Mr. Haxton,

EVERYONE inside the corridor in Washington is playing politics with out naitonal security, regardless of political persuasion.

Amen, ORR. It blows my mind to imagine a 2000 mile fence between the USA and Mexico. Wire cutters in a remote area would be all it would take to get across.

Until the businesses who employ illegal aliens are held accountable, all else is a joke.

That's not going to happen, Carol. The Bushies want all of their rich friends to be able to hire ultra cheap labor so they have more money to spend on themselves.

Mr. Haxton, all of your historical examples included large, well-equipped armies small groups of people with only basic tools. Apples and oranges.

I certainly don't want terrorist to come in to this country. I feel that most of our government is try their very best to keep that from happening (though i wonder what Bush is trying to get out of the Dubia deal?) My problem is with the free loaders. I am tired of working for 7 dollars an hour (approximatly what I make after taxes) taxes that are used to subsidize the free loading illegals who are sucking up my tax dollars.

The war in Iraq is sucking up more of our tax dollars than welfare. I'm sure JDR can provide figures, but using common sense alone, this fact is evident to me. I haven't heard the pres ask for extra funding for the poor and ill.

I don't want people to cheat the government (the citizens of the USA) on any level. It seems that Congress, and the state and local politicians are doing most of the wasteful spending. Don't have to make a list, we all know what is happening.

OK, I'll bite. If we are "surely . . . more intelligent and capable of border protection than what it being proposed"--and I'll overlook that people are literally more intelligent than a fence--then what are the more intelligent and capable folks like yourself proposing insofar as border protection is concerned?

To say that triteness and slogans come out of Washington is to say that human speech occurs there, but what's the trite-free (or at least trite-lite) solution?

Enforce the laws we have; check employee records; fine employers who hire illegals; just to name a few.

As a bleeding heart liberal, I really feel sorry for those who are so desperate that they risk so much to get here illegally. Most of these don't have the education or money needed to become a citizen. A well monitored work permit program seems the answer to me.

I blame the Mexican Government for their part. If they used their resources wisely, jobs would be available in Mexico.

As for terrorists crossing the Mexican border, if we "secure" that one, they can just walk over from Canada. I believe that if a terrorists want in, they will get in. If believe if they are willing to die in the process, they can attack us at will.

I agree that a fence is not the solution. Even if it was, a fence that only covers a small percentage of the border would definitely not be a solution.

I believe our border should be more heavily protected. Just don't see that a fence is going to accomplish that. Heck, my dog can get under and over a fence.