Team Infidel
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Arizona Republic (Phoenix)
April 23, 2008 Leaders of 3 states want to keep Guard on duty
By Matthew Benson, The Arizona Republic
Gov. Janet Napolitano is again pleading for an extension of the border-security operation that has placed National Guard troops along the border since June 2006.
Known as Operation Jump Start, the mission was designed to bolster the border with thousands of National Guard troops until an equal number of Border Patrol officers could be hired to take their place.
But with Border Patrol staffing still inadequate and a planned virtual fence delayed by technical troubles, Napolitano, a Democrat, warned in a letter to congressional leaders Tuesday that a planned July 15 sunset of the operation would be "irresponsible."
"We respectfully request that Congress extend and fully fund Operation Jump Start at numbers necessary to maintain the hard-won improvements in operational control of the border," Napolitano wrote in a joint letter along with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
It was just last month that the Arizona governor made a similar request by way of a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. But Napolitano's appeals have thus far fallen on deaf ears.
At its peak, Operation Jump Start brought 6,000 troops to the four border states, including 2,400 to Arizona.
That number has been reduced by half, with about 1,200 troops now stationed along Arizona's southern border.
"While we applaud the (Bush) administration for the steps taken to secure our international border, we are concerned that prematurely ending the highly successful Operation Jump Start could reverse the success of this mission," Napolitano and her colleagues wrote to congressional leaders, including Senate President Harry Reid, R-Nev., and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
"Threats will continue to increase along our international border, especially if adequate safeguards have not been put in place," they wrote.
April 23, 2008 Leaders of 3 states want to keep Guard on duty
By Matthew Benson, The Arizona Republic
Gov. Janet Napolitano is again pleading for an extension of the border-security operation that has placed National Guard troops along the border since June 2006.
Known as Operation Jump Start, the mission was designed to bolster the border with thousands of National Guard troops until an equal number of Border Patrol officers could be hired to take their place.
But with Border Patrol staffing still inadequate and a planned virtual fence delayed by technical troubles, Napolitano, a Democrat, warned in a letter to congressional leaders Tuesday that a planned July 15 sunset of the operation would be "irresponsible."
"We respectfully request that Congress extend and fully fund Operation Jump Start at numbers necessary to maintain the hard-won improvements in operational control of the border," Napolitano wrote in a joint letter along with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
It was just last month that the Arizona governor made a similar request by way of a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. But Napolitano's appeals have thus far fallen on deaf ears.
At its peak, Operation Jump Start brought 6,000 troops to the four border states, including 2,400 to Arizona.
That number has been reduced by half, with about 1,200 troops now stationed along Arizona's southern border.
"While we applaud the (Bush) administration for the steps taken to secure our international border, we are concerned that prematurely ending the highly successful Operation Jump Start could reverse the success of this mission," Napolitano and her colleagues wrote to congressional leaders, including Senate President Harry Reid, R-Nev., and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
"Threats will continue to increase along our international border, especially if adequate safeguards have not been put in place," they wrote.