Originally Posted by thegeneral
(Post 8733271)
If they didn't do this, it would make for a large very easy way to smuggle a few tons of goods across the border would it not? It's not as if this is a normal occurance. I've crossed at the border points in Quebec about 50 times. I have never heard or seen any fire trucks racing for the border. The border police were doing their due diligence. Searching a truck, checking the ID's of all aboard and running the plate in 8 minutes isn't bad. The article doesn't note if this has happened before, how long it usually takes, etc. It still is a vehicle coming from another country.
This kind of border "protection" is only going to come back and hurt America--next time Canadians will think twice about even trying and let the building burn. |
I seem to recall years back when Palestinian terror organizations would use ambulances as a ruse to blow up Israelis. You know, rush in, no one checks the ambulance or driver and then --- BOOOM!
Cross border firefighting is a concept I never really thought about before, and I'm glad that those communities have the ties to work together. However, it is not always CBP to blame for things like this. Will a Canadian (or American) fire company responding to a cross-border fire be used as a ruse for a terror attack? Extremely doubtful. But it is not outside the realm of possibility. |
Originally Posted by etch5895
(Post 8733573)
Will a Canadian (or American) fire company responding to a cross-border fire be used as a ruse for a terror attack? Extremely doubtful. But it is not outside the realm of possibility. |
Originally Posted by wsommerv
(Post 8734384)
The huge difference here is that they only cross the border at the request of the local American fire department. They don't just see a fire and go "hmm, looks like they need help. Let's speed across the border today."
Another episode of 24 in the making. You CANNOT protect against every conceivable threat. |
Originally Posted by vassilipan
(Post 8734918)
To extend the rampant paranoia, "But what if the fire department on the American side was compromised?"
Another episode of 24 in the making. You CANNOT protect against every conceivable threat. Maybe we should check the fire fighters' IDs when they arrive on the scene and frisk them for "dangerous" items? Better safe than sorry. You can't be too careful. :rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by etch5895
(Post 8733573)
Will a Canadian (or American) fire company responding to a cross-border fire be used as a ruse for a terror attack? Extremely doubtful. But it is not outside the realm of possibility.
Wouldn't it be easier for them to just acquire everything they need inside the U.S., and smuggle their operatives across the border in any of the weak areas of the tens of thousands of miles of U.S. boarder? The success of terrorist operation is based on fact that they make simple plans; the more complex, the more chance it will be detected or go wrong. This plan is way to complicated. Great for a hollywood movie, but in reality this is WAAAAY outside the realm of possibility. |
Originally Posted by Gargoyle
(Post 8735087)
in reality this is WAAAAY outside the realm of possibility.
|
Originally Posted by InIndiana
(Post 8733332)
This kind of border "protection" is only going to come back and hurt America--next time Canadians will think twice about even trying.
Unless it's the actual border post on fire :D ^ |
Originally Posted by thegeneral
(Post 8733271)
If they didn't do this, it would make for a large very easy way to smuggle a few tons of goods across the border would it not? It's not as if this is a normal occurance. I've crossed at the border points in Quebec about 50 times. I have never heard or seen any fire trucks racing for the border. The border police were doing their due diligence. Searching a truck, checking the ID's of all aboard and running the plate in 8 minutes isn't bad. The article doesn't note if this has happened before, how long it usually takes, etc. It still is a vehicle coming from another country.
The mutual agreement has been around for many years as well. With such an agreement in place, I believe the CBP should use common sense and allow for an expedited crossing. |
Originally Posted by SDF_Traveler
(Post 8737579)
the CBP should use common sense
|
Originally Posted by Points Scrounger
(Post 8737640)
Can you say mutually exclusive?
|
It gets better
Mr. Rivers, a board member with the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, said Sunday's was not an entirely isolated incident, either. A U.S. firefighter returning from battling a blaze in Quebec was detained recently over his identification upon returning home, he said. Crossing into Canada has not been a problem, Mr. Rivers said. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../National/home You have to remember in that part of the continent, national boundaries run right through private houses, libraries and the like. Cross-border backup is considered crucial for smaller and rural communities without the manpower and equipment of big cities. George A. Rivers, the mayor of Rouses Point, says his village of 2,400 relies on Quebec border towns; Lacolle, only 12 kilometres away, is nearer than local American communities, he said. |
Wait. Don't firetrucks tend to have equipment like axes?
[lou dobbs voice on] You're telling me that CBP let undocumented foreigners carry sharp instruments that could have been used as weapons across the broken border!?! Incredible. French-speaking illegal aliens from Socialist Canada are allowed to steal jobs from ordinary American firefighters without even obtaining B-1 visas. All under the noses of the Border Patrol. [/lou dobbs voice off] ;) Is there any chance the whole of the DHS would go on a wildcat strike? We need an air traffic controller-style housecleaning. Good on the firefighters (or whomever) for bringing this story to the media. |
In my opinion, the US and Canada should have open borders anyway, similar to Schengen.
But we don't. Apparantly one or both nations wants to maintain border sovereignty. That includes the use of border control agents. Border Control agents who do (and should) have the authority to do their jobs. So, regardless of what anyone thinks could or couldn't happen, it really doesn't matter. Until we do any with our US / Canadian borders (which I would be in favor of doing), our CBP officers are going to continue to enforce the laws of the US and their SOPs. |
Originally Posted by etch5895
(Post 8738949)
Apparantly one or both nations wants to maintain border sovereignty.
Back to the topic at hand. I am certain that CBP must have some discretionary powers. If so, logic dictates that SOP do not apply in this situation and that common sense should prevail. |
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