Under Siege

· Saturday, August 28, 2010

TUCSON, Ariz. -- "We're under siege," said rancher Ed Ashurst as he pointed to where he had tracked the killer of his friend and neighbor to the U.S.-Mexico border. "Five years ago, we didn't even bother to lock our doors. Now my wife and I carry firearms everywhere we go."

John Ladd is a fifth-generation cattle rancher in southern Cochise County, Ariz. The southern boundary of his family property is a 10-mile stretch of steel fence erected by the U.S. government. On the other side of the fence: Mexico. He told us, "Mexican drug cartels are running this part of America."

The poet Robert Frost posited that "good fences make good neighbors." From what our Fox News' "War Stories" team documented this week, that's not the case here in southern Arizona, where "the fence" on the U.S.-Mexico border remains unfinished. According to many levelheaded, beleaguered Americans here, the fence is little more than a "speed bump" for drug couriers, killers, human smugglers and lesser criminals flooding into our country.

Wednesday night, just hours after Barack and Michelle Obama and their doting supporters dined on Martha's Vineyard, our team, accompanied by members of the Cochise County sheriff's Border Interdiction Unit, walked up a quiet hilltop a few hundred yards north of the "fence." There we watched through night-vision devices as a group of individuals approached the Mexican side of the steel barrier, timing their movement with the passing of U.S. Border Patrol vehicles.

By the time we departed for another location two hours after dawn, the "jumpers" -- all wearing backpacks -- had yet to make it into the U.S. Heartened by what we had seen, I said to one of the deputies, "It looks as if the fence worked."

"Yeah," said one of our guides and well-armed protectors, "but they have spotters who saw us leave. They will try again. Maybe we'll get 'em, maybe not. But there are a lot more of them than there are of us. And they are better-armed than we are because the cartels have bigger budgets."

The numbers verify the claim. Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman -- a multibillionaire who heads the Sinaloa cartel just across Arizona's border -- commands an army of more than 11,000 "shooters" equipped with heavy machine guns, other automatic weapons, rocket-propelled grenades and armored vehicles. That's more than twice as many "troops" available to the U.S. Border Patrol, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Indian Affairs police and county sheriffs on Arizona's border.

Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu -- more than 90 miles north of the border -- explained the consequences: "Our deputies are outnumbered and outgunned. We're up against drug runners carrying AK-47s," the Soviet-era weapon used by al-Qaida terrorists and Taliban insurgents fighting U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

After one of his deputies was wounded by an AK-47-toting border crosser, Babeu requested funding to purchase AR-15 rifles for his department. The county turned him down for lack of funds. He told us, "My deputies shouldn't have to buy their own weapons to protect themselves and the public." A group of concerned citizens is soliciting donations to buy the rifles for them.

Larry Dever is the sheriff of Cochise County. At 6,000 square miles, it is larger than Connecticut. His jurisdiction is home to Tombstone, scene of the legendary 1881 shootout at the OK Corral. It also shares an 82-mile border with Mexico. Last year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 550,000 people were arrested trying to enter the U.S. illegally. Nearly half of them crossed the border in the "Tucson sector," which includes Cochise County. Yet Dever has fewer than 90 sworn deputies.

After Cochise County rancher Bob Krantz was murdered by an illegal border jumper March 27, the Obama administration promised to deploy 1,200 National Guard troops to "assist the U.S Border Patrol on the Mexican border." Arizona will get fewer than 550 of them -- when they finally arrive. Not one cent of the $600 million appropriated by Congress this month for "border security" will go to any of the border states or sheriffs. The money all goes to federal agencies.

Instead of new weapons, reinforcements and help protecting our southern border, Arizona's sheriffs and Gov. Jan Brewer received something entirely different from the Obama administration: a federal lawsuit. Last month, a federal judge in Phoenix decided Arizona could not enforce certain provisions of a state law -- SB 1070 -- which allowed Arizona law enforcement officers to ascertain the citizenship of individuals stopped for legal infractions. Arizona filed its appeal in the case this week, while we were on the border.

That's not all that happened this week in what one of our hosts called "the northern edge of the new war zone." A mass grave containing the remains of more than 70 murdered men, women and children from Central America and South America was found in northeastern Mexico, less than 90 miles from the U.S. border. That brings the civilian murder toll in Mexico to more than 28,000 since 2006 -- higher than Afghanistan. And last night, two were killed and three were wounded in a drug-related gunfight here in Tucson.

Meanwhile the president -- who insinuated himself in a local police matter in Cambridge, Mass., and a zoning matter for a mosque in Manhattan -- has been too busy to send condolences to Sue Krantz, the widow of an American murdered by a foreign criminal on U.S. soil.

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Comments

g.wegmann

Apparently BHO has forgotten that he took an oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution and the ctizens of the United States. He is all about "power and change" to a quasi-Marxist system. I expect him and his progressive leftist stooges to grant back door amnesty to the illegals, so he and his band of "power grabbers" can be re-elected in 2012. I pray to GOD that voters will vote with their minds and not for symbolism and rhetoric as they did in 2008.

Posted August 28, 2010 at 9:10:50 AM


Michael R Johnson

YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHOOTING TRESSPASSORS IMMEDIATELY, UNLESS THEY WERE PEOPLE IN DISTRESS.

THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE HELPED THEM OUT.

BUT DONT NEVER LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS, THATS JUST STUPID.

MY HOUSE IN KANSAS HAS BEEN ROBBED BECAUSE I LET MY GUARD DOWN BUT IT WONT HAPPEN AGAIN.

Posted August 28, 2010 at 9:47:08 AM


Bob W

A few thousand National Guard deployments on the border, without enforcement authority, what a joke.

A token measure by Obama and the socialists because they believe Americans are stupid and will be relieved to know he "did something."

All he succeeded in doing is appeasing the majority of citizens who really are ignorant about it and do not know any better. A political attempt to garner part of the voting bloc who is against illegal aliens.

What a farce and a slap in the face to Border States who have no federal government support. We should dissolve the federal government since they are not doing their job.

Posted August 28, 2010 at 11:10:32 AM


TJS

The porous border is a monstrosity. Democrat politicians see millions of new voters, and liberal Republicans don't want to offend lawbreakers and their apologists. The vast majority of Americans want the border enforced. Who will prevail?

Posted August 28, 2010 at 12:48:21 PM


Bob W

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes (destructive) of these ends, it is the (Right of the People to alter or to abolish it), and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

I believe the time has come to do as our forefathers have foreseen, to abolish the government and institute a completely new government in its place.

A long train of abuses and usurpations has become evident and "it is right and (our duty) to throw off" and provide the new guards.

If we don't do this in November, then when? I fear it is already too late to do as our forefathers envisioned the eventual need to do so.

Than what?

Posted August 28, 2010 at 2:10:47 PM


KenC

What if I wanted to start a donation program and either purchase new AR-15's outright or donate the funds to the Pinal County Sheriffs Department? How many would be required? Would the Department be able to fund the purchase of the necessary ammunition and training if they had this requested enforcement tool? Are there any legality issues that I would need to be concerned with? I know of a gun store that has the necessary Federal Firearms license required to obtain AR-15s.

I live in Missouri and would like to do all that I can to support those in Arizona who are on the the front lines of this battle. This may be one small way to help.

Thank you!

Posted August 28, 2010 at 3:41:56 PM


dizzyfingers

Time for a change.

Nullification and seccession.

Don't delay.

Fight organized crime -- vote for NO ONE.

Posted August 28, 2010 at 5:10:06 PM


dizzifingers

Quote: defended at any cost

Think hard about that that may mean.

Posted August 28, 2010 at 5:13:48 PM


kev

And yet, despite the discovered mass graves, the drug lords, the massive amounts of drugs, and the vicious, murderous gangs being imported via the Mexican border, democrats' idea of aid is to design new words and phrases for illegal aliens, such as "undocumented immigrants," to divert attention from them. They are willing to sacrifice the well-being of our citizens just to court the vote of these illegal aliens whom they intend to legalize. And, since they couldn't manage to outlaw guns, they are now trying to outlaw ammunition through the EPA, because lead is bad for the environment! Lord, when will the madness end? Any democrats who MIGHT disagree with those in control are just as bad because they are not speaking up, they are doing NOTHING to stop this. This is beyond shameful and voters should remember this, if nothing else, in November and in 2012.

Posted August 28, 2010 at 6:22:47 PM


B. B.

In addition to suing Arizona for protecting its citizens, the obamanation has taken the issue of SB 1070 and Arizona's and the Arizona Governor's "flagrant attempt to violate human rights" before the united nations! If this scum is not now removed from office based on their cowardly and treasonous actions each and every one of us will soon find ourselves in an equally bloody and deadly battle everywhere in America. And that day is coming very quickly. All thanks to the actions of less than 600 traitors and their sycophants from hell.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 9:24:08 AM


Bruce

America is under siege today, not from Mexico or any other country, but from Washington DC. The federal government is fighting a WAR against the American citizen. And they are winning.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 10:04:47 AM


Texan

If you want to solve the proplem toot sweet have Governors Perry, Richardson, Brewer and Schwartzenegger issue a militia call.

I'm willing to bet half those States' citizens would answer it, putting Washington in the unique predicament of having to defend the border or try to jail a few million gun toting American citizens.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 10:48:02 AM


Texan

Line in the sand, Bruce. Americans haven't had their bellyfull yet. Their line in the sand hasn't been crossed. I think it will come down to the individual States demanding redress or standing against Washington in utter defiance.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 11:41:45 AM


GordAuch

War is Peace.

Love is Hate.

Ignorance is Strength.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 12:10:15 PM


Simms

You speak obamanation.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 12:45:57 PM


Bill

The border states should build there own fence, dont wait for the Feds to do it. Id build 2 fences with a land minded strip between them and manned watch towers within sight of each tower on there sides. Let a few illegal aliens get blow up crossing the new border and it will stop!!!

Posted August 30, 2010 at 1:41:36 PM


DAVE

Obama is suing Arizona over SB1017. Why doesn't Arizona sue Obama over his lack of ability to secure our borders? If it is Federal Government's job to do that, why aren't they, and shouldn't the people of Arizona have the right to counter-sue because of the hardship dealt out to it's population by the federal government's inability (or lack of desire) to do their job in this regard?

Posted August 30, 2010 at 3:51:24 PM


Ray Burke

Our federal government is currently pursuing undeclared war against our fifty states and its citizens. Our Constitution provides redress. The feds provide the provocation. When will the people begin to rise up and fight back? Arizona is a harbinger. Hopefully, other States will follow it's lead.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 4:04:22 PM


John

According to the Constitution , The Supreme Court is the ONLY VENUE for the suit. Like all of the rest of the actions of nobama, its stinks. State Militia's are the answer and EVERYBODY NEEDS TO CARRY AND BE ABLE TO SHOOT THEIR GUN. Working or living or just being along the border without a gun is a recipe for disaster, illegals are committing all kinds of crimes. nobama and his administration are aiders and abettors to a foreign criminal enterprise.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 8:12:57 PM


BofromTexas

Totally appalled at the Obama lawsuit against Arizona, and I am in favor of charging Obama and supporters in Congress with treason, simply defined as giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Look at the crime statistics regarding illegal aliens. The crime rate would decrease by half if illegal immigrants were permanently excluded. Guard towers placed a half mile apart and manned by expert riflemen would have a huge salutary effect on border jumping. When my house gets broken into by a wetback, I am going to find the man responsible and hold him accountable. I already know where he lives- Washington D.C.

Posted August 30, 2010 at 9:59:12 PM


Texan

O.K. At least Texas and Arizona then. I know Richardson's a crook and Schwatzenegger's a "girly man" but Perry's a cowboy and Brewer has bigger stones than "Ahnuld" could ever hope for. At least they understand we're in a war.

Posted August 31, 2010 at 9:40:54 AM


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