Thursday
Jan292009
Conservatives say border security is sound policy, not racism
Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 5:27PM
On Thursday afternoon at the National Press Club, a panel met to discuss the role that immigration played in the Republican defeat of 2008. Marcus Epstein, executive director of the American Cause and Team America PAC, coordinated the event and sat on the panel. He said that immigration policy should be based not on hate, but on sound policy, a sentiment echoed by the rest of the panel. Panelist Jim Pinkerton, senior fellow of the Free Market Fund and New American Foundation, said that border security is the same thing as homeland security. Pinkerton highlighted the threat of terrorism, and insisted that securing the borders (in particular the one with Mexico) was a high propriety in ensuring that America's threats were minimized and managed. Pinkerton insisted that a border fence would help us maintain our national identity, and said this kind of cultural struggle is an issue "in every sovereign country". Pinkerton went on to say that a border fence would help the economy by creating jobs to construct it, as well as protecting Amerian jobs which may otherwise be taken by immigrants.
Peter Brimelow, columnist at CBS Marketwatch and former senior editor of Forbes and The National Review, stated that demographic shifts are "steadily weakening the GOP". He said that the influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, is helping the Democratic Party. He continued that the number of people in these growing demographic groups turning out simply overwhelmed the Republicans white base in 2008. In the context of future elections in which Republicans are competing, Brimelow said that, "the projections are quite grim" for a Republican victory.
By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service
Peter Brimelow, columnist at CBS Marketwatch and former senior editor of Forbes and The National Review, stated that demographic shifts are "steadily weakening the GOP". He said that the influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, is helping the Democratic Party. He continued that the number of people in these growing demographic groups turning out simply overwhelmed the Republicans white base in 2008. In the context of future elections in which Republicans are competing, Brimelow said that, "the projections are quite grim" for a Republican victory.
By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service
DOD Official: Sailors Should Fight Somali Pirates Themselves
The most effective way to deal with piracy off of the Somali coast is for the sailors to defend themselves, according to a Defense Department representative testifying to the Senate Armed Services Committee today.
Michele Flournoy, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, said that of the recent pirate attacks in Somalia the most effective means of fending off the pirates came from actions taken by the crews themselves.
“The single most effective short-term response to piracy will be working with merchant shipping lines to ensure that vessels in the region take appropriate security measures themselves,” Flournoy said. She continued that it is not possible for the U.S. military to prevent or intervene in every pirate attack, but if crews take appropriate measures, “the vast majority of pirate attacks can be thwarted without any need for military intervention.”
There were 122 attempted pirate attacks in 2008, of which only 42 resulted in crewmembers becoming captured. Of the unsuccessful attacks, 78 percent of them were stopped by the crews actions, with the others being stopped by military intervention, according to Flournoy.
Flournoy divided crew countermeasures into two categories: passive and active defense measures. Passive measures are those which don’t necessarily require direct confrontation with the pirates, and can include physical obstructions to boarding points, avoiding high-risk waters, creating fortified “safe rooms” in the ship, posting lookouts at all times, and maintaining contact with maritime security forces. Active defense measures can include using fire hoses and small arms to repel pirates and a military presence on the boat. Both of these defensive measures are important for crews to talk to defend themselves, Flournoy said.
She believes that the complexity of this situation necessitates a multifaceted approach, which is why the aforementioned measures should be combined with greater military patrols and economic development. Additionally, the Defense Department would like to see more states willing to prosecute the pirates. Presently, Kenya is one of the only nations to actually place Somali pirates on trial.
According to Flournoy, since August 2008 36 pirate vessels have been destroyed or confiscated, small arms have been seized, and 146 pirates have been turned over to law enforcement officers.