Monday, September 26, 2011

Texas Border: Dire or Overstated?

The Austin American Statesman commentary article  “Staples: Texans want action on border security” discusses the growing threat Mexican cartels impose to Texans, specifically those along the Texas-Mexico border. The Mexican cartels are accused of killing, kidnapping, human trafficking, drug and arms smuggling, and more. The Texas Department of Agriculture and Texas Department of Public Safety commissioned retired General Barry R. McCaffrey and Major General Robert H. Scales to employ their vast military expertise with securing borders and hostile territories to evaluate the risks along the Texas-Mexico border. General McCaffrey and Major General Scales conclude there is a real serious threat and incite local, state and federal governments to work collaboratively to improve Texas and national security. The commentary discusses the human threat of the Mexican cartels as well as the economic threat. Mexico is Texas’ primary trading partner and the U.S’s number two exporter, yet $19 billion to $39 billion in illegal trade travels into Mexico occurs annually.
This article’s audience is primarily the federal government, which is seen as lax and negligent in their estimation of Mexican cartels’ threat to Texans specifically, and Americans generally. The article is also a means to persuade citizens to insight their government representatives to act to secure their homes, lives and future. In fact, Staples refers to the federal government’s constitutional responsibility of securing the country from “foreign invaders.”
The source of the article and the experts sited in the article lend it credibility. The Austin American Statesman maintains strict adherence to ethical guidelines “intended to preserve impartiality.” Additionally, the author, Todd Staples’ evidence, as concluded by General McCaffrey and Major General Scales in Texas Border Security: A Strategic Military Assessment, seems credible as exhibited by the men's extensive professional biographies. Additionally, General McCaffrey was the former U.S. drug czar under President Bill Clinton, a democrat, which indicates the findings are unbiased and not generated by a certain party’s agenda.  However, Staples has a vested interest in border security because it predominantly impacts farmers, ranchers and rural Texans all of whom are Staples’ constituents.
Overall, Staples’ argument seems credible. While the number of murders (25), assaults (24), shootings (15) and kidnappings (5) in Texas contributed to the cartel are minimal compared to the total rates, evidence indicates the increase in illegal activity will continue to grow if it is not curbed. Without increased support, resources, leadership and competent staff, Mexican cartel crime will proliferate and further infiltrate the U.S. with dire consequences to its citizens directly (e.g. increased murders, assaults and kidnappings) and economically (e.g. millions of dollars are allocated to border security related efforts, but unless executed sufficiently, as it is currently, it is a waste of tax payers’ money).

No comments:

Post a Comment