Speaking to a standing room only crowd at the Kally K's Restaurant in Dunedin, Mr. Julius Morreal, NY Police Sergeant (Retired) and Colonel Steven Strawder (Retired) each told about their own experience as volunteer Minuteman Civil Defense Corp observer on the US/Mexico Border. They told about seeing groups of illegal aliens walking across our un-fenced borders, entering the US and their attempts to notify and work to assist the Border Guard Patrols. While each Minuteman carries their own weapon, they would use them only in self defense where there is no other alternative. Great care is given to see that this does not happen. All actual physical contact with any illegal alien is handled by the Border Guards.
Colonel Strawder said that as many as 10,000 illegal aliens cross our border on a single day but somehow, the numbers of illegal aliens estimated to be in our country in 2007 are the same numbers quoted in 2005 although nobody seems to know why this is.
He talked about President Bush's recent visit to the Border, where he delivered almost the same message and promises as on his previous visit. While the President also encouraged more people to sign up to become Border Guards, there is trouble finding more qualified people who want to sign up for training to become border guards due to the low pay and perceived lack of support. When questioned more about this Col. Strawder cited the prosecution of two Border Agents Ramos and Campeon, sent to prison for doing their jobs by District Attorney Johnny Sutton while the drug smuggler they were chasing was given amnesty.
Colonel Strawder also shared concerns about our President's real commitment to securing our borders when he is so strongly joining with the President of Mexico, the Prime Minister of Canada, US and International Corporate Leaders to promote the "North American Union" or "Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America," which he said appears far more interested in removing barriers between Mexico/US and US/Canada than building barriers to secure our US/Mexico Border. He provided these websites for more information www.cfr.org, www.spp.org and www.forthecause.us .
They are asking any people who are open to forming a Minuteman Chapter here in our area to Contact Julius Morreal, Jmorreal@swfla.rr.com or call him at 239-945-8802. For more general information on the Minuteman Civil Defense Corp, go to their website www.minutemanhq.com.
