Tense atmosphere at the border as active-duty troops install coils of razor wire

[jpak]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-mexico-border-brownsville-texas-tense-atmosphere-troops-install-coils-of-razor-wire/

BROWNSVILLE, Texas -- As the first active-duty military troops sent to the U.S. border with Mexico installed coils of razor wire on a bridge and a riverbank Friday, a sense of unease spread across Texas' Rio Grande Valley. President Trump's portrayal of a border under siege by drug smugglers and other criminals is at odds with what residents in towns along the 1,954-mile divide with Mexico see in their daily routines, with U.S. border towns consistently ranking among the safest in the country.

U.S. military units in San Antonio and other locations in Texas, California, and Arizona are going through specific training and rules along the border, CBS San Antonio affiliate KENS reports. Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland Air Force Base is one of the primary locations where training is underway.

Some Valley residents question the need for a large military presence and fear it will tarnish the area's image. And some are afraid of violence if and when the caravan of Central American migrants that the troops have been sent to confront reaches the U.S. border.

<snip>

According to an analysis by The Associated Press of FBI statistics, nine U.S. cities along the Mexican border had a violent crime rate of nearly 346 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2017. That's lower than the national rate of almost 383. In Brownsville, it was 257, in McAllen, 144.

<more>

[onethatcares]

1. scratch any plans

to visit the Alamo or anywhere in Texas.

[Sherman A1]

2. Agreed

Texas was never high on my list of places to visit, but it has certainly dropped below zero at this point. Perhaps an email to their State Tourism Division stating such might be in order. Losing business is never high on the agenda of any group that is dedicated to increasing business for their constituents.

[LanternWaste]

25. Bless your little heart.

These are federal troops, not the TX national guard. To assign responsibility of this to Texas is without thought or reason. Ahhh.... ok. I get it.

Now, for validity: "American was never high on my list of places..." and then yours would be relevant. Germane, even. Otherwise, just more irrational mewing.

[cwydro]

5. Lol. Have you been to the Alamo?

It’s right inside the city of San Antonio. Practically downtown.

And 150 miles from the border.

[watoos]

11. I visited it about 10 years ago.

I remember not being allowed to take any pictures because it was a shrine, but not holy enough that they couldn't sell Don't Mess with Texas armadillos.

[Aristus]

27. I was permitted to take pics when I was there. (I was born and raised in San Antonio,

but I was visiting as an out-of-towner.)

If they had told me it was a shrine, I would have told them to kiss my ass; it's a shrine to slave-owners and supporters of the westward expansion of slavery. They did the country good with their suicide pact.

[kskiska]

33. I was there in the early 1990s

It was right across the street from Woolworth's.

[DBoon]

31. if Beto wins, TX goes to the top of my list

If he doesn't win Austin is still a great place

[smirkymonkey]

3. This is insane.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

7. expensively insane and insanely expensive

Daddy's Boy Donnie has like a really big brain -- compared to an armadillo.

How long will it take for the world to forgive us his hateful stupidity?

[ck4829]

4. Just remember... razor wire works both ways

[workinclasszero]

16. Bingo, walls and razor wire stop movement in or out...

[DBoon]

32. my fear is

A resumption of the military draft would cause an exodus to Mexico

Many draft age folks either have relatives there or their friends do

Last time it was Canada, this time Mexico

Would not be surprised if "they" thought of this

[Achilleaze]

6. The republican Draft-Dodger-in-Chief merits mass mockery

for his knee-knocking paranoia. Dirty Donny (R) is afraid one of the hungry, homeless children escaping from right-wing thugs will spoil his golden, gourmet, luxury republican golf goof offs (which we hard-working taxpayers are forced to pay for with our taxes).

[Hermit-The-Prog]

8. cows, not hotel rooms for birther barbie

How many cows could be given to the refugees for the price of a 6 hour hotel stay by Birther Barbie? Enough for all the children to have fresh milk until they grow up?

$95,000 can do some real good if not squandered on the parasitic uber-rich.

[Hortensis]

9. This is about USING manufactured fear to build support

to overset the democratic systems meant to control the president, and as seems all too possible to take further power. Trump would be a pathetic joke if Republicans in congress checked him, but instead they are enabling a man who wants his OWN people to fear and obey him.

Tuesday we'll see how big a stick we've been given to put in their works.

[Silver Gaia]

10. I have family in San Antonio.

I worry about them with all this military activity in their area.

[Baclava]

13. With all the Army and Air Force bases already in San Antonio I'm sure they are used to the military

San Antonio is nowhere near the border

[Silver Gaia]

23. Did you read the article?

Thanks, but I am well aware where San Antonio is located. However, San Antonio is specifically mentioned as one of the places where training for this crap is happening on nearby bases, and that means an increase in military presence for them. So, yeah, I'm concerned for them in many ways. As is my right.

[cwydro]

22. Lol, do you have any idea how many bases there are in that area?

And as pointed out several times on this thread, San Antonio is quite a distance from the border.

[Silver Gaia]

24. Did you read the article?

It's no laughing matter. Good grief. See my reply above.

[populistdriven]

12. $250,000/yr per troop

not including razor wire, extra training etc

[C_U_L8R]

14. They're gonna need more razor wire

But not really ...since this is just a stupid stunt to satisfy Trump's infantile urges. Our poor military has to suffer this fool and his misguided orders.

[John Fante]

29. And they'll vote for Trump by a 2:1 margin in the next election.

Dumbasses gonna dumbass.

[jcmaine72]

15. Razor wire....against defenseless civilians including children?

I recall reading somewhere that U.S. soldiers are not obligated to follow immoral orders. Also something about necessity and proportionality. Is it really necessary to lay razor wire against defenseless civilians? Is such an action proportional to any perceived threat, of which there is none?

I hope to read news reports soon that this immoral orders is being roundly disobeyed by our soldiers. Claiming that you were merely following orders will NOT be a valid excuse if a child in the refugee caravan becomes entangled in that wire and is gravely injured. Our soldiers need to understand that. Just ask William “Rusty” Calley.

[Amishman]

19. Razor wire is visible and passive, the troops themselves are more dangerous

The wire is less dangerous than the troops, the wire just sits there while armed troops can make mistakes.

The refugees are going to a border checkpoint and requesting asylum, the wire isn't going to do anything. It's not a threat, it's not a help, it's just a waste of time and money.

[ellie]

17. How is this going to

affect animals and their migration? This fucking country has lost its damned mind.

[Kurt V.]

30. that was thought too. on both points

[jalan48]

18. All we need is John Wayne leading the troops to complete the made for television charade.

[TheBlackAdder]

20. 2,000 miles of razor wire --Invest in Razor Wire Companies!!

.



.

[dalton99a]

21. Among enlisted recruits, 43 percent of men and 56 percent of women are Hispanic or a racial minority

[katmondoo]

26. This is getting sicker by the day.

[lame54]

28. A metaphor and then some