Monday, November 19, 2007

A Foreign Legion to Protect Our Borders, and How to finally Secure Air Travel

By Mark E Towner, Editor and Publisher of The Spyglass















Identification — I have been pondering recently about the Immigration proposal presented by President Bush, and how this does little to protect our southern boarders. Additionally we need the creation of a National ID / Work Card / Drivers License for all non US citizens.

This would eliminate the practice of illegal aliens getting Driver’s Licenses in Utah, then moving to another state and getting a drivers License there using the Utah License as ID. Any non US citizen when pulled over for a traffic citation would present their ID card and this would alert the police that this person is not a US citizen, and they should do a little more checking before just writing a citation and letting them go.

As for driving, when they can demonstrate in the state of their jurisdiction the ability to pass both a written and practical test, their ID cards would be embossed with driving privileges from that state. This must be accomplished in 90 days upon arrival to the US. This would allow tourists visiting the US to be able to rent cars while here in the US without this restriction.
(Since my original post in 2004, some of these ideas have been implemented)

Border Security — I would propose the creation of a "USA Foreign Legion" run and administered by the US Marine Corps. This force would recruit foreign nationals to enlist for 4 years. After successfully completing the normal Marine Corps Training program (failure of this training program would return them to the country of origin) they would be trained for a new Horse Calvary unit that would be stationed all along the southern border.

Although fully armed for any situation, these forces would be specially trained to intercept, and control border incursions using high tech non lethal measures. Those illegal aliens intercepted would be photographed and fingerprinted, then after processing they would be immediately flown by Chinook helicopter back over the border to a deportation base in Mexico.

Utilizing the old US Army training manuals for the upkeep of the animals, feeding, grooming, etc will keep these troops fairly busy. After successfully serving a 4 year stint in the legion, they would be given fast track status for US citizenship. They could choose to re-enlist into the regular Army, or continue with this force.

This force also could be deployed anywhere in the world for peacekeeping proposes, reserving our shock fighting forces for quick deployment. Coordinated ops with military helicopter units along the boarder directing the cavalry forces to the locations of incursion, these forces by utilizing infrared and other Military technology would finally secure our southern boarder
.

The benefits to the US would be a bilingual force that is familiar with the region, creates an avenue to US citizenship, and they are trained soldiers who are proud to be part of the US military. Upon honorary discharge they could enter the US civilian status with the education and tools to be successful in life.

How to Secure Air Travel — To travel by air in the United States, you should have a passport. The new generation passports should have RF ID chips and holographic pictures that can be read automatically when you go through security checkpoint before you even get to the screening machines. Arm the pilots. No Airplane will ever be hijacked again if the pilots are armed period. X-ray ALL cargo and baggage and create special transponder beacon codes that airline flights are assigned that they must squawk at a designated time during the trip, or they will be instructed to land at the closest secure airport.

Originally Posted by on January 16, 2004

The Monday morning Presidential Briefing


By Jessica Van Sack | Monday, November 19, 2007 | http://www.bostonherald.com | 2008 Campaign News

Some corn with your turkey? The candidates zero in on Iowa in the run-up to Thanksgiving this week. As former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney prepares to make his 35th campaign visit to the Hawkeye State, Sen. Hillary Clinton has juiced up her Iowa staff and ads. Two Democratic candidates, Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, will celebrate Turkey Day in Iowa with their families. Meanwhile, the GOP’s front-runner in national polls, Rudy Giuliani, will focus on Feb. 5 primary states more than the leadoff momentum of an Iowa win.

HITTING THE ROAD

Clinton in Iowa all week; Obama in Iowa for a two-day swing and then New Hampshire;Edwards and Biden in Iowa. Giuliani fundraising in Texas and campaigning in Illinois; Romney in Idaho today and Iowa until Wednesday; McCain in New Hampshire.

THE LONE REPUBLICAN WITH HOLLY ROBICHAUD

I have some swamp land to sell you in Florida if you believe that Hillary Clinton will abide by her latest position of opposing driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. She cannot even say the words “illegal immigrants.” Clinton’s clarity on the issue of so-called “undocumented workers” came on the same day the governor of New York threw in the towel. Eight states already pass out licenses. Do you suppose she will support cutting federal funds for those states? Only during the election.

HOT VIDEO OF THE WEEK

Mike Huckabee’s first TV ad debuts this week in Iowa, and you might call it a roundhouse kick of marketing. None other than Chuck Norris by his side, the former Arkansas governor proclaims, “My plan to secure the border? Two words: Chuck Norris.” Think hunting, border patrol and obliterating the IRS.http://www.youtube.com/explorehuckabee

POLLS Gallup/National Primary Dems: Clinton 48%, Obama 21%, Edwards 12% GOP: Giuliani 28%, Thompson 19%, McCain 13%, Romney 12% Research 2000/Iowa Caucus Dems:. Clinton 27%, Obama 25%, Edwards 21%, Richardson 10% GOP: Romney 27%, Huckabee 18%, Giuliani 16%, Thompson 10% EPIC/MRA Michigan Primary Dems: Clinton 49%, Obama 18%, Edwards 15% GOP: Giuliani 28%, Romney 25%, Thompson 13%, McCain 12%

THE MITT WATCH

We may never know who was responsible for the calls made in New Hampshire and Iowa impugning Romney’s Mormonism, but the Granite State’s attorney general is vowing to get to the bottom of who’s behind the underhanded hit, which violates state laws banning anonymous political ads. Utah-based Western Wats is under suspicion for reportedly placing the 20-minute calls. They ask whether the person receiving the call knew Romney received military deferments when he served in the Mormon missionary, and that the religion didn’t accept blacks as bishops until the 1970s, among other negative messages known in campaign circles as “push polling.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/view.bg?articleid=1045660

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Rudy Giuliani thrilled that New York Yankees, A-Rod on brink of deal

HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Rudy Giuliani can't wait to keep cheering for A-Rod.

Asked Sunday how he feels that the New York Yankees and third baseman Alex Rodriguez are on the cusp of finalizing a US$275-million, 10-year contract, the Republican presidential candidate broke into a wide smile and said he was thrilled.

"My take on A-Rod? I'm glad to have him back," Giuliani said before watching NASCAR's season-ending Ford 400. "If you give up a player like A-Rod, you've got a lot of rebuilding to do."

Giuliani's affinity for the Yankees is no secret.

The former mayor of New York is a regular at Yankee Stadium, with a seat right next to the team's dugout. And even on the campaign trail, he can't get away from Yankee-related questions: In recent weeks, he expressed hope Joe Torre would be back as manager and recently said former right fielder Roger Maris should be in baseball's Hall of Fame.

So on Sunday, it wasn't exactly a surprise that amid questions on oil prices and push polling, a conversation with Giuliani turned to Rodriguez's pending deal.

"Negotiations are complex in baseball and everyplace else," Giuliani said. "I'm glad it's going to work out the right way. I'm very glad to see that as an American League fan, as a Yankee fan, that we're keeping him in the American League and keeping him on the Yankees. ... Maybe next year he'll have 62 home runs."

Rodriguez opted out of the final three seasons of his $252-million, 10-year contract on Oct. 28, but later contacted the Yankees through intermediaries and began discussing the prospects of a return. The parameters of the new deal were agreed to last week.

Rodriguez has 518 career home runs, 244 shy of Barry Bonds' career record.

A-Rod's new manager, Joe Girardi, was also at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday for the NASCAR finale. Girardi chatted for a few minutes with popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., who posed for a photo with Girardi's son, Dante.

"Congratulations about your job," Earnhardt told Girardi, who was hired as the Yankees' manager last month after Torre turned down the team's $5-million, one-year offer.

Girardi thanked him, telling Earnhardt he's "very excited" to get started.

McCain Takes On Clinton, With an Eye to Civility


Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Potential rivals, Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain, at a prayer breakfast in February.


Published: November 19, 2007

RINDGE, N.H., Nov. 18 — Senator John McCain tried Sunday night to make the case that he was best positioned to defeat Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in a general election, outlining a series of contrasts with her on issues including national security and health care.

In a speech here that his campaign described as the kind of pointed but respectful approach he will take for the rest of the campaign, Mr. McCain sought to tap into the anti-Clinton sentiment seen to be driving many Republican primary voters, particularly in New Hampshire.

At the same time, he tried to do it in a markedly different way from his two main rivals, Rudolph W. Giuliani and Mitt Romney, who have both harshly attacked Mrs. Clinton in making their own cases for electability.

The Republicans have taken aim at Mrs. Clinton early in the campaign, months before even the first votes are cast, assuming that her lead position in national polls makes her the likely Democratic nominee. Each is trying to show that he would be best able to slug it out in what primary voters assume will be a very rough campaign.

Swift Boat Fire Fighters?

New York firefighters to oppose Giuliani



Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Monday November 19, 2007
The Guardian


A group of American firefighters opposed to Rudy Giuliani, the Republican front-runner in the 2008 presidential race, are planning to run damaging adverts expressing scepticism about his 9/11 leadership.

The deputy New York fire chief, Jim Riches, whose son, also a firefighter, was killed in the Twin Towers' collapse, said: "TV made him a hero, and we'll use TV to take him down."

Riches and other New York firefighters have been voicing opposition to Giuliani, mayor of the city on 9/11, since he launched his campaign for the Republican nomination earlier this year. But they are now seeking to set up an official organisation that will fund television adverts in a campaign similar to the one that undermined John Kerry in 2004, the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which challenged his Vietnam record.

Giuliani Attends NASCAR Race

Republican presidential hopeful, former N.Y. Mayor Rudy Giuliani, center,walks with his wife Judith, right, and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, left, prior to the start of the Ford 400 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup series auto race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

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HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — As pit crews made last-minute inspections to their cars Sunday at NASCAR's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani stressed the need for America to break its dependence on foreign oil.

Giuliani likened the pursuit of energy independence and the development of alternative energy sources to the race to put a man on the moon several decades ago.

"Now it's a matter truly of national security," Giuliani said. "We have to pursue all of those alternatives that exist."

In the meantime, Giuliani said, the U.S. needs to focus on domestic sources of oil, as well as oil from friendly countries like Mexico and Canada. He said conservation also will have to play a role.

Giuliani attended the season-ending race with his wife, Judith.

"This is our third one this year, so now I feel like I really am a fan," Giuliani said to a tent full of drivers and their crews. "It really represents the very best of America. You should be very proud of where you've taken it and where it's going to go."

Just before the race, Giuliani and his wife took a lap around the track in the official pace truck.

"I've ridden in the car twice at the beginning, and now Judith is going to ride with me," Giuliani said.

Asked whether he was going to cheer for Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson in the race, Giuliani said: "I'm going to pull for both of them. They're both good guys. May the better man win." Johnson won the race, as well as his second consecutive Nextel Cup championship.