Islamists Exploit Unprotected Border

The danger at Americans resulting from Washington's obstinate refusal to secure the US-Mexican border has become well known to the American public, whose sentiments apparently mean nothing to the Bush Administration, the GOP and the Democrat Party. Now, the leading propaganda outlet for the Islamist movement worldwide is producing an expose to point out America's greatest vulnerability to its audience.

The Arab TV news network criticized by the new Iraqi government and others for its anti-American bias and willingness to carry the messages of terrorist organizations, including al-Qaida, is headed for the U.S.-Mexico border to document how easy it is to enter America illegally.

Al-Jazeera has contacted Minuteman Civil Defense Corps leader Chris Simcox to try to arrange interviews. Simcox, who rejected the request for cooperation with the TV network, says al-Jazeera, seen by millions throughout the Arab world and elsewhere, is producing an hour-long documentary news special on lack of security at the U.S. southern border.

Al-Jazeera reporter Naisser Hssaini mentioned the increase in apprehensions of illegal aliens known as OTMs – other than Mexicans. These foreigners increasingly include Arabs, Muslims and others from the Middle East. The reporter also mentioned his familiarity with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement police of catching and releasing OTMS – particularly those not specifically known to be on any terrorist watch list.

'The group has been denied requests for interviews by Minuteman Civil Defense Corps organizers but they still insist on filming the groups’ activities along with the rest of the media during a July 4th weekend mission near Arivaca, Arizona,' said Simcox.

Simcox has contacted the offices of Arizona's two Republican U.S. senators – John McCain and Jon Kyl – to invite them to do interviews with al Jazeera, 'so perhaps they can explain to the viewers of this news outlet just how secure America's borders really are.'

Senators McCain and Kyl have made it clear that they don't give a damn about border security and couldn't care less about the possibility of terrorists sneaking across the border, or the destruction of American culture via Mexican colonization. Senator McCain, however, never wastes a chance to get his face on TV, so he'd probably jump at the chance to appear on Al-Jazeera. Anything to get more votes for his run in '08.

Mr. Simcox notes that his group has alerted the border patrol and various officials in Washinton about al Jazeera's presence at the border. Unlike the federal agencies and officials he cites, however, Mr. Simcox appears to have a realistic understanding of the Arab TV network's motives.

'Would we allow Japanese or German television to film the unsecured border during World War II?' asked Minuteman spokeswoman Connie Hair. 'These people broadcast to the enemies of America. It's not a news story, it's recon.'

The better question is: would the US of 1942 permit a German of Japanese news agency to reconnoiter the southern border to publish news accounts of American vulnerability? Of course not. But then, the US in 1942 would have secured the border if it was thought to be a threat. In 1942, Washington was fighting a real war, not a rhetorical one.

In a related note, border patrol agents on the southern border note an considerable increase on non-Mexicans crossing the border into the US. Unfortunately, because of Washington's incredible inaction, there is little they can do about it.

So-called 'OTMs,' Border Patrol-speak for the bureaucratic term Other Than Mexicans, have become agents' worst nightmare in the past year.

Their growing numbers, a lack of detention space and an increasingly exploited immigration law loophole force agents to release them soon after catching them.

Undocumented Brazilians are crossing into South Texas in large numbers, and for the first time, more OTMs are being detained in the Rio Grande Valley are than undocumented immigrants from Mexico.

Agents say it has highlighted a broader problem: the Border Patrol's shift in strategy since 9-11 has rendered its traditional migrant-deterrence mission useless.

'We're selling ourselves like prostitutes,' said an agent in the Rio Grande Valley sector, one of several who only would comment anonymously due to fears of disciplinary reprisal.

No surprise. The Bush Administration has prostituted itself - and the whole nation - to Mexico. And we will all reap the inevitable whirlwind.