One Reporter's Opinion - Fraud on Every Front!

One Reporter's Opinion - Fraud on Every Front!

George Putnam
Friday, May 28, 2004

It is this reporter's opinion that we are now receiving credible intelligence that al Qaeda is close to making good on its vow to strike American soil again.

Attorney General John Ashcroft and FBI Director Robert Mueller are pointing to possible attacks during the summer months. The two top government officials are now launching a manhunt for these seven with at the least terrorist leanings. This comes on the heals of a flood of chatter indicating al Qaeda is about to go to work again.

A day before this public news conference, I received a report from Scott Wheeler of CNS News. Scott told me of an Iranian man convicted of drug trafficking, also suspected of money laundering and smuggling people from Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Jordan into the U.S.

According to federal court documents, Mehrzad Arbane told a former associate-turned-government informant, in October of 2001, that he "may have smuggled two of the hijackers who flew the planes into the towers in New York on Sept. 11, 2001."

As of this moment I have seen no report - printed or on television and radio - to that effect. However, all of this lack of communication is not surprising.

Since last January's announcement by the president of a new immigration reform policy, our porous borders have further exploded. As this is written, anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000 individuals with no identity or backgrounds will cross our borders. This is an invasion - an unarmed invasion.

Why should we be so shocked that the Attorney General and the chief of the FBI are searching for seven individuals within our borders? U.S. officials lay it on the line. They say their new intelligence, deemed highly credible, indicates al Qaeda or other terrorists are preparing to strike hard - preparing to launch a major attack this summer.

But there are small evidences of hope...

Congressman John Culberson, R-Texas, is putting forth legislation that would cut off the paycheck of any public official who does not carry out his sworn oath of office on the immigration front.

Congressman Virgil Goode of Virginia put forth House Resolution 4200 that would place soldiers along the nation's northern and southern borders. However, there is opposition and lack of support.

Congressman Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., put forth an amendment to require state agencies to ask for proof of legal residency from anyone receiving non-emergency services that would include everything from a business license to subsidized vaccinations for poor children.

But the frightening statistics continue. Since 1992, over one million persons annually have been intercepted, attempting to illegally enter the U.S. and the U.S. border patrol estimates that for every individual caught on the borders, five to seven cross successfully.

And still the president has proposed amnesty - that's what it is! - for the estimated millions who disregard our laws. One must ask who's writing U.S. immigration policy. Is it the global multi-national corporations?

Recently Frosty Wooldridge, who has led the fight against the illegal invasion, whose next book, "Immigration's Unarmed Invasion: Deadly Consequences" (coming in June), has called my attention to a remarkable book by John W. Slagle, "Illegal Entries," in which he tells of his years of experience with the U.S. border patrol.

Mr. Slagle warns of the increase of illegal aliens from Middle Eastern countries as well as other regions that support terrorism - illegal aliens from Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iran who have used the Mexican embassy in those countries as a gateway into the U.S.

Slagle tells of Mexican entry visas (valid for 30 days) purchased at a price up to $5,000 and once in Mexico, terrorists hire smugglers for transportation onto U.S. soil.

Slagle, among other frightening statements, says this, "Many drug shipments are escorted or guarded by Mexican authorities. Narcotics organizations pay millions of dollars in bribes to corrupt Mexican military officers who command 'anti-drug troops' along the border as well as police agencies. The bribery system in Mexico has yet to be resolved by Washington or Mexico's President Fox.

Frosty Wooldridge, in his book, and John Slagle, in "Illegal Entries," do a remarkable patriotic service to each and every one of us.

"America's downfall," Slagle writes, "began with the surreptitious passing by Ted Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson's 1965 Immigration Reform Act. This little known document was not voted on or asked for by American citizens. It opened the floodgates to one million immigrants annually.

"Previously, only 178,000 annually were allowed. Today, 60 million immigrants later and rising like a dangerous tidal wave, they crash upon our shores without pause. Where we were once a stable population, we are now the fastest growing country behind China and India."

Bush's guest worker amnesty program is encouraging millions around the world to come to America illegally as we sink further into a third world momentum. America's dream is fast becoming an American nightmare.

The issue of illegal immigration is not a matter of race; it is not a matter of creed or color. This is a matter of national security - both to the public safety and our economic safety. Tragically between Kerry and Bush, there is little difference on open borders and cooperation with Mexico's policies; between the two parties, there isn't a dime's worth of difference on this grave national security priority. Ronald Reagan said it best: "A nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation." Where will we be five years from today?

The legendary George Putnam is 89 years young and a veteran of 69 years as a reporter, broadcaster and commentator ... and is still going strong on KSPA-AM, 12 noon to 2 p.m. Pacific Time - simulcast all over the world on the CRN Radio Network.

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