Another stretch of the Canada-U.S. border is now being patrolled by an unmanned Predator B drone, another step in Homeland Security's plan to have the planes eventually flying over the longest undefended border in the world.
This irritates the hell out of me. Its the MEXICAN border that needs this stuff. On the Mexican border we have the drug gang problem and the Illegal immigration. That is the border that needs to be hardened.
I'm sure in a lot of US political circles they consider the drugs coming out of Canada to be worthy of note and likely think they can catch large shipments crossing in the dark so to speak. It might also be a case of trying to show they aren't picking on the Mexicans also. The US is entitled to patrol the CAN-US border all they want. A handful of drones flying around is OK as long as our airspace and laws aren't be violated then more power to em.
"DerbyX" said I'm sure in a lot of US political circles they consider the drugs coming out of Canada to be worthy of note and likely think they can catch large shipments crossing in the dark so to speak. It might also be a case of trying to show they aren't picking on the Mexicans also. The US is entitled to patrol the CAN-US border all they want. A handful of drones flying around is OK as long as our airspace and laws aren't be violated then more power to em.
I'm no cop, but I'm kinda doubting that lots of drugs are coming over by horseback/pickup truck/open boat stacked with kilos of BC bud/ or any other obvious and cartoonish way that would be painfully obvious to a predator drone operator.
"Gunnair" said I'm sure in a lot of US political circles they consider the drugs coming out of Canada to be worthy of note and likely think they can catch large shipments crossing in the dark so to speak. It might also be a case of trying to show they aren't picking on the Mexicans also. The US is entitled to patrol the CAN-US border all they want. A handful of drones flying around is OK as long as our airspace and laws aren't be violated then more power to em.
I'm no cop, but I'm kinda doubting that lots of drugs are coming over by horseback/pickup truck/open boat stacked with kilos of BC bud/ or any other obvious and cartoonish way that would be painfully obvious to a predator drone operator.
Could be wrong though...
I agree. I think it's naive to think that the corruption in occupations like border gaurds has been cleaned up. We all accept that organized crime had it's contacts in the past, right?
"ASLplease" said I agree. I think it's naive to think that the corruption in occupations like border gaurds has been cleaned up. We all accept that organized crime had it's contacts in the past, right?
Whether or not large shipments are going across the border is debatable. Natives were certainly running cigarettes that way and the police were often out gunned by the high speed boats and equipment used.
The key though is that its likely that US politicians believe it, you know the ones that still believe the 9/11 hijackers came from here. They believe it and other US citizens believe it too and they can score political points by demonstarting that they are concerned for their welfare and are looking out for them. Assigning a predator patrol to the border might just be a cheap way to score political points with voters who actually do believe that drugs/terrorists/illegal aliens are streaming across the border at unmonitored sections.
A story about BC bud a few years ago highlighted some road that was just that, an unmonitored way right into the US although after the report they undoubtedly dealt with it.
Regardless of the reason though the US is entitled to patrol its borders as it sees fit right?
I have driven my ATV to uncontrolled Can-US crossings in SE BC. They exist. And they mostly exist for the natives that refuse to acknowledge the border.
Large trucks full of drugs would stick out like a sore thumb in the bush. They prefer to stick to highways.
I'd bet that boats move a lot also but thats still not the point. They might just be spinning their wheels for all I know. I'd have to research it to see if such drug smuggling does exist in enough quantity to warrant patrols.
Myself I don't care one way or the other. Its like the minuteman guys patrolling the border looking for people sneaking in. I doubt in 5 years or so they have been doing it they got a single person but its their right to do it all they want. Gives them something to do with their time.
"DerbyX" said I'd bet that boats move a lot also but thats still not the point. They might just be spinning their wheels for all I know. I'd have to research it to see if such drug smuggling does exist in enough quantity to warrant patrols.
Myself I don't care one way or the other. Its like the minuteman guys patrolling the border looking for people sneaking in. I doubt in 5 years or so they have been doing it they got a single person but its their right to do it all they want. Gives them something to do with their time.
They have already made busts in the size of a semi trailer load at the Sweetgrass Alberta/Montana border. IMO, if there is one truck, there are many just like it....someone has a system of corruption that normally allows them to pass.
For sure, most is hidden into standard comercial trucking but this isn't to stop drugs but people smuggling. They already have most of South BC scoped with thermals so why not the rest? Last I heard, there were no hellfire missine strikes yet so who cares. Is it any different than a camera on a pole watching another boring country road?
I'm sure in a lot of US political circles they consider the drugs coming out of Canada to be worthy of note and likely think they can catch large shipments crossing in the dark so to speak. It might also be a case of trying to show they aren't picking on the Mexicans also. The US is entitled to patrol the CAN-US border all they want. A handful of drones flying around is OK as long as our airspace and laws aren't be violated then more power to em.
I'm no cop, but I'm kinda doubting that lots of drugs are coming over by horseback/pickup truck/open boat stacked with kilos of BC bud/ or any other obvious and cartoonish way that would be painfully obvious to a predator drone operator.
Could be wrong though...
I'm sure in a lot of US political circles they consider the drugs coming out of Canada to be worthy of note and likely think they can catch large shipments crossing in the dark so to speak. It might also be a case of trying to show they aren't picking on the Mexicans also. The US is entitled to patrol the CAN-US border all they want. A handful of drones flying around is OK as long as our airspace and laws aren't be violated then more power to em.
I'm no cop, but I'm kinda doubting that lots of drugs are coming over by horseback/pickup truck/open boat stacked with kilos of BC bud/ or any other obvious and cartoonish way that would be painfully obvious to a predator drone operator.
Could be wrong though...
I agree. I think it's naive to think that the corruption in occupations like border gaurds has been cleaned up. We all accept that organized crime had it's contacts in the past, right?
I agree. I think it's naive to think that the corruption in occupations like border gaurds has been cleaned up. We all accept that organized crime had it's contacts in the past, right?
Whether or not large shipments are going across the border is debatable. Natives were certainly running cigarettes that way and the police were often out gunned by the high speed boats and equipment used.
The key though is that its likely that US politicians believe it, you know the ones that still believe the 9/11 hijackers came from here. They believe it and other US citizens believe it too and they can score political points by demonstarting that they are concerned for their welfare and are looking out for them. Assigning a predator patrol to the border might just be a cheap way to score political points with voters who actually do believe that drugs/terrorists/illegal aliens are streaming across the border at unmonitored sections.
A story about BC bud a few years ago highlighted some road that was just that, an unmonitored way right into the US although after the report they undoubtedly dealt with it.
Regardless of the reason though the US is entitled to patrol its borders as it sees fit right?
Large trucks full of drugs would stick out like a sore thumb in the bush. They prefer to stick to highways.
Myself I don't care one way or the other. Its like the minuteman guys patrolling the border looking for people sneaking in. I doubt in 5 years or so they have been doing it they got a single person but its their right to do it all they want. Gives them something to do with their time.
us-politics-f18/mexicans-army-crosses-border-200x-so-far-t66556.html
I'd bet that boats move a lot also but thats still not the point. They might just be spinning their wheels for all I know. I'd have to research it to see if such drug smuggling does exist in enough quantity to warrant patrols.
Myself I don't care one way or the other. Its like the minuteman guys patrolling the border looking for people sneaking in. I doubt in 5 years or so they have been doing it they got a single person but its their right to do it all they want. Gives them something to do with their time.
They have already made busts in the size of a semi trailer load at the Sweetgrass Alberta/Montana border. IMO, if there is one truck, there are many just like it....someone has a system of corruption that normally allows them to pass.
Last I heard, there were no hellfire missine strikes yet so who cares. Is it any different than a camera on a pole watching another boring country road?