Bush's latest folly
So now the President wants to send 6,000 National Guard troops to guard the border with Mexico and supposedly put a stop to illegal immigration. That's what he said in a speech to the nation last night, although if we've learned anything about Bush, it is that he only on occasion delivers on the promises he makes. His red-blooded conservative supporters, who ginned up the immigration issue several months ago, cheered lustily. The question of where these troops will come from when the armed forces are having increasing problems persuading poor youths to sign up for duty in Iraq was not answered. NPR reported that $2 billion to pay states who send Guard units was stripped from the Iraq budget. No doubt they'll make that up with cuts to some program that helps the poor.
Understandably, Mexican President Vincente Fox was a bit concerned by the potential movement of 6,000 U.S. troops to his northern border. Mexican presidents have seen this all before, and it usually ennds badly for Mexico. A couple of years ago, I spent a day in Tijuana, Mexico, with my family and visited the excellent history and cultural museum there before heading down to Avenue Revolucion for the shopping. The museum includes a history of U.S. border incursions, including some you never find in history books here. It's more than the Mexican War of 1848 (in which Mexico lost nearly half its territory to the U.S.) and President Woodrow Wilson's invasions in the 1914-16 period.
Still, serving in the National Guard in southern Arizona, say, is a lot better than serving in Iraq. Great Mexican food in Tucson, U.S. infrastructure, and no one shootinng at you or setting off roadside bombs. You can date and marry the local girls and have a great time. Lets just hope there aren't any "incidents," e.g., rancher approaches Guard checkpoint too fast and gets blown away by nervous Guard troops who saw it all in Iraq.
So rejoice! The President has shown strength! He will stop illegal immigration by ordering it to stop! Tomorrow: President Bush orders National Guard to solve the energy crisis.