Border Troop Deployment Cost May Reach $220 Million…(No Problem! Tax The Hell Out Of Amazon!!)
by Tyler Durden
ZeroHedge.com
Mon, 11/05/2018
The cost of deploying troops to the US-Mexico border to help deal with three incoming caravans of Central American may cost as much as $220 million, according to CNBC, citing two US defense officials who were not authorized to speak publicly
The estimate, which could change on the ultimate size and scope of the mission, comes amid the deployment of approximately 4,000 troops to the border on Saturday ahead of the first caravan’s arrival – which has dropped in size from an initial 7,000 to under 4,000 as participants have either accepted asylum in Mexico or turned around.
Trump has made the caravan one of his prime targets as he campaigns for Republicans down the stretch of the midterm election campaign. The president has referred to the caravan as an “invasion” while claiming that Democrats want open borders.
Critics have called the deployment a political stunt. Defense Secretary James Mattis, however, downplayed that criticism last week. “The support that we provide to the secretary for homeland security is practical support based on the request from the commissioner of customs and border police. We don’t do stunts in this department,” he said Wednesday. -CNBC
CNBC also wants you to know that the caravan does not pose an immediate threat to the United States, according to a Pentagon risk assessment reported by “a person with direct knowledge of US intelligence,” who we assume isn’t a fan of stopping the incoming migrants. The person added that the caravan would take around a month to reach the US border, which we assume means on foot.
On Sunday we reported that newly arrived US troops had placed around 1,000 feet of razor wire fencing along the Texas side of the Rio Grande river underneath the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge, as three separate caravans of Central Americans make their way north in the hopes of claiming asylum.
Soldiers participating in “Operation Faithful Patriot” are working with US Customs and Border Patrol officers to install the fencing, according to the Department of Defense.
The Rest…HERE
