Ready for armed drones along U.S.-Mexico border?

[cali]

Last month, when the Senate passed an amendment to its immigration-reform bill that included $46 billion to beef up border security, Sen. John McCain declared: “We’ll be the most militarized border since the fall of the Berlin Wall!” He didn’t know the half of it.

Since then, documents released as part of a lawsuit filed by the Electronic Frontier Foundation have revealed that the Department of Homeland Security has been preparing to fly armed drones along the border.

A long-term planning document prepared by DHS’ Customs and Border Patrol service, which is already using Predator drones for surveillance along the border, would authorize the use of “nonlethal weapons designed to immobilize” targets of interest.



<snip>

The real question may be why the Border Patrol wouldn’t be planning to arm its drones. The Senate’s immigration-reform bill clearly contemplates turning the border with Mexico into an armed camp. Not only does it call for doubling the number of Border Patrol agents to 38,000, but for building another 350 miles of fence.

It would require — not allow, but require — the Border Patrol to buy six North Grumman airborne radar systems ($9.3 million apiece), 15 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters ($17 million apiece) and eight American Eurocopter light choppers ($3 million each).

<snip>

http://www.bradenton.com/2013/07/19/4613769/glenn-garvin-ready-for-armed-drones.html

[Le Taz Hot]

1. So . . .

now we're going to KILL people if they try to cross the border? I don't even know what to say to that.

[cali]

2. they say they're not going to arm drones but

the language in the Senate immigration bill explicitly allows for it. As the author says, why have that language in there if you have no intent of doing so.

Beyond, that, look at all the lovely pork for the military industrial complex.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. It seems sometimes that the M.I.C. builds stuff because they can

and then pushes for a use for what they build.
I think I finally understand what mission creep really means.
Gotta keep those defense dollars coming in.

[cali]

5. Yeah, this is like a textbook case of mission creep

and creepy is just what it is. Makes my stomach turn over.

[Riftaxe]

4. I say if they are good enough for American Citizens

surely they are good enough for the border!

It is about time we had a drone celebration day to honor them, have them fire at anyone entering a foreign embassy to gain honor, at the end of the day we just send the winning country a bouquet!

Like them or hate them, they sure do make things easy.

[LuvNewcastle]

7. Yes, they make things easy for the people who want to watch us 24/7.

We need to ban the use of drones in American airspace and there needs to be a UN resolution banning their use throughout the world. The horrible potential for their misuse far outweighs any good that may come from their use. We'll have to see a major shake-up in the power structure of this country before we ever see those things banned, though.

[Riftaxe]

8. My one solace is that I will be long dead

before people realize what they are allowing for convenience's sake turns out to bite them in the ass. They just do not know any better.

[LuvNewcastle]

9. They have no foresight whatsoever.

Anyone could predict what's coming next from what we've seen happen so far. I know Americans are historically impaired, but this is such a case of willful blindness that it's almost unforgivable. Don't be so sure you'll be dead before the shit hits the fan. It's imminent; so unless you're dying this year, you're going to see things deteriorate badly, I fear.

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. A drone crashed on a Fla. highway and blew itself up.

Yep..they are programmed to blow themselves up if they crash.
http://m.washingtonpost.com/posttv/national/drone-crashes-in-florida/2013/07/18/d595bd06-efb6-11e2-8c36-0e868255a989_video.html

This one was actually a "droned" F-4 Phantom aircraft, on a remote controlled test run.

Highway 98 hugs the Gulf Coast and is a popular route for tourists looking for scenic drive from Panama City to Florida's Big Bend region.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57594277/air-force-drone-crash-closes-remote-fla-highway/

Guess we better buy hard hats.....