George Putnam
One Reporter's Opinion: Citizen Militia on the Border
Fri Dec 13 21:58:42 2002
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One Reporter's Opinion: Citizen Militia on the Border
George Putnam
Friday, Dec. 13, 2002

It is this reporter's opinion that I found it the height of hypocrisy when I read the headline "U.S. Plans to Seal Afghans' Porous Border." The plan is to slow the flow of illegals, illicit drugs, terrorists and contraband into and out of Afghanistan. The United States will finance the construction and maintenance of 177 checkpoints, staffed by 12,000 border police in that far-off land.

The cost is staggering – each checkpoint and its facilities to cost an average of $300,000. It is to include offices, sleeping quarters and, in some cases, clinics – this staggering expenditure to guarantee the sovereignty of Afghanistan.

Contrast this with the fact that our country cannot and will not control the flow of illegal aliens across our own porous borders – 15 million illegals that have poured into the United States, violating our sovereignty!

Where our government has failed us, several groups of patriotic citizens are taking up arms along the Arizona border with Mexico. One of these is Chris Simcox, a teacher-turned-newspaper-owner, who has formed the Tombstone, Ariz., militia called Civil Homeland Defense.

Chris says:

We will no longer tolerate the ineptness of our government in dealing with these criminals and drug dealers. It is a monumental disgrace that our government is letting the American people down, turning us into expendable casualties of the war on terrorism.

These armed civilian groups along our borders, providing civil homeland defense, are experiencing constant confrontations with illegals. There have been moments that bordered on extreme violence. It's bound to become more dangerous and, as one observer puts it, somebody is going to get killed.

Simcox, in a moment of frustration, told this reporter:

I defy our president to arrest any of us for doing what the government refuses to do to protect the sovereignty of our beloved country. This land belongs to every citizen; it's OUR land. I challenge my government to come and arrest me. We are not "crazies," we are concerned citizens, we are responsible people.

The groups are growing. There are now more than a dozen known militia organizations – armed civilian groups – on the border. It's time Congress and the president become involved.

Simcox says:

I am trying to force the president of the United States to do his job. He took an oath to protect us from enemies. He has no business sending troops to foreign countries when he has not sealed our own borders.

If we can protect the porous border of Afghanistan, with 177 checkpoints and 12,000 border police, surely we can protect the border of the United States of America.

I invite you to read on:

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/local/12_9_02armed.html

http://www.azstarnet.com/border/21206TOMBSTONEMILITIA.html

http://www.projectusa.org/Ezine/02-07-02-12.html

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The legendary George Putnam is 88 years young and a veteran of 68 years as a reporter, broadcaster and commentator ... and is still going strong. George is part of the all-star line-up of Southern California's KPLS Radio - Hot Talk AM 830.
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