GAO report reveals a rift over National Guard's role at border

D


avid Wallace/The Arizona Republic

Arizona National Guardsmen scan the surrounding area for illegal activity near the border in Nogales.

GAO report reveals a rift over National Guard's role at border: "For most of the past five years, National Guard troops have patrolled the southwestern border, helping to catch drug smugglers and illegal immigrants.

And political analysts say there is a good chance the troops, scheduled to leave Dec. 31, will remain through the 2012 election because President Barack Obama won't want to risk the political fallout of a move that could be viewed as retreating on border security.

But a new report by the Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, reveals a rift between the military and Homeland Security officials over border strategy and the Guard's role."

'via Blog this'