Texas Gov. Rick Perry says Predator drones should patrol Tex

[marksiwel]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... a42ec.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

IRVING – Gov. Rick Perry called for the use of unarmed Predator drones to patrol the Texas-Mexico border on Monday as he tried to shore up his border security credentials in a campaign stop at the Irving Police Association Hall.
Elections 2010
"The federal government has been an abject failure at sealing our international border," Perry said.

Anyone ever read that book Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley? In it Texas decides to Mine the Border with Mexico. Also the President elects a Sarah Palin type to the Superme Court, the book was written a year before most of us even knew who Palin or Obama was. The man can predict the future!

[Marty Graw]

What good are "unarmed" drones?

[Dragonfighter]

What good are "unarmed" drones?

A predator has hard points, maybe we could drop huge paintballs on 'em like that beer commercial.

[Mike1951]

We were supposed to get drones after they stole our 147th Fighter Group.

[marksiwel]

We were supposed to get drones after they stole our 147th Fighter Group.

The put bees in the what now?

Also I dont think a State (even the great State of Texas) is allowed (Per the Constitution) to deal with other countries in such a manner.

[williamkevin]

We were supposed to get drones after they stole our 147th Fighter Group.

We were "Reborn" as the 147th Reconnaissance Wing.

[Mike1951]

It was comforting and reassuring to see one of their F-16s flying overhead.

With drones,.....not so much.

[gemini]

I believe border patrol is STILL a Federal issue. I personally have no problem with Border Patrol
agents using Predator Drones.......provided the drones are armed ..............
I don't think Perry intends for the Predator Drones to be operated by a State agency. As Gov. he can
request anything he wants from the Fed govm't. Might not get it, but, he can ask.

[williamkevin]

It was comforting and reassuring to see one of their F-16s flying overhead.

With drones,.....not so much.

There are still F-16s on Ellington Field, manned by the Oklahoma Air National Guard. The protection is still here. As far as the 147th, we have a federal mission fighting this war in the middle east.

Edited for spelling

[williamkevin]

What good are "unarmed" drones?

Whoever said "Drones" aren't armed?

[Oldgringo]

Forget this! The Democrats, currently in charge, are not going to allowed armed drones, state or federal, to shoot their voter base. I hate to come across as bitter and disenfranchised...but I am. Godfrey Daniels, enough is enough!

Fire em' all!, let's start over,

[Mike1951]

It was comforting and reassuring to see one of their F-16s flying overhead.

With drones,.....not so much.

There are still F-16s on Ellington Field, manned by the Oklahoma Air National Guard. The protection is still here. As far as the 147th, we have a federal mission fighting this war in the middle east.

Edited for spelling

I want to assure you that I didn't mean to diminish what you do.

When I was able to get out more, I spent hours at the east end of Brantly Ave. reading and watching the takeoffs and landings.

You did encourage me to review some of the articles about the transition.

Texas' drones weren't scheduled to be operable until 2012. So from what you said, I'm inferring that Ellington is controlling drones in the war zones, correct?

Is it correct that there are three F-16s based there, as opposed to seventeen before June 2008?

Also, the last few times I was there, the Guppy wasn't in its shelter. Where is it when not there?

[williamkevin]

It was comforting and reassuring to see one of their F-16s flying overhead.

With drones,.....not so much.

There are still F-16s on Ellington Field, manned by the Oklahoma Air National Guard. The protection is still here. As far as the 147th, we have a federal mission fighting this war in the middle east.

Edited for spelling

I want to assure you that I didn't mean to diminish what you do.

When I was able to get out more, I spent hours at the east end of Brantly Ave. reading and watching the takeoffs and landings.

You did encourage me to review some of the articles about the transition.

Texas' drones weren't scheduled to be operable until 2012. So from what you said, I'm inferring that Ellington is controlling drones in the war zones, correct?

Is it correct that there are three F-16s based there, as opposed to seventeen before June 2008?

Also, the last few times I was there, the Guppy wasn't in its shelter. Where is it when not there?

Mike-
I didn't think you were diminishing what I do, and if my post came across that way, I apologize.
To answer your questions as completely as I am able:

We have no Predators on Ellington field. That part of our operation is not yet operable. We do support the warfighter on the ground downrange.

There are not as many 16s here as there once was, but I will say that out of the 17 or so jets that we used to fly, at any one time there was the same number of jets on alert then as there are now. The vast majority of the sorties out of Ellington at that time were training sorties (not counting the combat air patrols after 9-11).

As for the Guppy, that bird is a NASA aircraft so we don't keep up with it.

Regards,
williamkevin

[frazzled]

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... a42ec.html

IRVING – Gov. Rick Perry called for the use of unarmed Predator drones to patrol the Texas-Mexico border on Monday as he tried to shore up his border security credentials in a campaign stop at the Irving Police Association Hall.
Elections 2010
"The federal government has been an abject failure at sealing our international border," Perry said.

Anyone ever read that book Supreme Courtship by Christopher Buckley? In it Texas decides to Mine the Border with Mexico. Also the President elects a Sarah Palin type to the Superme Court, the book was written a year before most of us even knew who Palin or Obama was. The man can predict the future!

Oh no. I finally believe I agree with Governor Blowdry on something...

[Keith B]

Oh no! Who is going to mow my lawn and do all that hard work for cheap wages?!

You?