DRONE POWER: RECON TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER

It's somewhat reassuring to hear the federal government is keeping an
eye -- literally -- on our southern border. We expect that, but
sometimes we're not so sure because the feds don't like to talk about
certain security operations.

In war, that's understandable.

Through a request by Gov. Rick Perry, we learned this week that
unarmed drones have been soaring high above the border for some two
years. Perry asked the Defense Department to base a drone in Houston
and fly it from Brownsville to El Paso; it could be a training
exercise. Of late, armed drones have been successful in deadly strikes
against al-Qaida leaders in the mountains of Pakistan.

To Perry's request, U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso, said, "It's
nothing new. The governor is well aware of the stuff we're doing."

It was brought out that there was a recent training mission out of
Fort Huachuca, Ariz. Shadow drones, smaller than the 48-foot wingspan
Predators, covered a 75-mile range during the exercise. Predators have
a range of 460 miles.

Drones have been in operation for 15 years and have been used for both
combat and reconnaissance missions over Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bosnia,
Serbia, Iraq, and Yemen.

It's logical to think that one of these highly mechanized spy planes
could be of great use if homed in on the bloodbath that is the Juarez
drug war.

We would seek Mexico's permission, of course. Maybe we have. And since
our government is understandably secretive about such missions, we
can't be sure if drones are already performing that duty.

Reyes has told the El Paso Times Editorial Board that if Mexico gave
permission, and we spotted a drug kingpin, we would have no qualms
about taking him out.

The drug lords, responsible for nearly 5,000 assassinations and brutal
gun-downs in Juarez since January 2008, are certainly our enemies.

Since $52 billion in trade crosses between El Paso and Juarez each
year, it's to our benefit to help stop this economy-killing violence.

If drones are watching Juarez, keep it up. If they're only in Arizona,
bring one to Texas because there is war just over El Paso's border