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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTexas "navy" to begin patrolling Rio Grande
This is almost as ridiculous as Wyoming wanting to acquire its own aircraft carrier.
http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/29/texas-navy-to-patrol-the-rio-grande/?hpt=hp_t3
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Next month, the state's Department of Public Safety will deploy the first of a fleet of six gunboats on the Rio Grande, the river that forms the border between the state and Mexico, CNN affiliate WFAA-TV reports.
The 34-foot-long boats, each powered by three, 300-horsepower outboard engines, will have bulletproof plating and six machine guns apiece, not unlike the river patrol boats the U.S. Navy used during the Vietnam War.
The vessels will be able to operate in as little as 2 feet of water, according to the report, and will work with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to combat drug smuggling coming across the Rio Grande.
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southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)NutmegYankee
(16,201 posts)Dead cartel gangsters make the world a better place.
ellisonz
(27,711 posts)Or it just makes more cartel gangsters to take their place...
The drug war can't be won.
southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)saras
(6,670 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Angleae
(4,497 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)shit gets innocent people killed. They need to keep that in mind.
Vincardog
(20,234 posts)as a ditch.
WolverineDG
(22,298 posts)Ron Obvious
(6,261 posts)I'm in El Paso at the moment. I've had urine flows more impressive than the Rio Grande as it flows here today.
I lived here a long time ago; back in those days you could (and I have) cross the river without getting your feet wet. These days, there's a massive border fence and it's constantly patrolled. How times have changed.
pitohui
(20,564 posts)it depends on where you cross into texas, at different places on this long border, i have actually seen spots where the 34 foot long boats would fit in the water and be able to do something, i have also been at places where you can just wade across, i've witnessed people crossing every kind of way, on boat, on foot, on horseback, just depends where you are
6 boats isn't going to do anything to secure the border but i guess it's jobs for the guys on the boats
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Lake Amistad I know for sure sees a lot of drug traffic. Falcon Lake was where a man was shot and killed reportedly by drug dealers or "pirates" while on a jet ski with his wife.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)The part about them using them on the border is just a smokescreen. I saw one here in Corpus Christi (over 150 miles from the border) a week or so ago.
It's just more militarization of the police. I am so glad I am getting out of this state. Not that North Carolina is much of an improvement.
Nuclear Unicorn
(19,497 posts)If they take fire from the Mexican side of the river will they return fire?
Granted, the shooters wouldn't be Mexican government but Mexico might still be a little miffed and rightfully so. They're still pretty heated over Fast and Furious.
And doesn't the Constitution forbid states from having navies?
hack89
(39,171 posts)If someone opens fire from Mexico they can shoot back.
Common sense also dictates it is ok - of course you can shot back when someone is trying to kill you.
on edit: There are many state and local law enforcement agencies with boats. They are not technically navies.
Rex
(65,616 posts)some places are nothing but chemical sludge.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)PDittie
(8,322 posts)Six machine gun mounts.
Hugabear
(10,340 posts)I'm sure plenty of Minutemen types would love to sign up for service.
izquierdista
(11,689 posts)TheMightyFavog
(13,770 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,662 posts)One of the fleet Captain's -
Ilsa
(61,705 posts)there is water on the border, they'll figure out a way to capture and steal it.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)There's almost no water in the Rio Grande in so many places. Like, any cartel runners won't know that and just cross where there's no water. Duh!
marmar
(77,097 posts)It'll be a chapter in the forthcoming (probably sooner than we think) Downfall of America book.
madinmaryland
(64,933 posts)That Davy!
bluestate10
(10,942 posts)PufPuf23
(8,843 posts)metalbot
(1,058 posts)We've had US citizens killed on the Rio Grande by drug smugglers. The idea that Texas DPS will patrol the river as well seems totally reasonable to me, given that there are Texas residents who use the river. If the US Border Patrol isn't going to do it, I'm just as happy to see TX DPS do it.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)The only citizen I know about that was killed near the border was the guy on the jet ski on Falcon Lake, and he was well on the Mexican side of the lake. There was no verification that he was killed by drug smugglers and even if he was the Texas navy wouldn't be able to patrol the Mexican side of the lake anyway.
CBP has a number of boats already, as well as an air force and armies of agents. This move appears to be politically motivated more than anything constructive.
alarimer
(16,245 posts)Here, near Corpus Christi. So that part about only being one the border is a complete lie. Those guys were out testing their new "toy" on unsuspecting citizens.
onethatcares
(16,192 posts)is dhs providing the funds?