Cartels suspected as high-caliber gunfire sends Border Patrol scrambling on Rio

[zxcvbob]

Could Governors Perry or Brewer have the NG or state guard shoot-down a Mexican military 'copter if it was on our side?  I think the resulting political crisis would be refreshing.

(why isn't this a problem in New Mexico?  It's almost like it's being coordinated at some high level)    

Apparently Rick Perry reads APS:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/21/gov-rick-perry-to-mobilize-texas-national-guard-troops-to-secure-u-s-mexico-border

[Ben]

Apparently Rick Perry reads APS:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/21/gov-rick-perry-to-mobilize-texas-national-guard-troops-to-secure-u-s-mexico-border

I just saw that. I'm curious as to how they'll be equipped to respond, or if they'll just be a bunch of unarmed people in uniform?

[KD5NRH]

I just saw that. I'm curious as to how they'll be equipped to respond, or if they'll just be a bunch of unarmed people in uniform?

Not a good scenario, but maybe having American troops attacked on American soil by a foreign enemy would finally qualify as an act of war to enough people to get something useful done.

[lupinus]

Not a good scenario, but maybe having American troops attacked on American soil by a foreign enemy would finally qualify as an act of war to enough people to get something useful done.

I'll belive it when I see it

[KD5NRH]

I'll belive it when I see it

Maybe we could get Obama to prove how safe it is by leading the troops himself.

[RoadKingLarry]

Not a good scenario, but maybe having American troops attacked on American soil by a foreign enemy would finally qualify as an act of war to enough people to get something useful done.

With Obama I wouldn't be surprised if any NG troop that caught lead weren't prosecuted for it.

[lee n. field]

Maybe we could get Obama to prove how safe it is by leading the troops himself.

 Don't make me laugh.

[T.O.M.]

Forget infantry.  Forget drones.  It's much cheaper to put some artillery in the area, and upon receiving fire, call in a fire mission.  Three or four crews and a few shells could dissuade the snipers real quick, and the casualty count north or the border would be minimal.  (I know, it's never going to happen, but it is fun to think about.)

[wmenorr67]

Saw somewhere there was a proposal for 20K troops on the border.  That is at least a division depending on the configuration.

[roo_ster]

Forget infantry.  Forget drones.  It's much cheaper to put some artillery in the area, and upon receiving fire, call in a fire mission.  Three or four crews and a few shells could dissuade the snipers real quick, and the casualty count north or the border would be minimal.  (I know, it's never going to happen, but it is fun to think about.)

You need infantry to (at least) flush them out like a bird dog.

[T.O.M.]

You need infantry to (at least) flush them out like a bird dog.

I know.  I was an infantry officer back in the day.  Just like the thought of a cartel team hearing a funny whistling, then fade to black.

(edited for fat-finger spelling error)

[roo_ster]

I know.  I was an infantry officer back in the day.  Just like the thought of a cartel team hearing a funny whistling, then fade to back.

Plus one to that.