Border Patrol by Boeing’s Eye of Sauron

I really don’t follow border patrol tech like I should, given that I used to work at DHS. I was kinda surprised at what Boeing has cooked up for the border, and the Register describes it as the “Eye of Sauron.”

From the Reg here:

SBInet, the technology part of the DHS’ Secure Borders Initiative, is supposed to equip thousands of miles of US border with scanner towers mounting moving-target-indicator radar able to pick out individual humans. When a radar blip appears, telescopic thermal cameras swivel round Eye-of-Sauron style, allowing the system to work out what has been detected; a vehicle, people on foot, false alarm etc. The information is then plotted automatically on a networked digital map.

The idea is that Border Patrol agents would then be able to view the plot of huddled masses, terrorist hobbits etc – called the Common Operating Picture, or COP – in near real time on displays in their vehicles.

The system is extremely expensive and it doesn’t work like its supposed to. Seriously, a barbed-wire chain link fence and some land mines should do the trick. Once a few border crossers die, the risk of illegal entry will be great enough to deter most. Think land mines are too tough?

Okay, bear traps then.