou
lay

Answer 3

It sounds good on paper, but I'll wait and see if they actually do something more than talk about it ... after all, we were promised border security at the 1986 amnesty, there was plenty of talk and sweeteners to get that one through .... and we all know how secure the border is 20 years later ... I'm cautiously optimistic, but I don't trust the feckers ........

Answer 4

What i think is simple.So called Americans have become stupid and brain washed We become slaves to the government.The government keeps you looking at people so you keep your eyes off of them as the take more money away from you to fund what ever they like including secrete army.illegal immigrants give 7 bill on dollars a year to Social Security .The government has drained this.using the money for other things.So let do away with the illegal immigrants.Who going to pay you when you retire

Answer 5

I think that we should seriously speak out to our congressman to let them know that they don't need a fence nor do we. We have been 216 years without a fence.
We have to begin using the laws and the manpower to stand at the borders and show a force of deterence. Then when they cross over we arrest them and hold them for several months, and then they lose money on deal of crossing. This begins to wear on them to keep them out.
We don't need to spend billions and waste our time and money on this giant fence.
We need to begin to use our resources for the good of other countries who need us to assist as needed to get their economies up and running. Instead of this building up a fence to hide behind.

Answer 6

Well, thanks for the great info again, Sealr. I only hope it is more than hype.

I agree, though. Seal the Borders! No Amnesty! Deport ALL illegals!

Answer 7

I think all contractors bidding should have to certify that all workers are legally here, and not go through 'hiring contractors'.

Answer 8

Thanks for the post Sealr. I agree that it sounds good on paper. One can only hope....

Thanks for the post again. BTW, the pod Foxnews sent me the same thing that was posted on this question in my email.

Answer 9

Your avatar shows a cute, little sweetie. Your writing shows a hateful, uninformed, brain-washed, prejudiced person with no empathy for her fellow human beings. Let's hear it for the avatar.

Answer 10

This was a great article.. JD And Sashie have this one... :)
Kay Tayo!