DHS Talks About Enforcing the Rule of Law Preached About Abroad by "Looking
at" Border Situation in US
"Homeland Security Chief Tells of Plan to Stabilize Border" from
the NY Times, reports that Michael Chertoff, head of the Department of Homeland
Security, is actually planning to do something about our porous borders.
Reacting to public pressure steadily building over illegal immigration, the
Bush administration has finally decided to enforce the rule of law it preaches
abroad at home.
Mr. Chertoff said "We have decided to stand back and take a look at how
we address the problem and solve it once and for all."
One has to wonder how long they will stand back and take a look - this has
been going on since the Reagan amnesty in the 1980s - and finally due to pressure
from two Democrat governors and the public, the administration is being dragged
kicking and screaming to listen. Whether special interests such as business
and immigration lobbies will push back to the point that something will be done
that sounds tough and lawful, but exacerbates the problem in the fine print
remains to be seen. The specter of the London, Egyptian and Spanish bombings
cannot be comforting or reassuring despite all the chatter about efforts already
in place and taking the fight to the terrorists. Even one event in this country
that smells like terrorist doings and that all comes off the table and will
threaten not only homeland security but also any legacy and the 2006 and 2008
elections for the GOP. It may actually give a whiff of credibility when the
US talks to the Iraqis about sealing their borders against terrorists who stroll
in to raise havoc.
Comments