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Return to Article: Lieberman says enactment of DHS authorization bill a priority

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  9/11 happened because our intelligence agencies failed not our border agencies. When DHS was created, almost all countries followed suit with the exception of Australia. They created a DHS like department but without agencies. Should we do the same? we're in an unprecedented recession. DHS is the 2nd largest dept in the US govt. Just abolish DHS, it does not work. Instead, overhaul the intelligence agencies. we owe it to the people.

  Jesus Rodriguez Posted February 7, 2009 10:14 AM
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  ICE and CBP:

  "Jacks of all trades, masters of none"!

  Both "Don" and "Jim K198" are right on target, and make very good points. However, since it is unlikely that ICE and CBP will be reorganized along the lines of the former legacy U.S. Customs Service and INS (much as I would love to see that happen), the next best thing to do would be to merge them into one law enforcement agency. There is no reason why the uniformed officers (CBP) and the detectives (ICE) should be in separate agencies. This flies in the face of common sense, and isn't done at any other major law enforcement agency. I also think that the FBI was behind this, because it didn't want any competition from DHS to threaten it's position as America's most powerful law enforcement agency! Remember that Michael Chertoff came from the Justice Department, while Michael Garcia and his chief of staff not only also came from DOJ, but were married to FBI agents. Coincidence? I think not!

  ICEd Posted January 20, 2009 12:41 PM
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  I agree with the need to change the organizational structure at the border and Immigration policy. I do not agree with merging ICE and CBP. Take both of these agencies apart and reorganize them into two new agencies, each with distinct responsibilities. Create one agency for currency, drug and commercial trade enforcement, return to the legacy Customs. The other, an immigration enforcement agency. The Immigration enforcement agency would be comprised of the Deportation division from ICE and the Immigration Officers and Border Patrol Agents from CBP. If anything was proven with this great experiment, having an agency enforce two sections of the United States Code does not work. We need agencies that can focus. We do not need "subject matter experts"; we need "experts on the subject". Government surveys reveal very low moral at both ICE (OI) Office of Investigations and at Customs and Border Protection. Let us correct two small problems, not create one bigger problem.

  Don Posted January 13, 2009 7:32 PM
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  K. Stevens is 100% correct. In the original plan for DHS, ICE and CBP were to be one agency. The border agencies were deliberately split to weaken DHS. I believe this was largely driven out of DOJ as they did not want DHS, and certainly did not want a strong and effective DHS. Remember they set up the TSC inside the FBI when the Homeland Security Act said that work was to be in DHS. Chertoff recently indicated that he did not want any reorganization of DHS. When DHS was split up he was #3 at DOJ and I think a participating architect of this mess. As Sec. DHS he commissioned a study on structure that strongly recommended merger. He rejected it. I guess, like Frances Townsend, another of the architects of this mess, he was still hoping to be rewarded with the job of Attorney General. The result of all this is a weaker, less effective DHS, but more importantly a less safe America.

  Jim K198 Posted January 12, 2009 10:24 AM
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  Napolitano never saw an Illegal Alien bill that she didn't veto while Gov in AZ. The only ones that made it past her veto pen were the ones that the citizens of AZ voted on and she had to go along with. Lieberman is fooling himself if he thinks she is going to be good for America. And our Senators should be voting on getting a release and re-instatement for Ramos & Compean, pawns in Bush's pandering to Mexico.

  LadyM Posted January 9, 2009 10:03 AM
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  merge cbp and ice. the rift gets bigger every day, and that's not good for america.

  k stevens Posted January 8, 2009 5:09 PM
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  "...and, in the normal course of things, I look forward to supporting the nomination barring any unexpected events," Lieberman said. Typical Lieberman double-speak. What a weasel.

  RGAR Posted January 7, 2009 10:31 AM
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  The total DHS budget has been growing for 5 years, full of waste and zero regard for cost versus benefit. The self-serving Lieberman is not looking to put a lid on waste, he is jockeying for clout and personal control of "his own authorization bill".

  M Onger Posted January 7, 2009 10:29 AM
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  One of the righteous first things Napolitano could do to gain trust and get traction would be to release the two border agents (Campeon and the other's name escapes me) serving time as political prisoners. Perfect examples of pawns who risk their lives for administration that colludes with Mexican "royalty."

  Jackson Richards Posted January 7, 2009 5:48 AM