U.S. CHOPPERS TO PATROL BORDER WITH ALBERTA

The United States will be using Blackhawk helicopters and planes
along the Montana border with Alberta and Saskatchewan to watch for
terrorists, drug-runners and illegal immigrants.

The aircraft will be equipped with cutting-edge photographic
surveillance and monitoring equipment to watch for any suspicious
activity, a spokesman for Montana Republican Senator Conrad Burns said Friday.

Matt Mackowiak said the beefed-up border security comes in the wake
of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

"(Sept. 11) taught us a lot, and the northern border requires greater
security and greater surveillance," Mackowiak said from Washington,
D.C. "I think the Congress, the administration and the American
people are committed to making sure we are doing everything we can to
protect America."

This is the third of five special surveillance units to open along
the U.S. border with Canada. The air unit will be based in Great Falls, Mont.

Last year, Burns secured an $18-million US appropriation from the
Department of Homeland Security for the Montana air unit, putting it
ahead of schedule by a year. It's expected to start operations this summer.

The air border patrol is intended to provide a rapid response in the
event of another terrorist attack, Mackowiak said.

Apart from terrorists, the aircraft will be used for drug enforcement
and immigration control.

Mackowiak called it a win-win situation, saying increased border
security benefits both countries.

But any time there is increased surveillance there are civil
liberties and privacy concerns, he acknowledged.

"We are not trying to interrupt the honest flow of goods and services
and commerce between Montana and Canada," Mackowiak said. "It's in
everyone's interest to facilitate as much of that as possible."

"Canada recognizes that every country has the right to protect its
borders," said Kara Prest, a spokeswoman for the Canada Border Services Agency.

The first surveillance unit was announced in 2004, and has been
operating out of Bellingham in Washington state. Another unit opened
in upstate New York, south of the border with Quebec.

Mackowiak said both of those units have intercepted large drug
shipments and have made arrests.

The U.S. also plans to set up air border patrols in North Dakota and
Michigan in the future. The government operates similar patrols along
the U.S.-Mexico border.