General: Armed men probably weren't testing troops

The Associated Press
Published: 01.30.2007

Armed men who prompted four National Guard members to pull back from an observation post at the Arizona-Mexico border probably weren't trying to test the reaction of the troops, the head of the Arizona National Guard said Monday.

They likely happened upon the soldiers while walking across rocky terrain from Arizona into Mexico, said Maj. Gen. David Rataczak, speculating that the gunmen were carrying drug money south across the border.

In the face of criticism that the troops set a bad precedent for border security, Rataczak told a homeland security committee at the Arizona Legislature that the troops acted properly in relocating to a nearby site and calling in the Border Patrol to respond.

"They did exactly what they were told to do," said Rataczak, adding that the actions of the soldiers prevented an international incident.

I don't understand why so much attention is given to the reaction of the Guard when armed men crossed the border into the US from Mexico! -mm