Napolitano Testimony
In formal testimony filed this morning with the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Secretary Napolitano highlighted the following:
The US should recognize that the border violence is the outcome of necessary actions being taken by the Mexican government against the drug cartels.
DHS and the federal government as a whole is being proactive in supporting the Mexican government and minimizing threats to the United States from an overflow of violence.
State and local law enforcement in the border states are essential to the effort and a focus of DHS support.
Supporting Mexican law enforcement is another crucial feature of DHS support.
Stopping arms smuggling across the border from the US to Mexico is a priority.
DHS is working with DOD and other federal agencies to be prepared for unlikely but worst case scenarios.
The complete prepared testimony is available from the DHS website. I could not attend the hearing. A friend had agreed to monitor the webcast, but this hearing evidently was not webcast. Anyone who was there, please add your report using the comment function.
Looks like Eileen Sullivan may have filed her AP story from the hearing room. In any case, it is the first coverage I can find. Shortly before 3:00 pm CNN posted its coverage of the hearing.
