Exclusive: U.S. troop levels at Mexico border likely at peak - commander

[demmiblue]

Source: Reuters

BASE CAMP DONNA, Texas (Reuters) - The number of U.S. troops at the border with Mexico may have peaked at about 5,800, the U.S. commander of the mission told Reuters, noting he would start looking next week at whether to begin sending forces home or perhaps shifting some to new border positions.

The outlook by Lieutenant General Jeffrey Buchanan, while not definitive, suggests that the high-profile military mission could soon achieve its goal of helping harden the border ahead of the expected arrival of caravans of Central American migrants in the coming weeks.

The deployment, which critics have called a pre-election political stunt by President Donald Trump, was initially expected to reach more than 7,000 forces, acting in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis authorized the mission through Dec. 15 and while Buchanan did not rule out an extension, he did not think one appeared likely at this point, based on the current set of tasks assigned to the military.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-mattis-troops-exclusi/exclusive-u-s-troop-levels-at-mexico-border-likely-at-peak-commander-idUSKCN1NK0ID?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social

[trusty elf]

1. grab 'em by the posse comitatus

[genxlib]

2. What happened to 15,000

I was promised 15,000 to protect me from the scary brown people.

I guess there was not a wide angle lens big enough to need more soldiers for the photo-op

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. So, sending them home before the 'caravan' actually arrives. Because the election is over

and there's no need for the Potemkin Patrol anymore.

[Maxheader]

4. Betch fatboy goes down and addresses the troops?

[Sunlei]

5. miles of razor wire catching plastic trash, wildlife & shore birds

[pazzyanne]

6. So completely abhorent!