National Security and the Mexican Border

There’s actually more debate over the proposition that terrorists might slip into the US from Mexico that you might expect. In his book Disinformation: 22 Media Myths That Undermine the War on Terror, Richard Miniter calls the threat of terrorism from Mexico a “conservative myth.” Beginning on page 177, Miniter lays out a case that because terrorists haven’t already been caught slipping in from Mexico, and because Mexico hasn’t reported any al Qaeda activity within its borders, there’s no terror threat from Mexico.

Call me unconvinced by that thundering logic. Perhaps Mexico hasn’t reported any al Qaeda activity for…other reasons than al Qaeda not being present in Mexico.

Our very own CEO, meanwhile, directly connects 9-11 to the underground false identification trade that illegal aliens operate and profit from in her 2002 book Invasion. If we were to take up the question of Mexico and al Qaeda up with the US government, would Miniter’s or Michelle’s point hold sway?

We can wayback and find out.

On February 17, 2005, the New York Times published an article detailing the terrorist threat from Mexico. It makes for a fascinating read.

New intelligence information strongly suggests that Al Qaeda has considered infiltrating the United States through the Mexican border, top government officials told Congress on Wednesday.

In a wide-ranging assessment of threats to American security, including those posed by Iran and North Korea, the officials also said intelligence indicated that terrorist organizations remained intent on obtaining and using devastating weapons against the United States.

“It may only be a matter of time before Al Qaeda or another group attempts to use chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons,” Porter J. Goss, the new director of central intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The article continues:

In his written testimony, Admiral Loy cited recent information from investigations and detentions as the basis for his concern about the Mexican border. He added, “Several Al Qaeda leaders believe operatives can pay their way into the country through Mexico and also believe illegal entry is more advantageous than legal entry for operational security reasons.”

So, we have two administration officials–one, recently departed–on the record worrying about a terrorist threat from Mexico. Loy’s concerns seem particularly poignant in light of the now known effort on the part of US Border Patrol to inform the Mexican government on the activities of the Minutemen. Clean government isn’t exactly a hallmark of our neighbor to the south. Isn’t it possible that bribes could pave a path from the Osama-chanting former empire in which a majority believes that four of our states rightfully belong to it into our very own country?

Richard Miniter would argue that because we can’t prove it’s already happened, it can’t and won’t happen. Forgive me for playing to the home crowd here, but I think I’ll side with the author of Invasion–and with Admiral Loy and the recently discharged head of the CIA.

The Mexican border has long been our security Achilles heel. The Bush administration inherited a mess and is making it worse rather than better.

(thanks to Chris)

Update (Allahpundit): If Miniter thinks it hasn’t happened yet, he really needs to pay more attention.

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