>For the umpteenth time I have heard a senior U.S. politician make smarmy remarks about a 'porous Canadian border' and that they 'hope our friends to the north can do a better job after this'.

I agree and I hope we can do a better job. As you have pointed out - this is not a one way street! Blaming Canada is not going to help one bit.
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>This is indeed remarkable - I didn't know that the U.S. government had given over control of entry into the U.S. to the Canadian Customs agents. But I guess it must be so, since these are all U.S. Federal politicians bitching about this. If anyone would know, they would.

I am not sure what these guys know as I think most are a pain where I sit down.
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>As I'm sure you all know, the Canadian border is like most borders of the world when it comes to exit and entry (to another country). When driving to the U.S. you drive right through the checkpoint of the country of exit (Canada) and are inspected at the country of entry (United States), by agents of that country (of entry). Our border can only be porous in OUR direction form our responsibilities there.

Think of all the emphasis placed upon "illegal entry into the United States" from those "terrible people" from Mexico, who are willing to risk his/her lives to have an opportunity to have a better life by coming to the United States. Instead of worrying about these people who are only trying to survive as human beings we place laws, manpower and large sums of money to “keep them out”. Our emphasis has to shift dramatically, for many reasons.

I am sure our security systems will change dramatically and must if we wish to help prevent such acctivities as occured Tuesday of last week.

Jim;

A politician is a politician, regardless of what country he is representing. It only gets worse before an election, and some guys "like to get their brownie points in" so they can be remembered as "good politicians", when it is time for re-election.

As a child I remember the comedian Red Skelton, doing one of his characters. The character was a politician called San Fernando Red (he had red hair). San Fernando Red wore a hat, and a suit like a plantation owner, which was all white. Whenever he would be in front of a group of people, who had gathered for whatever reason, he would give a speech. He had a line I cannot forget: “My friends, and don’t you tell me you aren’t my friends, my friends”! At election time you would see more of good old San Fernando Red. By the way in case you do not know it, San Fernando is the next valley from Hollywood.

At the end of each weekly show Red Skelton would end with “God Bless”.


Tom