Dear Mr. President: Send Us Your Junk and the Texans Will Stand Tall!
by Chris BurgardThe first time you face armed, foreign troops on American soil, something inside you changes. You experience a cold, hard sensation deep in your core. There is an internal shift as the reality sinks in that despite having the strongest military in the world, there are Americans who are not safe on their home soil.
Obama and Mexican President Calderón
I experienced that shift on a cold October night in 2005, when, at a distance of approximately 21 yards, we filmed armed, uniformed soldiers escorting a mule train into the United States.
Guardsmen from Tennessee experienced it in the same location 15 months later when soldiers from Mexico advanced on their observation post. The foreign troops twice attempted to flank the Guardsmen. The Guardsmen were twice ordered to observe and fall back until reinforcements arrived.
Countless rank and file Border Patrol agents have been experiencing the same thing for years, far more intensely. They just aren’t allowed to talk about it openly.
The deputies of the Hudspeth County Sheriff’s department and Texas State Troopers shared that experience on Jan. 23, 2006 when Mexican military troops crossed 200 yards into Texas. The Mexican troops held off US law enforcement while they retrieved one drug laden SUV, unloaded and then burned a second.
During this standoff, Mexican soldiers were filmed flanking the deputies and taking cover in the riverside brush. A cartel member is seen removing the hat off of one of the soldiers, presumably so that his insignia could not be seen. That visual clearly illustrated that the soldier was working for and taking orders from, the Narco Soldados.
True to their courage and integrity, US Border Patrol agents raced to stand alongside their fellow law officers, but they were soon called off by their supervisors. The Border Patrol agents were ordered to pull back from the confrontation. That memory still lingers in parts of Texas. The Texans are ready to go it alone if need be, all they ask is for President Obama to give them access to military surplus equipment.
Just last week, Hudspeth County deputies, my cousin Shawn, and I stood on the banks of the Rio Grande at that same crossing when gunfire broke out across the river from us. A lot of gunfire. Mexico has some of the strictest gun laws on the planet. When sustained semi-automatic gunfire erupts in Mexico, it is the Cartels, the Military, or both.
The Cartel’s have their own private armies and unlimited financial resources.
The Zetas are one of the best financed private armies in the world. They have helicopters, submersibles, and state of the art encrypted communications equipment. Seized Zeta weapons have included South Korean hand grenades, rocket launchers and 60 millimeter mortars.
Contrary to what the current administration would have you believe, you cannot buy 60 millimeter mortars at Wal Mart. Not even in Texas.
The Hudspeth County Sheriff’s department is like many other counties in Texas: They do not have enough body armor for their personnel and they do not have automatic rifles. Many of the semi automatic rifles that the men carry were purchased at their own expense.
Sheriff West has already spent three times last year’s ammunition budget in the first three months of 2009. He is having difficulty acquiring more ammunition for his men. “Give us your junk,” Sheriff West asks President Obama.
He would love to take a shopping trip through the military’s surplus before it goes to auction. He needs air support, weapons, ammunition, body armor, generators, bulldozers, tractors, 4×4 vehicles, gasoline, diesel fuel, ground sensors, surveillance equipment, communications equipment, and MREs.
This is also true in Brooks County, Texas. Sheriff Rodriguez often has to ask the manager of his local sporting goods store for discounts on ammunition in order for his men to be able to afford to practice. Brooks County deputies make about $24,000 per year. To effectively do their job, they use their own money to purchase night vision equipment which retails for about $5,400.
Brooks County Inspector Daniel Davila says that 75% of the crime that they respond to is related to illegal alien and narcotics trafficking. They currently have two and a half semi trailers full of seized narcotics.
At first glance, the Sheriff’s department compound looks like a used care dealership because it is surrounded by over three hundred seized vehicles. The Brooks County Sheriff’s department has recently doubled in size to eight deputies, but Sheriff Rodriguez says that they need at least 15 to 20 more deputies to effectively do their jobs.
He does not believe that it is safe for women to stay by themselves on many of the big ranches in his county. Zeta squads armed with automatic weapons have been sighted on ranches in his county, 69 miles north of the border.
Jeff Davis County Sheriff Rick McIvon has two officers to cover 2,250 miles. Not long ago, 40 miles north of the border on his father-in-law’s ranch, men wearing black, their heads covered in ski masks, ambushed a ranch hand as he rode fence. The men jerked the cowboy off his horse, held their automatic weapons to his head and warned him not to move for one hour.
I asked Sheriff McIvon if his in-laws were going to be scared off their ranch. “No,” he said, “They didn’t scare them out. They are going to keep ranching. They have been there many, many years. They will be there till they decide to go to heaven.”
Like his neighbors, Sheriff McIvon also needs military surplus. He already has a helicopter pilot, but he would love a used helicopter, spare parts, and aviation fuel. It would be a great force multiplier if he could get remote surveillance equipment, sensors, and infra red scopes. He says that military surplus equipment would help him more than anything.
This week, Minority Leader John Boehner was gracious enough to allow me to plead the Sheriff’s case to him in person. How about you, President Obama? These law officers are the point of the spear. Will you give them the tools they need to do their jobs?
Lastly, I asked Sheriff McIvon, “If President Obama gives you all the help that you need, can you Texans win this war? He grinned, “I think we can take care of our side of it. We will do the best we could. I promise you that. We can take care of what we need to take care of….I guarantee ya. The Texans are going to stand tall and they will be pretty dag gum tough.”
Chris Burgard
Bordermovie.com
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63 Comments
Sir, you have a good ear, because you sounded like a Texan!
Thank you Chris for exposing what is happening along our borders. The mind boggles to imagine that Washington favors the destruction of the United States. The mind boggles to think that the likes of Clinton and Napolitano blame the US for supplying guns to the Narco States of Mexico or blame the United States for being a market for the Mexican drug pushers when it's obvious, and has been for some time, that Mexico has lost control of its society, military, and police departments. The honest and brave are shot down and beheaded. The cowardly and craven join the narco trafficantes and live comfortably. The mind boggle that we are saddled with such a disgusting government of appeasing cowards who permit such criminality along our border.
Not that I would EVER suggest illicit activity, but what would happen IF, IF someone finally got pissed enough to go snipe these invaders in the middle of the night?
Thanks for shedding light on this incredible disaster in the making. Anyone who hasn't seen Border shoulddo so ASAP. Should be shown in schools. Seriously. It's a good, serious, well-made, humane film.
As much trash-talking that I do of Texans since I live in Colorado, if Texas ever did seceed, I'd totally be willing to move there to defend their state rights with 'em!
And yes, I'm fully aware this comment just put me on a list with the Department of Homeland Security, which I have on good authority will soon be renamed the Ministry of Motherland Operations. In true Orwellian fashion, we can hereby submit to Mini-Mom for the rest of our lives. Or move to Texas. Whichever suits you…
I'd have a problem standing against fellow Americans but I'd have no problem against foreign invaders. They're not where I am yet. Set up a paypal account and post a link.
I am aware of the situation because of having several friends living in Texas. I sent them a check awhile back to buy ammo and/or donate to the local law enforcement departments. There are some very reasonable people in Texas who are actually talking secession as a last-ditch means of protecting their sovereignty. You can't win a battle you aren't willng to fight, and you can't win a war by surrendering. Texans know that. The armchair warriors in DC don't.
It won't be the first time I've been on a subversives list. I took it as a badge of honor. Eat that,Eric Holder. I'm used to cooler weather here in Sodom by the Bay, but you can't get really good barbecue here. Texas is looking better all the time. Good food and guns. Those are two of the three necessities of life.
They are better equipped than most Texans, so I think a fire fight would cause more lives on our side than theirs.
Obama waited three days to take on four teenage pirates in a rowboat. Do you think he'll take on Texas, where they really do know how to shoot back? The only troops that could possibly be used immediately without further Congressional action are the Texas National Guard. I think I know which way the Guard would take any orders from our Coward-in-Chief to fire on their fellow Texas citizens. US vs. Texas, bloodless standoff. Texas vs. Mexico without the restraint of law which has ceased to allow Texans to defend themselves will be a one-sided affair.
As Obama continues his bloody-kneed world apology tour, our law enforcement officers are told to stand down from encroachments on our sovereign soil. They have been occurring for years, and I thought the American Malinche George Bush was bad (he authorized sending the National Guard to the border, but required they not be armed!?!). But now we have Obama, Pelosi, Reid and Janet No-Man-At-Allo running the show. Good luck getting any of that surplus equipment, Texas, because most of it has already been promised to Mexico by Shrillary. Maybe we need Rick Perry for President. We must crush the coming amnesty campaign, because so much of our quisling-driven policy towards Mexico is derived from the ethno-centric lobbying groups inside our country who care not about the emotional and dramatic cries of "pathway to citizenship" but are truly only interested in increasing their numbers. If amnesty happens, our country will be even more squeezed from both sides of the border than it is now. Those groups are being aided and abetted by American politicians to whom the accusation of "racism" is political kryptonite. This is all very dangerous to our future as a sovereign nation, and with a president more concerned about currying cheering adulation from foreigners than standing up for the country he leads, all Americans must be aware and work towards protecting our country. For us. Keep getting the word out, Mr. Burgard.
I am feeling the same way – only things lacking are good beaches and mountains but people of a like mind are there…
¡Certainly hope that Big Sis knows that these killers are more of a threat than us republikans !
You can bet that since the illegals and drug runners are good tax-eaters and not angry taxpayers, they won't be on the Attorney General's list of subversives. But they will be on his list of voters.
My friends insist the Gulf Coast beaches are beautiful, and that there's good hunting in the Texas mountains. Now how much of that is Texas talk, and how much is real is still open to further investigation. If you have to drive across Texas to get from one to another, isn't that like driving completely across Europe? I'm getting to the point that I'd be happy in a shack on the King Ranch (or North Fork, since I'm from California).
Ahhh…the simple life with people of a like mind, or at least similar values. Wouldn't that be nice.
Ahhh…the simple life with people of a like mind, or at least similar values. Wouldn't that be nice.
I would move to Texas tomorrow. CA is full of pussies.
I would think the US Marines would have no trouble securing the border, Phooey on Iraq and Afghanistan. Bring them back here, give them a vacation in Texas.
Remember the Alamo!
I used to live in Brewster County – the largest county in Texas and home to the Big Bend NP – and there weren't many problems there, but it was a different story in neighboring Presidio County, with Ojinaga just across the border.
I'm in Bexar Co. now, but San Antonio – some areas of it, anyway – has a BIG Mexican drug cartel presence. It's one of those things nobody seems to want to talk much about – unless it's lefties lying about all the guns coming from the US – so I'm glad you brought it up.
Just watched a yellow journalism report on the local about how all the guns are because of us.
I need a new golf course and a pigeon removal tool. Please, can someone recommend where I can get an anti-aircraft missile system and mortars?
Just like in neighbor Texas, its not being carried at my Walmart, either; and I am really not happy about it.
I drove across Texas from Texarkana to El Paso, and it was a long drive indeed. Beautiful though, there are as many different terrain types there as you could wish for, everything from mountains to desert to forests and lakes. If I didn't have to be somewhere else I would have stayed for a while for sure.
It ain't braggin' when it's true!
I sincerely hope these cartel morons try and mess with us.
You haven't been to hell 'till you've fought a texan…
The main industry in our little border town is the Border Patrol. They got a pickup load of marijuana in the arroyo front of my house next week. My friends in the Border Patrol have photos of the Mexican Army (no, not guys in camo– identifiable Mexican Army) a mile and a half across the border on a site I recognize very well. Right across the border at one of my favorite restaurants, the head of the state police, detectives and a waitress were machine gunned and died. We don't sell machine guns in the United States. That 90% figure for guns came from a leftist think tank that also said there were three gun shops on the border for every mile, and that they sold hand grenades, machine guns, and RPG's. We're being lied to, and the drug wars are already here.
Fair warning– if the government doesn't fix it, the people will. Venceramos!
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV>Well, with all the Texas talk they don't have mountains like our Sierras or beaches like Malibu (South Coast) or scenic ones like Mendocino (north coast). </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>But this state is getting so wacky it wouldn't take much for me to leave. </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Have a good friend in Waco – believe it or not small children can play in the front yards and you don't have to worry about them – had a great Texas BBQ at the Cyclone – outside of Waco – picture a place with a roof – no walls – the size of a football field – a 100 or so large tables- throwing you all the brisquit and ribs you want – drinking Shiner Bock (a great beer made in Shiner TX) – all the while listing to Willie and Waylon ….</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>BTW I have a great T Shirt from the Cyclone – generates a lot of “spirited “discussion” in California – on the back is the international street sign with the line across the circle and the word “Tofu” crossed out….general consensus here is WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST TOFU?</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV style=”FONT: 10pt arial”>
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV>Well, with all the Texas talk they don't have mountains like our Sierras or beaches like Malibu (South Coast) or scenic ones like Mendocino (north coast). </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>But this state is getting so wacky it wouldn't take much for me to leave. </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Have a good friend in Waco – believe it or not small children can play in the front yards and you don't have to worry about them – had a great Texas BBQ at the Cyclone – outside of Waco – picture a place with a roof – no walls – the size of a football field – a 100 or so large tables- throwing you all the brisquit and ribs you want – drinking Shiner Bock (a great beer made in Shiner TX) – all the while listing to Willie and Waylon ….</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>BTW I have a great T Shirt from the Cyclone – generates a lot of “spirited “discussion” in California – on the back is the international street sign with the line across the circle and the word “Tofu” crossed out….general consensus here is WHAT DO YOU HAVE AGAINST TOFU?</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV style=”FONT: 10pt arial”>
No, they aren't, and no, it wouldn't.
What would happen is one of two things:
Either they'd be smart enough to Shoot, Shovel, & Shut up.
Or they'd get a judicial proctoscopy like BP agents Ramos and Compean.
A distant third option would be to dump the bodies at the local courthouse steps under cover of darkness, and alert the media to the problem. Ideally, with the corpses still in their Mexican Army uniforms.
Lawhawk said: "Good food and guns. Those are two of the three necessities of life."
The third being cowgirls (except for the ones that use chewing tobacco). What's better than a good steak, a Colt .45, and a wife who can lasso you riding bareback at a full gallop?
And just where has Congress been for the last decade?!? Oh wait, we all know the answer to that question, don't we. Congressmen take an oath, so does the President. The next rally will be about more than taxes.
I live in San Antonio Texas.. and I did not know this..!
Wow.. And I considered myself well informed..
Does anyone know where to go to find out more about these incursions?..
OUTRAGEOUS.. I'm completely angered that this news is being supressed..
You knew what I meant. And to think, I used to "wish they all could be California girls."
I just read your profile for the first time. I sure have changed over the years. You apparently had it right a lot younger than I did. While you were working for Goldwater-Miller, I was the guy who came up with the bumper sticker "Bury Goldwater." Congratulations on your innate good sense!
The only problem I would have is learning how say "y'all." But my friend in Tyler (pronounced "Tahluh") says he'll be glad to give me speech therapy. Many years ago, when he was my office manager, he taught me table manners by asking me 'kin ah barrah sum of yall's ketchup?" I think we were having New York cut steaks that day. Thought you'd appreciate that.
Post these videos on You tube. get them on FOX, get them in newspapers!!! shout it from the mountain tops!
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV>Once I get to an idea I stick to it for better or worse
</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>In this case (conservatism) certainly a better idea. When you remember the things Goldwater stood for (win in Vietnam or get out – this is 1964 remember, do something about Social Security – it is a Ponzi scheme – well, he was a bit ahead of his time! I remember that year – what a bitter divisive year for Republicans – the Rockefeller (leftish Eastern Seaboard) wing walked out – in many ways, “the more things change”…I had a lot of doors slammed in my face walking the precinct</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>I remember how Johnson tagged him with the “warmonger” label – and another mantra to Goldwater's “In your heart you know he's right” the Johnson people said “In your guts you know he's nuts” – but BG was right all along…</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>What really got me about Johnson was his hypocrisy – planning to get us into Vietnam then trying to micromanage it with no victory plan, in many ways he is the father of the mess we have today – the “Great Society”, “War On Poverty”……</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>As to your metamorphosis – better late than never! </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Bill</DIV> <DIV style=”FONT: 10pt arial”>
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV>One more thing you may find fascinating about Goldwater – I read this in an American Heritage Issue a few years ago and it goes under “alternative history scenarios” – but he and Jack Kennedy were, despite their political differences – the best of friends during their years together in the Senate. </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Kennedy while President felt that Goldwater had a good chance of securing the Republican nomination and had he done so, they both planned a series of “whistlestop” tours in a plane having a series of debates like Lincoln-Douglas 100 years earlier. </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Instead of stopping at train stations these debates would have been at airports. </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Like all “what if” scenarios when it comes to history – always fun to speculate but of course always futile as an Army Sgt told me years ago “If a bullfrog had wings he'd fly” – but one can't help but wonder what history would have been today if it weren't for that fateful Dallas day in November…</DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>Bill</DIV> <DIV style=”FONT: 10pt arial”>
Another historical sidelight is that Kennedy didn't dislike Richard Nixon. Nixon's refusal to concede defeat early irritated the family, and that shows up as a big chasm between them. It was one isolated incident in the game of politics that simply proves that politics isn't a pillow fight.
Do you live in Texas??? Nearly everyone I know here in Texas (where I live) own more than one firearm!
IntenseDebate Notification <DIV>Plus – had Nixon behaved like Al Gore 40 years later and demanded a recount in Cook County – where dead people can vote – or West Virginia – well, we might have had a President Nixon 8 years earlier. Despite his personality flaws (and we all have them) he was too nice in the recount side – and had no idea of the impact of appearance in the first televised Presidential debates. </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>There is supposed to be an interesting book coming out on Nixon by his brother Ed which details his early family life and what made him the way he was – a man of both grand visions (China) and pettiness (Watergate). </DIV> <DIV></DIV> <DIV>I remember for years driving down I5 and seeing San Clemente while he lived there…</DIV> <DIV style=”FONT: 10pt arial”>
I think T. Boone Pickens should take some of that natural gas money he's making and arm the border, Chris. Thanks for the illuminating piece. If Texas didn't have to ask Washington for or about anything, it would be a very different story.
Great post Chris… I've not been in your shoes, yeah I've had guns pulled on me, but never fired upon. As for the persons asking about sniping at night… How often to you go to the range… Unless your answer is more than weekly, I'm not too worried about you.
Hopefully, that comment won't get me on DHS list–I enjoy deer hunting and from I'm from Alabama. We don't have quite the same problem as you, but as a southern state with deep conservative heritage I appreciate your concerns. We don't have that sort of firepower at Wally world, but some of our pawn shops have been known to carry .50 calibur rifles. (not black powder either) These are in no way accurate arms as they are typically rather old, or poorly maintained. If you guys need any help I've got a few scopes I'd gladly send down there, but I'm keeping my leupold VX-7.. I do have buddies with 2nd and 3rd gen night vision, but they don't have rifle mounts for them. ____By the way DHS was at our tea party in Alabama… I couldn't believe how misappropriated our defense funds were…
As a Progressive, it shocks me to say that if these accounts are true, I'm in agreement with Mr. Burgard. We do need to protect our borders from the drug cartels, and Washington needs to support the effort.
As for those cursing the Obama Administration here, note that most of the events the author talked about occurred years ago, during the Bush Administration. So it would be more constructive to hold off on the ODS for a minute and concentrate on how to best influence our gov't to support the Border Patrol.
Obama and his Gang of Thieves continues to be unaware or uninterested in how divided this country is becoming and how pisst/off people are with these feds tying to tell the people of states like Texas what to do! Texas did not cause this mess and we are not ready to be burdened with this arrogant */head president socialist hell. These clown are scared of any border state asserting their independence because they just might do a better job of controlling the border and taking care of business than the Feds.
It won’t be Texas that fires the first shot, but If anyone comes to Texas and kill somebody, we will kill you back!
We have three boxes most people will used to voice there opinion. The soap box, the ballot box, the jury box. If these three boxes fail, there is one more box?……”The Cartridge Box.”
Federal government……..keep Your ass out of Texas!
Thank you, Texas, for giving the US a heart. Thank you for making sure we Americans still have a place where we can stand tall and proud of our nation. God bless, y'all.
Heck, Obama has refused to help Texas defend it's border against the druglords! I can't imagine he has it in him to actually defend against Texans.
I love the heart of Texas, but Utah and Southern Idaho are at least as conservative. However, because those states consist of people from the wrong religion they get no respect.
My Dad moved to Houston, TX in 1950 from Brooklyn NY, married a nice Texas girl (my Mom) and never looked back. He has gotten along quite well even without the 'Ya'll"! It's not a requirement, however being a Dallas Cowboys fan is! Texans take their football very seriously.
These guys come in fully armed with more than just automatic rifles and body armors, and they don't carry ID's if any are caught or killled. They don't fear of US authority. It won't be wise to take any action unless you can be sure to take them ALL out before they can call for help. That's just my $.02.
I'm aware that most Texans are well armed. I don't live in Texas, but I'm there often and have friends there who have nice collections of fire arms. These Mexican drug cartel have sophisticated military equipment and air support as the article mentioned.
My family in S Idaho are from TEXAS! Homesteaded in the 50's. Just thought it was apropos.
Amen! Even flat WTX has beauty – sunsets are unbelievable – even prettier when the dust is blowing a little, there's a compensation for ya!
the main internal problem we've got is that CA exported half of Silicon valley to the Austin area. Since we had already stuck most of our lefties there, Travis County is a little out of control. If we can ship them back to CA upon secession, life will be grand!!!
the main internal problem we've got is that CA exported half of Silicon valley to the Austin area. Since we had already stuck most of our lefties there, Travis County is a little out of control. If we can ship them back to CA upon secession, life will be grand!!!
I came up on Odessa going west right when the sun was setting, and it was definitely something to see.
The Federal Govt refuses to do anyting meaningful to stem the flow and yet the states can't do anything because it is a "Federal Issue"
Well if you were caught by the fed you would probably go to jail for a hate crime. A guy in Utah went to jail just for threatening to shoot illegals on the border. However if there is a way to do this legally then I am in. There is lots of interest in doing this, but I and friends don't know who to talk to or trust. We got a group ready to go. Just no place to go. We are ex military and or law enforcement. We sincerely want to help our brethren on the border. We got what we need and will pay our own way and expenses. Point us in the right direction. We are not interested in vigilante crap. We want to see if we can do anything to help.
True, but that's not what I'm talking about. I'm saying literal snipers.
It's called "doublethink." Telling you what the truth is when it is a complete lie to tame the masses and continue the open border path we are on. They already have a plan in place, these lies are just crumbs to suck us into believing their BS so when they give "political asylum" to the 12 million we are all supposed to be humanitarians and when they ban assault rifles we are supposed to nodd and say of course they had to. The two minutes of hate will be directed toward ourselves for being the ba…ards that we are as Americans. It's coming, just wait. MSM is doing everything it can to demonize conservatives by characterizing them as the "white American rich elite." So far their doublethink is working just fine among the populist. We saw the tea parties with our own eyes. I didn't see many Prada purses or three piece suits.
I like your attitude, Sojourner. We need to keep a cool head and accomplish – not aforetoseetosansifran! You seem pretty rational and objective. Keep being interested. I think this is a story that no one is really hearing even though they're hearing it. Chris is a good guy and I believe him.
Three men with night vision scopes and good concealment and camoflague could decimate any squad of half trained Narco Terrorist who stray into personal property on American soil. Remember, these criminals are looking to get in and get out asap, not hang around for a prolonged firefight.
Keeping cool and doing nothing is how the Dems took over the White House and also how our country is being over run by foreign nationals. The time for action is now, not 4 years down the road.
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