Providing for the Common Defense: Securing the Southwest Border
Abstract
The Southwest border of the United States provides multiple threats to public safety. The region is influenced by long-standing and unresolved, economic, political and social concerns, that are aggravated by pervasive institutional corruption on both sides of the border. The 9/11 attacks, the presence of multiple terrorists organizations in the Western Hemisphere and the availability of Weapons of Mass Destruction, require us to address Southwest border security shortfalls. Securing the Southwest border is an attainable objective. Border control strategies employed during the last decade achieved some success. Consolidating government border agencies, adding additional personnel, building additional border infrastructure, and employing emerging technologies are the long-term steps needed to secure the Southwest border. In the near-term, military support can bridge the gap until resources and programs fully implemented. Properly resourced, these measures can protect the Homeland from terrorists, narco-terrorists and other threats currently endemic along the Southwest border. The current border security strategy outlined in The National Strategy for Homeland Security does not provide sufficient resources to address the threat from our open borders. While securing our borders entails a significant expenditure of resources, in the long run, this is the most cost-effective and prudent expenditure we can make.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 07, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA414219
Entities
People
- Kerry L. Diminyatz
Organizations
- United States Army War College