Military people, what is more important, Iraq or our southern border?

Question

All you Marines, Army, AF guys, etc. how do you feel about our border being left open by our President and Congress while we are in Iraq? From your standpoint, shouldn't we be on the border? Yes or no and why.

FYI, in the Constitution, it specifically states the military is there to protect our borders.

And I don't understand how millions of illegal Mexicans are "our people".

Oh, please tell what branch you are in as well. Just interesting to hear where the POV is coming from.

Answer 1

Army
Served in Iraq

illegals are ruining our economy daily and make me sick. They should not be allowed any special privilages except the ones someone on a vaction would get. About iraq it seemed like it was getting better when i came home hope it is. We need to dominate and get out. Lets all stay home my military friends

Answer 2

Should be and can be are two different questions. The military cannot Constitutionally enforce civilian laws against civilians unless certain circumstances are met. Do you want military law declared in the border areas and the military enforcing the law? I spent 20 years in the Marines and never had a feeling as bad as I got when a Presidential candidate in the 1970's talked about using the military to patrol and control the border with Mexico; one step down a slippery slope-crime is bad in LA, DC and NYC so should we send in the military to clean it up. Posse Commondis is there for a good reason and widespread martial law was only declared once in our history and that was the American Civil War to control anti-draft riots in New York; don't include the aftermath of the Civil War in the South but if you want to discuss that you would find that was the main "anger" point was not losing the war for Southerners it was what happened after.. No and it should never happen because of the Constitution. And Yes the talk about illegal immigration does go way back and pops onto the skyline every decade or so. Reagan did a "One Time Amnesty" for illegal immigrants in the early 1980's and here we are talking about it again in Congress. The job of securing the border belongs to the Border Patrol and they should be beefed up and allowed to do it but keep the military out of it. Protect means to protect from foriegn invasion and has nothing to do with civil crimes (immigration is a civil offense) which is what is said by securing our borders.

Answer 3

I think the "military is there to protect our borders" is a reference to a war scenario, the last I heard the U.S.A. are not at war with Mexico.

There is no "Open Border" if there was, the USA would be swamped by the millions of "Illegal Mexicans" you are ranting about!!

The Border Patrol are the only Force authorized to control the Border.

Maybe it would be a better idea to penalize the American business men, who hire the "illegals" to do the work, because its far easier for an American to go pick up a welfare check than work for money!!

And don't forget over 200 years ago it was the Europeans who were the poor white-trash refugees, looking for a new life, most of your so-called "illegals" are native to the American continent or are the result of the Spanish conquest of South America and Mexico.

Answer 4

Iraq. But why worry about just our Southern border? Have you forgotten that the one terrorist we caught for the Millenium bombing came into our country through our open border with Canada?

And the al Qaeda terrorists from 9/11 did not come from either Mexico or Canada. They flew here from overseas on visas granted to them during the Clinton administration!

President has the authority, but Congress has the purse. We need to build up our Border Patrol and Homeland Security so they can do their jobs more effectively and get the Guard units out of there. But Pelosi and Reid won't release the funds for that. They would rather spend the funds on pet projects in their states that fatten their wallets than protect their nation.

Answer 5

I'm prior Air, currently Army.

While I haven't had the chance to go overseas (I'm hoping we'll get picked up next year), I did get a chance to serve on the border mission. With the National Guard there, there was DEFINITELY been an improvement.

I think both are equally important.

To the gentleman who said that WMD are not coming from Mexico, its not just sweet families and babies coming over the border. Its other nationalities and thugs as well.

Answer 6

Ok, great, you put the military on the border, then what ?

They aren't allowed to apprehend any illegals, they cannot arrest them.

That would violate the Posse Comitatus Act.

Thats why they tried using national guard troops on the border, they aren't under the Posse Comitatus Act, unless federalized.

Answer 7

No we should not. The US military is not trained to police its own people. The borders were unprotected before 9/11. You need to talk to your representatives in Congress who keep pulling all the funding for the border security. Please leave the military to do what they are trained to do.
USAF Veteran

Answer 8

we haven't any say in what's extra significant. We keep on with orders. We also legally aren't any further allowed to guard interior of our borders, it truly is the the nationwide safeguard changed into created for. So why we've the comprehend how, we do no longer have the criminal top to guard our personal borders.

Answer 9

Iraq. You honestly have no idea what its like over there, then again neither do I. I hear so many things from my friends who are in the military, and Iraq is deffinately more important right now.

Answer 10

not military but have many family members that are or have been military.. I agree that the borders north, east, west, and south need military involvement but why dont we just place military bases up in critical areas and let the military control their grounds like they do at all their bases..