Video: Martyrs at the border?
posted at 12:55 pm on May 25, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
The Right Scoop caught this two-part report from Atlanta’s ABC affiliate WSB-TV from earlier in the month, which detailed why Arizonans want immigration law enforced — and why all of us should be screaming for better border enforcement. The issue isn’t just the violence wrought by Mexican drug cartels, although that should be enough. As the 9/11 Commission predicted six years ago, the failure to secure our southern border has allowed people from all over the world to enter the US illegally, including some from countries that regularly produce terrorists intent on attacking America:
Here’s some great news:
Law enforcement officials believe one of the world’s most wanted terrorists may have traveled into the U.S. in 2004 by coming through the mountains on the Mexico border. Federal agents confirmed Adnan Shurkajumah spent time in Atlanta just prior to Sep. 11th, and left on a bus. He is a Saudi Arabian pilot and bomb expert with a $5 million bounty on his head. In 2004, Shurkajumah was one of seven Al-Qaida members agents were looking for after they were spotted in Central America and believed headed to the United States through Mexico . Federal agents now say Shurkajumah seems to have disappeared.
But don’t worry, because our elected officials are on top of this threat. Er, on second thought … worry:
The U.S. government no longer releases a list of what they call “captured O.T.M.s”, which stands for “other than Mexicans”. Channel 2 Action News obtained it from a congressional staffer.
We showed it to Georgia Congressman Paul Broun, who is on the Homeland Security Committee. He said hadn’t seen it before.
“It’s shocking to see the number of people from Middle Eastern countries coming in on that list,” he said. “I tell you this is something our committee members really need to see. I’d like to have a copy of that list to take with me back to Washington so I can share it.”
Border security and immigration enforcement isn’t about denying opportunity to people seeking to lift themselves out of poverty by attempting to find the American Dream. It’s about the safety and security of all those seeking success as Americans. It’s long past time that Congress started taking the threat seriously, and that the executive branch started enforcing the laws already in place. If they’re not willing to do it, then we need to find people who are, and Arizona is just a little ahead of that curve.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Special Interest Aliens
blatantblue on May 25, 2010 at 12:56 PM
True, but the pioneers take the arrows.
Oops, is that racist?
itsnotaboutme on May 25, 2010 at 1:00 PM
Interesting that an ATLANTA new station would do a story on immigration issues in Arizona.
California doesn’t even show immigration issues unless it’s a huge pot bust or tunnel.
originalpechanga on May 25, 2010 at 1:00 PM
It’s about time the drug cartels and Islamic terrorists are called out as the prime concern for securing the border.
fourdeucer on May 25, 2010 at 1:01 PM
Just don’t disturb any of the administration (especially Obama) while they are on vacation. I am still wondering when the vacation ends, though…..
search4truth on May 25, 2010 at 1:02 PM
I just hope the police are properly trained. They need to know if they see someone with an obvious bomb belt, they should not interfere, because that’s profiling.
trubble on May 25, 2010 at 1:03 PM
The middle eastern muslims must be coming all this way for a better life too, huh? Relax, rest easy, the demorats will take care of things for us; a few dozen exploded bodies every few months is a small price to pay for liberals to feel good about themselves.
Bishop on May 25, 2010 at 1:03 PM
Boy, these SEIU guys are everywhere!
cntrlfrk on May 25, 2010 at 1:04 PM
It’s been no secret for years now that the easiest way to enter the U.S. illegally, especially if you’re on a watch list, is to come in through the corrupt narco-state of Mexico. Securing our southern border should have been made a top national security priority years ago. Yet here we are, still wide open, with thousands of foreigners–some of whom are terrorists and many of whom are just “ordinary” violent criminals looking to victimize Americans–strolling across every day.
AZCoyote on May 25, 2010 at 1:05 PM
They ain’t coming across to pick our fruit or mow our lawns, that’s for sure…
Wyznowski on May 25, 2010 at 1:05 PM
Did Obama already apologize for this? I’m lossing count.
Oil Can on May 25, 2010 at 1:07 PM
I don’t watch that station but my guess is they did the story because the ATL area, like many others, has gang related problems. The police think many are mexican gang members coming here from CA (and probably AZ)….at least I know that was the hot topic for a while (can’t watch this video from my work pc).
atlgal on May 25, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Arizona is just a little ahead of that curve.
True, but the pioneers take the arrows.
Oops, is that racist?
itsnotaboutme on May 25, 2010 at 1:00 PM
No, it’s not racist… it’s the truth… and the truth tends to sting a little to people who don’t want to hear it.
SHARPTOOTH on May 25, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Man!!! These guys deserve a Pulitzer! They are on top of the real story, and are doing what needs to be done: REPORTING ON THE DANGERS OF OUR POROUS BORDERS!! Please follow the story and update us.
There are other “OTMs” listed that should be making headlines: North Korea (friend seeking asylum….doubtful!)?!
Congressman Broun needs to start asking questions about why this information is not being supplied to his committee. Now!
DINORight on May 25, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Our borders should have been completely sealed off since 9/12/2001.
BowHuntingTexas on May 25, 2010 at 1:10 PM
Doing the jobs that Americans definitely won’t do…
d1carter on May 25, 2010 at 1:11 PM
I’m telling you La Raza needs to be investigated. They are on the criminal side of every issue. There is something up with that.
petunia on May 25, 2010 at 1:12 PM
FIFY
Tommy_G on May 25, 2010 at 1:12 PM
And the tens of thousands of Mexican law enforcement and military deserting to join the ranks of the better armed and beter funded ranks of the cartels. The next time Mr. Calderon should explain these not so secret facts before the American people.
fourdeucer on May 25, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Repeal Obamacare.
Secure the borders.
Return to a free-market economy.
Do GOP candidates and officeholders need invitations to begin campaigning on these issues and many others?
BuckeyeSam on May 25, 2010 at 1:14 PM
I’ve said it before, our government won’t get serious about border security until there are mushroom clouds over multiple American cities…I’d say that’s a bit late, wouldn’t you?
Battlecruiser-operational on May 25, 2010 at 1:18 PM
Obama and the Dems “We don’t need no stink’n border security. We just need illegal votes so we can retain power over all.”
docdave on May 25, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Drudge has a picture of what I assume is the ‘fence’ between nk and sk. Now that needs to be on our southern border!
L
letget on May 25, 2010 at 1:19 PM
Puts the Congressional standing ovation for Calderon in perspective, now doesn’t it?
Edouard on May 25, 2010 at 1:21 PM
Yes, major kudos to this station for covering this story. If the media were the least bit fair, this would lock up the Pulitzer for the reporter.
But…he will have to be happy with the knowledge that the majority of the American people admire him for this.
PattyJ on May 25, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Yawn……New World Order…..Progressives in power (from both parties)….strong Federal Gov’t powers to deal with their failures……less personal liberty….more Jihadis in the country….THUGOCRACY in action……
….it’s all so, so messy. Got to get back to my kids soccer games, call me if you need anything else.
Thanks, Mr. & Mrs. Average American
PappyD61 on May 25, 2010 at 1:25 PM
WSB-TV has several good reports on their website. A Day in the Life of a Border Patrol Agent. The BP Agent explains their job and why they have to reinforce the trucks for safety from rocks thrown at them and so forth.
It really amazes me that DHS Napolitano is now denying Arizona help that she requested (and demanded) as governor. Copies of Napolitano’s letters are available at http://www.securetheborder.org.
GrannySunni on May 25, 2010 at 1:27 PM
And then it’s to lament all that great pot that they wont be able to smoke or that some poor innocent Mexican isnt going to be able to make a better life for themselves in the United States.
doriangrey on May 25, 2010 at 1:27 PM
MUSLIM SYMPATHIZER in the Oval office.
THAT is all you need to know.
PappyD61 on May 25, 2010 at 1:27 PM
Only if you believe in the US Constitution or are genuinely patriotic, if you are a democrat/Marxist/socialist/communist, then it’s a perfect crisis that should not be wasted…
doriangrey on May 25, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Calderon is too busy lying about AZ’s immigration law, and also lying about how 80% of Mexico’s crime guns come from the U.S. (the real number is less than 20%, but don’t let actual, verifiable facts get in the way of your “the U.S. causes all our problems” meme, Phil).
AZCoyote on May 25, 2010 at 1:30 PM
A friend of mine from Arizona sent this to me the other day. Why isn’t anyone else in the media talking about this? Oh nevermind, I know.
NYconservative on May 25, 2010 at 1:32 PM
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/he-didnt-just-lie-about-arizona-calderon-fibbed-about-assault-weapons-too/
Can read more here about Calderon’s lies.
AZCoyote on May 25, 2010 at 1:32 PM
For those of you wondering why an Atlanta station would be doing a story on illegals from Mexico, the answer is that Gwinnett County (where I live) is also where the Mexican drug cartel has set-up shop. We’re also seeing the same type of crime that Arizona is seeing; such as, kidnappings, murders, prostitution from gangs within the illegal community.
moonsbreath on May 25, 2010 at 1:33 PM
Securing the border needs to be the #1 issue for whomever the republican presidential candidate is come 2012.
If a primary candidate does not promise to build a physical barrier across the entire border, they need to be defeated.
Rebar on May 25, 2010 at 1:34 PM
True. Sad, but true.
I wonder if the Fed Gov shlubs who would try to use such a crisis to take total power really understand what a Costco-sized can of whup-ass they would be unleashing on themselves. There are millions of armed Americans that won’t put up with a dictatorship…
Battlecruiser-operational on May 25, 2010 at 1:42 PM
terrible!
moochy on May 25, 2010 at 1:53 PM
Adnan Shurkajumah
They need to catch this muthaphuqqer! He was the big story in Miami a few years ago, taking chemistry classes in Florida, learning how to kill. His picture should be EVERYWHERE!
Tony737 on May 25, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Mike McConnell, an intelligence advisor under Bush, wrote a report around 2007 that demonstrated that Iraqis were being smuggled in through Mexico. It included incriminating photos. At one point, i downloaded it. I tried referenceing it recently, but Google seems to have disppeared it. McConnell Report in pdf form.
ahem on May 25, 2010 at 1:57 PM
Ed,
As I’ve said before … you don’t see any Castilian blood illegally coming across our border.
When is someone going to ask the question why? What conditions in Mexico are driving the natives across our border illegally? You think it’s the corruption? The narco-state? No it’s not. Those are not the conditions that drive the native population out of their homeland. But it sure is an easy excuse and plays well on the American heartstrings… those poor mestizos.
It’s past time for the push back against La Raza/del Norte/Aztlan movements with the TRUTH about the civil rights abuses, discrimination and racism in Mexico. This entire issue is pointed in the wrong direction and needs to be turned on its head and pointed back towards Mexico. Why aren’t they using their resources to fight for their own homeland?
Why don’t the mestizos have opportunity in Mexico? All corruption and all the drug cartels in Mexico could end today and the bigotry in Mexico will still be the driving force. Otherwise, this is a never ending and that is their strategy.
Who has the guts to speak the truth?
Texas Gal on May 25, 2010 at 1:58 PM
Adnan Shurkajumah
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/Elshukrijumah1.jpg
Remember this face! If you see him, call the cops!
Tony737 on May 25, 2010 at 2:08 PM
.
I posted my story on this: May 17th:
I will link that to here for good conversational additions.
.
papa_giorgio on May 25, 2010 at 2:17 PM
I’d heard this story a while ago, and, apparently, it hasn’t gotten any better.
Considering the level of control the Executive Branch has over the state national guard forces, this isn’t good. They’re unable to even deploy their own forces, in their own states, at their own choosing, and I don’t see Obama doing anything to change that, anytime in the near (or far) future. State police forces are, generally, paramilitary in nature (such as our Michigan State Police, which liberal Granholm the Canadian socialist has devastated and brought to an all-time low in manpower); they need to go on a hiring blitz (as their budgets can allow) and transfer some personnel into police forces, then use them to bring down near-martial law on all borderlands (including Michigan, which borders Canada on both peninsulas, and Canada is not too choosy as to who they let in for ‘political asylum’). States, themselves, need to criminalize illegal aliens as felons, independent of the federal government’s penal codes, and assert more of their sovereignty over the objections of Obama, Pelosi and Reid. Quite frankly, I don’t care if they’re here for ‘a better life’, or not: they’re criminals, and know full-well they’re breaking the law and stealing from American citizens. If they want work, a couple of years on the chain gang should do just fine for them, right before permanent deportation with the threat of a doubled prison sentence if they’re caught in the US, again, and all family members being banned from even attaining a green card for their commission of a felony. (And if they commit any other crimes, then the sentences are to be served consecutively, not concurrently.) Our laws don’t have enough teeth, and I agree with Mark Levin that we need to duplicate Mexico’s own immigration/citizenship laws, and use them against them as a highly effective weapon.
Forces like the NY, MI, TX, AZ, NM, etc. state police forces really need to be beefed-up and made to live up to their paramilitary organizational roots. Military-grade weapons (M4s, SAWs, flash-bang grenades, Barrett sniper rifles, SCARs, M468s, etc.) and armor (Interceptor vests, etc.). In some cases, they should have modified Strykers to patrol trouble spots on borders (remember: Mexican ‘police’ and ‘military’ have opened fire on American law enforcement and military personnel). Anyone opens fire, they should be fired upon, with orders to kill if necessary. With the creation of ‘tent-city jails’ on the South-West borders to warehouse these criminals, I think this would be a fair deterrent for a lot of these foreign scofflaws.
Virus-X on May 25, 2010 at 2:19 PM
Those Armed Americans better remember this, when those Fed Gov shlubs go for their golden ring, they are going to use YOUR local law enforcement officers to enforce it.
It’s going to be your next door neighbor, Gus the cop, who comes for you. Do not deceive yourself for one single second into thinking that your local L.E.O, who has been totally brainwashed into enforcing whatever law the State or Federal Government passes will not shot you dead in a heartbeat the minute the State or Federal Government pass a law that makes you a criminal.
Remember, The Gestapo, The KGB, The Stasi, were ALL Law Enforcement Agencies completely convinced that what they were doing was protecting their nations lawful governments.
doriangrey on May 25, 2010 at 2:20 PM
Not to put on macho airs, but I feel it is my duty as an American to shoot the crap out of anyone who busts down my door and/or tries to take away my God-given rights.
Molon Labe!
Battlecruiser-operational on May 25, 2010 at 2:26 PM
When the never-ending campaign ends.
maverick muse on May 25, 2010 at 2:29 PM
When they come a door kicking, it will already be way to late…
doriangrey on May 25, 2010 at 2:30 PM
Living in Arizona, Here is a question I have asked my self many times.
We all know the Mexican drug cartel is capable of moving large heavy loads across the border and across the US.
If Al Qaeda,Syria, Iran, etc. or any other well funded terrorist organization contracted with the drug cartel to move a nuclear weapon across our boarder, would they play it safe and park it in the nearest heavily populated US city (Phoenix) or would they risk detection and be more likely to move it across the country to say, New York, in-order to get the biggest bang for their buck.
What do you think..?
Badbrucskie on May 25, 2010 at 2:32 PM
Over the recent years, the Islamic Jihadist Arabs publicly ridiculed the open and unsecured US/Mexican border, advertising that they were entering the US illegally through our southwest border and that there was NADA that any government official would do about it.
That was of course prior to the AZ immigration law passage mirroring the federal law text, empowering local law enforcement to protect citizens against illegal aliens.
maverick muse on May 25, 2010 at 2:32 PM
shick on May 25, 2010 at 2:34 PM
(jawdrop)
shick on May 25, 2010 at 2:34 PM
I think that if you use the Mexican Narco Traffickers as a indication then should the Jihadist employ that method of transportation there is no place in America that is safe, since the Mexican Narco Traffickers have completely infiltrated American society and have little problems transporting their cargo anywhere they want to.
doriangrey on May 25, 2010 at 2:39 PM
The stories about prayer rugs and badges are nothing new, but that doesn’t make this situation any less urgent. Meanwhile we should remember that we let people in from the the same countries on the O.T.M. list via an insane Visa lottery system.
Buy Danish on May 25, 2010 at 2:46 PM
I think that corrupt union bosses (organized criminals) would take a bribe to arrange the transport of whatever to where ever. They have plenty of public officials in their pockets to turn a blind eye and sign off on necessary papers. And they’ll feel particularly vindicated loosing all hell stateside when their demand for a tax funded bailout gets denied.
Something horrendously stupid about “deserve” always gets regurgitated by idiots at this point, expecting conservatives burdened with unconstitutionally executive ordered and legislatively mandated shackles to perpetually submit to the authoritarians’ bureaucratic stranglehold.
maverick muse on May 25, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Tomorrow’s Story:
Thousands of Lone Wolves Cross Border
Administration confirms no ties to terrorism
TugboatPhil on May 25, 2010 at 3:20 PM
Ahh, but if the next guy on the list has a few less agents/stormtroopers to deal with because of me and mine, and so on and so forth, pretty soon no goon is going to want to kick in anyone’s door…
Jefferson said something about watering the tree of Liberty…Hmmm.
Battlecruiser-operational on May 25, 2010 at 3:26 PM
Braggadocio @ 2:26 should think twice and take Michael Savage’s advice, for example, if living to see another day is part of the agenda when the socialist government push comes to shove violently through your home door.
maverick muse on May 25, 2010 at 3:30 PM
Barry doesn’t believe in borders. And when you come to Washington to see the White House just make sure YOU STAY ON YOUR SIDE OF THE FENCE!
GarandFan on May 25, 2010 at 4:54 PM
No bragging. Hope it never comes to that in this country. but I’ll be danged if I’ll let myself be loaded onto a train to a “re-education camp”…
Excellent! lol
Battlecruiser-operational on May 25, 2010 at 5:17 PM
The reason for this from an ATL station is exactly what atlgal and moonsbreath above said. Recently it was noted that the Gwinnett County area has one of the highest increases of illegals in the country. It is becoming a big problem for us here.
di butler on May 25, 2010 at 7:55 PM
Not to worry ,Obama has re thought his plan to send the MASSIVE 1200 man force to the border .
Obama is going to use the boy scouts and the girl scouts to protect the border .
The girl scouts will be the front wave and provide lemon-ade and girl scout cookies , and ask the ” Undocumented Social victims ” to turn around and not enter the USA
The boy scouts will be the second and final wave , any person that doesnt turn back will be subject to an all out assault with a ” shoot first ask questions later ” policy .
I read an internet rumour that CHENEY bought the BEN GAY company and will make a fortune supplying BEN GAY to the boy scouts who have wrist soreness from repeated firings of their slingshots at Mexicans
ELMO Q on May 25, 2010 at 9:48 PM
So, this is the reason 0 is sending reinforcements to the border (even tho he is pulling an Afghanistan: send temp reinforcements, but make sure the rules that come with them keep them from being effective.) Does he think this little bit of attention to the border will over ride the publicity this series will get?
Oleta on May 25, 2010 at 10:42 PM
Those of us on the right know immigration enforcement isn’t about deny anyone anything, nor is the imperative to secure our borders raaacciiisst. My mother was born and raised in Naples Italy and became a naturalized citizen the legal way, she assimilated to our culture, she spoke English and was very proud to be an American!
However if you listen to the left that’s what immigration and border security is all about, it’s about how raaaacciiiiisssst those on the right are and how mean we are to deny poor people a better life!
I watched Geraldo at Large last week (Geraldo wasn’t hosting so that’s why I watched) and they had a panel discussion on the immigration/border security issue. JD Hayworth was one of the panelists and he mentioned the OTM issue and how Venezuela was now working more closely with Iran and what a dire threat that could be to which another panelist (the ever brain-dead lefty Susan Estrich) quipped back at JD (with dripping sarcasm of course) that JD must be reading too many Clancy novels!
I mentioned this exchange on another thread and one commenter said JD should have quipped back with “oh, you mean like in one of Clancy’s novels where terrorists fly planes into building…?” That would have been a great comeback! As it was I wanted to jump through the TV and scream…”Susan you ignorant slut!”
To make things worse when some other panelist mentioned how Obama wasn’t doing anything about the issue all Susan could say was how much she respected her president! That’s what nearly popped a blood vessel in my brain…after 8 years of Susan disparaging Bush now she’s all about respect!! So not only is Susan Estrich an ignorant baffoon she’s also a typical lefty hypocrite…SHOCKER!
I swear, the left are either ignorant, in denial, or they are aware of the threat but because of their lefty guilt and/or utter hate and contempt for America they choose to ignore the very real threat we face from fascist Islam!
For our nations sake I hope Obama doesn’t get another four years in office, if he does our nation is lost!
Liberty or Death on May 26, 2010 at 2:13 AM