BORDER SAFETY A LOCAL ISSUE FOR ALL OF US

The United States lies vulnerable between two vast and mostly open borders,
so the recent decision to beef up security with National Guard troops along
our northern border was welcome news. The subsequent push late last week to
arm those troops so they can protect themselves as well as the public is a
no-brainer that President Bush and the Pentagon should authorize in a
heartbeat.

With Saratoga Springs less than three hours down the Northway from Canada
and a stone's throw from Vermont's international gateways, border issues
hit close to home.

Customs and Immigration officials are trained and armed, but they're spread
sparsely across the nation. As part of homeland security, National Guard
troops have been assigned along the Canadian border to assist Customs and
Immigration, but amazingly, it was decided to have them do this without
guns. That in turn means the Customs and INS agents must do their work with
the additional responsibility of protecting their helpers.

Sounds like trying to swim with an anchor around your neck.

Make no mistake, the need for protection is very real. While the focus
along the U.S.-Mexican border is on catching illegal immigrants trying to
sneak into the country for a better standard of living, the U.S.-Canadian
border is plagued by heavy drug trafficking.

Just as booze was run across the St. Lawrence River during Prohibition,
hard drugs flow into the country through rural, northern border towns. The
people engaged in this evil commerce don't stop politely for questioning.

Add now to that volatile mix an international population in Montreal that
includes reported gatherings of al-Qaida.

On Sept. 11, the nation was abruptly torn from the notion that "It could
never happen here." Since then, we've been sewing up gaping holes in
security. It's a profound shock moving to this new world with soldiers in
airports and at the border, but it sure beats being caught unaware at home
and slaughtered by fanatics who despise us.

Homeland defense applies to those pledged to protect the nation as well as
to her citizens. Our government ought to reconsider this decision and arm
the National Guard troops along the border.