The Threat From The North

(CBS)  To combat drug smuggling and illegal immigration, the federal government is fortifying the Mexican border -- adding thousands of new patrol agents, surveillance cameras, sensors and unmanned aerial drones.

In contrast, the Canadian border is a 5,000 mile expanse, which a new government investigation warns may be a welcome mat for terrorists with weapons of mass destruction.

A report by the Government Accountability Office obtained by CBS News concludes: "A determined cross-border violator would likely be able to bring radioactive materials ... undetected into the United States..."

Over eight months, government investigators crossed the northern border unchallenged at least six times, carrying a small duffel bag meant to represent a "dirty bomb." The teams did not carry any real explosives or radioactive material, but carried simulated cargo, that, upon further inspection, would have seemed suspiciously like the real thing.

Border roads were "unmanned and unmonitored" with barriers "that could be driven around."

In one case, a citizen alerted authorities, but "the U.S. Border Patrol was not able to locate the investigators with the duffel bag."

The May 2007 findings also point to a great disparity in manpower, with 11,986 Border Patrol agents along the Southern boundary and just 972 patrolling the much longer Northern front.

Security officials argue the Southern border poses the greatest risk.

"When you take a look at the challenges with the economic migrants coming across, as well as the criminal migrants coming across, as well as the 2 million pounds of drugs that cross into the Southern tier into the United States, that's a huge threat that needs to be addressed," says Jay Ahern of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

But the Northern border has been tested before. So-called millennium bomber Ahmed Ressam was caught with a car full of bomb parts while crossing near Seattle.

"Take Ahmed Ressam and put him somewhere over North Dakota or Minnesota, at a sparsely populated border crossing, and he would have been inside the country pretty quickly," says CBS News Homeland Security consultant Paul Kurtz.

Investigators credit the government for greatly improving border defenses since 9/11, but say it's clear more manpower and resources are badly needed to protect against a threat from the North.

[erasmus6]

"Wouldn''''t it make a lot of sense to work things out with Canddaq, so they apply the same restrictions to those entering Candda as we do..." posted by DennyOS

Actually Denny, my family has traveled for years to the U.S. and we have found that our own Canadian borders are MORE strict about who they are letting in than your U.S. borders.

Also, as much as it pleases me that you feel at home here in Canada, we would not want open borders as then it would mean that your fellow GUN toting Americans would be able to cross into our country too freely. That wouldn''t be good.

[whispyseas]

'' ... most folk most time dance get well feed world round hundreds millions sick beds drifting tens millions spore bloom weed dragon trail fickle first aid lunch farm cottage studio trail groups ... ''


'' ... eternity came to me once and said, i''m sick, i''m ill, i''m suffering, i''m dying, to which i replied: what do you expect me to do for you, your''e eternity: it''s all in your head ... so joking ... ''

'' ... they mug and kill alot of people, once in a while they actually get to mug or kill one of the tiny few trying to snatch their nukes, then they get to feel heroic and truly oppressed and righteous and vindicated and worthy ... for a few moments anyway ... ''

[whispyseas]

'' ... you deserve a quality medicl education for free, but if you don''t have any money your not getting it, you''ll have to settle for ca.ybull and that''s just wink wink we''ll educate you meaning we''ll throw ur *** in a dare house or a shock and awe house and shriek while you scream ... ''

[whispyseas]

'' ... if the top five hundred companys have at least five hundred branches in most major markets, and only a small percentage of the local population can be employeed by the top five hundred companys, then why do the vast majorty of people, not employeed by the top five hundred companys, bide their hob nobbing at the few hundred local malls passing all the local dough to the neighborhood strangers who have more money than most countrys put together yet cant even afford to feed the poor in their own country? ... ''

[dennyos]

Wouldn''t it make a lot of sense to work things out with Canddaq, so they apply the same restrictions to those entering Candda as we do, and then in a sense, we could have an open border? Maybe we could work out a joint deal so we pool the homeland security efforts to Canada''s coasts and airports.

It works well in Europe. You can travel fomr France to Spain and not go through a border checkpoint.

I can''t think of another country that makes me feel so muich at home as Canada. If you have not been to Canada, you should go, and you''ll find if you close your eyes to the odd red and white flag flying on the horizon, you''d think you were right back home! I really feel I am in America when I visit there. So, let''s just hook up with them, and it will make it easier to cross the border.

[erasmus6]

gkc99

Do you know how pathetic you are?

And the fact is you ARE primitive!

When I post, I am not out of control like you are. I am not ranting and raving like some lunatic. I am not constantly spewing verbal obscenities. I am NOT calling for all Muslims to be killed etc.......

You are one of the NUTCASES that post on this site.

[forthepeopl1]

YOU ALL NEED TO STOP TALKING ABOUT MY MOTHER LOAD OF MONEY I GET FOR HELPING ALL OF THEM ANYONE THAT WANTS TO PAY THE 25000 A HEAD I GET. AND IF YOU CAN ADD AT LEASE 10 TO 20 ADAY COMES IN...

THANKS BUSH FOR MY JOB..$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[gkc99]

"Let''''s hope the rest of the world doesn''''t judge the U.S. on the things that you say and do"--Posted by erasmus6


And you''re the kind of Canadian who complains, preaches and *** about the US, but is happy enough to hide behind the security we provide you. You criticize and tell us how primitive we are from your smug Great White Northland.

If it weren''t for us, the Russians would have seized your arctic regions long ago, tovarich! So shut up.

[Krazcarl]

wispyeyes your the reason LSD is illeagal we all know your a troll so give it up at least agmin tries to look sane he fails like you was this your lifes ambition to look sorry on a blog if your parents never tod you shoot higher.

[Krazcarl]

This is real a former Maine native you can easily get into our norther niehbor if there is a desire and believe they caught a car full of explosives and a friend of bins crossing over at Wa.. There should be reason for concern. This is not Bushes fault it''s real quit blaming and let us look for solutions.