Americans urge: Defend the border!
Survey of voters shows domestic safety outranks democracy-building overseas
Posted: January 20, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Joe Kovacs
2005 WorldNetDaily.com
With reports of smuggled illegal aliens possibly planning a nuclear attack on
Boston, a new survey of voters shows the top priority of Americans is the
defense of U.S. borders and homeland security, far outranking building
democracies in other nations.
According to the poll, 43 percent of voters listed border defense and homeland
security as their No. 1 choice when asked about the highest military or foreign
priority of the federal government.
Coming in second place at 19 percent is intelligence gathering and working to
achieve international agreements encouraging the sharing of intelligence. The
third priority, at 17 percent, is international aid and diplomacy, including
lining up broad international support for military actions.
Building democracies in other nations received just 7 percent, and the U.S.
going it alone in military interventions, footing all or most of the cost in
terms of dollars and casualties, came in fifth, at just 6 percent.
When voters were asked to choose their highest, second and third priorities
from the same list of five issues and their top choices were combined, defense
of U.S. borders was the clear winner at 77 percent.
The survey was conducted by the Opinion Research Corporation for the nonprofit
and nonpartisan Results for America, a project of the Civil Society Institute.
The findings are based on the 1,608 respondents who say they voted, and the
poll has a three-point margin of error.
"The Iraq experience clearly has been a sobering one for Americans," said Pam
Solo, president of the institute. "Voters are embracing a 'new realism' in
foreign policy and security matters that puts more emphasis on safer U.S.
borders, intelligence gathering, diplomatic initiatives, multi-national
interventions when necessary and greater energy efficiency in order to decrease
America's dependence on Middle Eastern oil. ... The American public seems ready
for an open, honest and democratic debate on the best course of action."
When asked "How concerned are you about another 9-11-style attack by terrorists
taking place on U.S. soil in the next 12 months," more than three out of four
people (76 percent) said they are very or somewhat concerned.
FBI on alert for possibly smuggled illegal aliens who may be involved in
nuclear plot
Concern over border defense was heightened dramatically yesterday, with reports
of a possible dirty bomb targeting Boston. Illegal aliens were said to be
smuggled across the Mexico-California line, with the purported goal of
detonating a nuclear device.
"They got a call from across the border in Mexico to the California Highway
Patrol and [the smuggler] said he brought two Iraqis and four Chinese
[individuals] across the border and according to him, they stated soon to
follow behind them would be some sort of [nuclear] material,'' a
law-enforcement source told the Boston Herald.
City, state and federal authorities have been trying to corroborate the
veracity of the threat.
Last month, the government of Mexico raised eyebrows with word that it
published a new guide offering advice on how to cross the border into the U.S.
illegally.
Mexicans depicted crossing water in new guide to help illegals safely reach the
U.S. (courtesy: Mexico Foreign Ministry)
Called "The Guide for the Mexican Migrant," the 32-page book published by
Mexico's Foreign Ministry uses simple language to offer information on safety,
legal rights and living unobtrusively in America.
Among the tips offered:
"Try to walk during times when the heat is not as intense";
"Salt water helps you retain your body's liquids. Although you'll feel
thirstier, if you drink water with salt the risk of dehydration is much lower";
"Thick clothing increases your weight when wet, and this makes it difficult to
swim or float."
President George W. Bush
Meanwhile, President Bush continues to push for a guest-worker program for
aliens from Mexico, which critics blast as an amnesty plan for illegals.
Bush recently told the Washington Times, "Look, whether or not you agree with
the solution or not, we have a problem in America when you've got 8 million
undocumented workers here. A solution is not instantaneous citizenship. The
solution is something more rational than that."
As WorldNetDaily reported, the president is facing a revolt against his
proposal from members of his own party, who are looking to tighten the reins at
the border.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., told Reuters, "I'm willing to lead a fight against
this and I would say there are at least 180 members of our Republican caucus
who are willing at least to stop amnesty for illegal immigrants."
Additonally, the Bush administration has come under fire for "snuggling"
illegal entrants, as Border Patrol agents in Arizona are now providing blankets
and "heat packs" to help immigrants suffering from the effects of cold weather.
Despite Bush's mention of "8 million undocumented workers," business analyst
Robert Justich, a senior managing director at Bear Stearns Asset Management in
New York, has estimated up to 20 million are in the U.S. today, costing the
federal government hundred of billions of dollars in unpaid income taxes.
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