MikeD, I was a little unreasonable in my previous posts. Sorry. I shouldn't let one bad experience bias me against an organization that is comprised of thousands. Even the CBP guys who boarded my bus and talked to everyone were very nice about it (didn't even make a big stink when one young womand refused to show them anything or even speak to them -- they were a little annoyed, though. One of them got clever and said something like 'Well... okay... do you give me permission to search your belongings? If you do... don't say anything at all.' The lady looked conflicted, but he said it with a huge grin on his face so it was obvious he was joking.), they were probably just doing what people higher up had tasked them to do.
It's no problem partner, its all good! I can understand your situation....one minute you're on a bus ride within the states, the next you're getting pulled over and wondering "what the heck?" I'd probably be annoyed enough too to be just as upset. That's what I figured....I mean, I've known you around here long enough to know your personality, and we've never had a beef.
Again, I don't know the specifics behind your situation, though I'd love to if there was any way I could. I'm glad the guys doing the checking were friendly, as the guys I know on the ground (the ones I personally know, can't speak for all) do try their best to be friendly, down to earth, and people-oriented with the public when dealing with them, since we work for them. It only helps make the job that much easier. Reminds me of Iraq, working ground ops with the Army, we'd continually remind guys during searches, etc, that we're in their country, we're their guest. Treat them as such. Politics of the conflict aside, that's how we strived to be.
For all I know the guys who followed the OP to the airport were just looking for an excuse to get some flight time
And you are right, it is incredibly easy to articulate RS.
It's possible, LOL! We check out stuff if it's suspicious, enough to either be quickly able to disregard it; or occasionally follow up on it when it does indeed turn out to be something. Here's an interesting one for you: A group of people were flying ultralights out in the southern desert.....wanting to stay away from any airspace congestion, etc. Turns out, they were using them to shoot back and forth across the border, low and very slow with contraband. Now, ultralights are something to check out when you see them flying in middle of nowhere areas like that...not harass them of course, but at least take a double-take at what they might be doing.
I should have been more clear that I don't agree with some of the policy decisions that were made by the DHS / CBP / ICE but I have the utmost respect for all of its employees, sworn and not-sworn alike. When i said disgusting I was referring to the lawyers and Bush appointed cronies at the top.
Oh man....you're preaching to the choir, my friend. [Opinion follows...] DHS in and of itself was created in the same vein as the TSA....a post 9/11 security piece of "window dressing" made to show the scared public (at the time) that the government was doing
something, regardless of how effective or ineffective it was. I've never advocated creating additional federal bureaucracy, and further bloating the already big government we have. Prior to 9/11, the system was working fine vis-a-vis USBP, US Customs, USCG. DHS was created, mashing
Customs and BP together and dragging the CG over from Transportation.....and we still haven't fully sorted everything out. Guess they never figured out the "if it ain't broke...." moniker.
