Differing opinions on border patrol goals...

Recommended article over at the Washington Times on the differing opinion as to can the goal of hiring 6000 new Border Patrol agents in the time line that the President has requested. The man the President hired for the job:

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham said that while increasing the agency"s manpower by 50 percent has been a major challenge, an aggressive recruiting drive has been successful and major revisions in training have streamlined the process while maintaining its quality.

Mr. Basham said the agency is "on track" to meet the goal helped, in part, by a training regime that includes a revamped schedule, a reduction in training days and a modernized Spanish-language program.

The man who represents Former Border Patrol agents:

But Kent Lundgren, coordinator of the 800-member National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers, said the massive recruiting goal and quality training are not compatible.

"It can"t be done and still turn out functional, effective Border Patrol agents," Mr. Lundgren said. "It may be possible to run trainees in one door and out the other. But train them well? No."

I think Kent probably has a valid point, it reminds me of when the government tried to replace huge numbers of air traffic controllers after they were fired during their strike. It didn't go well...