[R-G] Fwd: Unmanned drones to patrol state-Canada border

[aaron doncaster]

This is really disturbing news, this is just one more step in the fascist
shift happening in the states that Niomi wolfe talks about. This is an
extreme breach of our right to self detemination. I wouldn't be surprised if
these unmaned drones carry weapons. I think this is t an escalation of
aggresive action against us by america they may end up in a war for our
resourses. Canadian politicians will be willing to give them(our resorces)
away but not if the population has not been pacified even more then they
already are.If the oppourtunity came around forr one of these drones to be
brought downby someone, I wouldn't be suprised
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anthony Fenton <fentona at shaw.ca>
Date: Mon, Feb 16, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Subject: [R-G] Unmanned drones to patrol state-Canada border
To: aaron.doncaster at gmail.com


Unmanned drones to patrol state-Canada border

http://www.startribune.com/local/39644257.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUsr
By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune

February 16, 2009

After a couple of false starts, Predator unmanned drone aircraft are
scheduled to start roaming the Canadian border this week.

State and federal officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony today
at Grand Forks Air Force Base, where the first Predator arrived in
early December.

That ceremonial milestone had to be delayed twice because of a
maintenance problem and turbulent weather.

The Predators, unarmed versions of the aircraft being used in the
Afghanistan and Iraq wars, have been patrolling the Mexican border
since 2005. The Grand Forks, N.D., base is one of five outposts along
the northern border where the aircraft will be based.

Equipped with radar and optical sensors, the Predators are capable of
flying up to 260 miles per hour at altitudes up to 50,000 feet for
more than 18 hours.

The drones are operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They
transmit their images and data to operators who can alert border
agents on the ground.

Operators of the border agency's fully loaded, $10.5 million Predators
use the drones' radar imaging and infrared capabilities to "light" a
target at night with a laser visible only through the night-vision
goggles of helicopter crews who intercept some of the people crossing
the Mexican border.

 From October 2006 through a year ago, the drones had helped in the
apprehension of 3,857 illegal immigrants and the seizure of more than
nine tons of marijuana, according to the most recent statistics
available.

Currently border agents arrest about 4,000 people who illegally come
into the United States a year from Canada and seize about 40,000
pounds of illegal drugs.

Landing the Predators was a coup for the Grand Forks base, which is
slated to lose its fleet of KC-135 tankers in the next few years. Air
Force officials say they hope as many as 20 drones eventually will be
based there.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Bob von Sternberg •
612-673-7184


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