Mexican Army/Vehicles Cross Texas Border

USEagle13 · 26th July 2011, 11:27 PM

I usually don't start threads but this left me flabbergasted. They have crossed our border before in smaller numbers than this, but 33 troops and multiple vehicles is pretty nuts.

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story..._k0P_r5Qw.cspx

What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps?

marplots · 27th July 2011, 01:14 AM

About time. I've been reading that we need help with border enforcement.
Finally a solution that doesn't increase my taxes.

Travis · 27th July 2011, 02:03 AM

Remember when that army crossed a border because of screw up with Google Maps?

Ysidro · 27th July 2011, 02:18 AM

Oh god, right wing radio was right! We really are being invaded by Mexico! Run for the hills! Save your women and children! Stock up on BitCoins!

Captain_Swoop · 27th July 2011, 02:22 AM

Testing what? Do you think Mexico are planning an invasion?

PhantomWolf · 27th July 2011, 02:40 AM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

Testing what? Do you think Mexico are planning an invasion?

If they are, I would have thought that California would have been a better place to start, Texan's have too many guns.

malbui · 27th July 2011, 02:48 AM

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

timhau · 27th July 2011, 03:09 AM

You guys better start learning Spanish, pronto.

Travis · 27th July 2011, 03:57 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank

That is the greatest beginning to an anecdote that I've possibly ever seen. All the story would need after that is a lightsaber and Summer Glau and it would be "awesome" perfected.

PhantomWolf · 27th July 2011, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by Travis

That is the greatest beginning to an anecdote that I've possibly ever seen. All the story would need after that is a lightsaber and Summer Glau and it would be "awesome" perfected.

I don't know, my work colleague has one about a tank/bridge layer, a ninety degree turn on a cobbled street, a red-faced MP, and a little old German woman on a balcony that would have you laughing in the aisles.

commandlinegamer · 27th July 2011, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland.

That happened in Austria too a few years back; you've no idea the trouble that ensued.

Sawbones79 · 27th July 2011, 04:45 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

I came very close to doing the same thing with my medical transport APC during army service, though that was the finnish border. Admittedly, that border to northern Sweden is basically only a clearing in the woods and we probably would have been out of gas ages before anyone actually noted we were there (or missin from our great excercise, for that part).

RandFan · 27th July 2011, 04:53 AM

Scary. It really troubles me to read stuff like this. Wait, did you say "Mexican"? Oh, never mind.

Spindrift · 27th July 2011, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

I usually don't start threads but this left me flabbergasted. They have crossed our border before in smaller numbers than this, but 33 troops and multiple vehicles is pretty nuts.

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story..._k0P_r5Qw.cspx

What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps?

I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens.

What could they possibly be testing us for?

Bluegill · 27th July 2011, 06:39 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

Thanks for the laugh. I've been needing it.

The Shrike · 27th July 2011, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens.

From the link, they seem to have crossed a bridge over the Rio Grande. That ain't gettin' lost. I can imagine the BP guys keeping watch on the Texas side watching this unfold: "What the he - - ?"

Side story - I spent several days birding the border region near McAllen a few years ago. At one point, we were stopped and questioned by a BP agent and we had a long talk about why the area is so important to North American birders. He was a really cool guy, but we definitely got the sense that at any moment he could've kicked the crap out all four of us.

The Don · 27th July 2011, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens.

What could they possibly be testing us for?

Well conceivably it could be that some of them are involved in people smuggling and they were using this "accident" as a way of testing how secure this portion of the border is, while still having plausible deniability - or something.

boooeee · 27th July 2011, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

Who needs currency when you have a tank?

DC · 27th July 2011, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

I usually don't start threads but this left me flabbergasted. They have crossed our border before in smaller numbers than this, but 33 troops and multiple vehicles is pretty nuts.

http://www.woai.com/news/local/story..._k0P_r5Qw.cspx

What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps?

accidental invasions can happen, happened to our army also

DC · 27th July 2011, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

yeah sure we still don't buy that story, he tested us, we know that , we are watching him.

rwguinn · 27th July 2011, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens.

What could they possibly be testing us for?

Um.
The Rio Grande is the entire border between Texas and Mexico. It is the only river in that part of the world--for many hundreds of miles.
You don't cross it by mistake--unless they maybe got stuck on a one-way road and didn't want to break the law?

Aepervius · 27th July 2011, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Spindrift

I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens.

What could they possibly be testing us for?

To see if the tacos are as tasty as on the south side of the frontier.

Dragonrock · 27th July 2011, 07:44 AM

According to the right-wing nuts in my family the Mexican army has been escorting drug shipments across the border for years. Given the corruption in Mexico that doesn't seem as far fetched as some of her claims. Also, I remember a report from years ago that said that a Mexican army humvee was on the US side of the border when they machine-gunned a border patrol truck killing two agents. It would seem that had that actually happened then a bigger stink would have been made of it.

patchbunny · 27th July 2011, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

He parked a tank in a Mini-mart's parking lot, and the proprietor gave him grief about having the wrong currency? Man, that cahsier had balls.

Hellbound · 27th July 2011, 08:18 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

Originally Posted by commandlinegamer

That happened in Austria too a few years back; you've no idea the trouble that ensued.

Originally Posted by Sawbones79

I came very close to doing the same thing with my medical transport APC during army service, though that was the finnish border. Admittedly, that border to northern Sweden is basically only a clearing in the woods and we probably would have been out of gas ages before anyone actually noted we were there (or missin from our great excercise, for that part).

Heh. That seems fairly common. When I was stationed in Germany, we got lost on the way to a range (it was in a place we didn't go often). We took a wrong turn and got lost on some back roads. We ended up finding out we'd crossed a border after we found a main road, and came upon the border checkpoint to get back into Germany.

So here's a truckload of American soldiers, in helmets and armor, with M-16s, trying to get back into Germany. I'm just glad I wasn't the driver or AD.

Resume · 27th July 2011, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by Hellbound

Heh. That seems fairly common. When I was stationed in Germany, we got lost on the way to a range (it was in a place we didn't go often). We took a wrong turn and got lost on some back roads. We ended up finding out we'd crossed a border after we found a main road, and came upon the border checkpoint to get back into Germany.

So here's a truckload of American soldiers, in helmets and armor, with M-16s, trying to get back into Germany. I'm just glad I wasn't the driver or AD.

Was John Candy navigating?

Hellbound · 27th July 2011, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by Resume

Was John Candy navigating?

Let's just say, a close enough facsimile thereof

Sawbones79 · 27th July 2011, 08:58 AM

If I may ask: How sensitive an issue is this? My main frame of reference for land borders is the Swedish-Norwegian border, and that's basically an arbitrary line that I've hiked across numerous times, and even on major highways there's no bigger obstacle than a road sign, with only yellow markings on the road to show you're in Norway. (Oh, and the fact that the stores sell ready-to-eat Creme Brulée in cardboard boxes, yummy).
In contrast, if facts are correct as reported above, it seems like a rather major incident. Is this because of suspicions of smuggling (human or drugs)? The OP mentions the Mexicans "testing" the U.S, does that imply fear of an actual military threat? Though not an expert on US-Mexico relations, I was under the impression that most of the tensions along that border stems from immigration issues and drugrunning rather than threat of invasion.

RandFan · 27th July 2011, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Resume

Was John Candy navigating?

rwguinn · 27th July 2011, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by Sawbones79

If I may ask: How sensitive an issue is this? My main frame of reference for land borders is the Swedish-Norwegian border, and that's basically an arbitrary line that I've hiked across numerous times, and even on major highways there's no bigger obstacle than a road sign, with only yellow markings on the road to show you're in Norway. (Oh, and the fact that the stores sell ready-to-eat Creme Brulée in cardboard boxes, yummy).
In contrast, if facts are correct as reported above, it seems like a rather major incident. Is this because of suspicions of smuggling (human or drugs)? The OP mentions the Mexicans "testing" the U.S, does that imply fear of an actual military threat? Though not an expert on US-Mexico relations, I was under the impression that most of the tensions along that border stems from immigration issues and drugrunning rather than threat of invasion.

You are correct--drugs and people smuggling are the issues. The fact that you have to cross a river to get into Texas from Mexico makes it less likely to be a "getting lost" issue. There was the helicopter issue a year or so back that raises questions, too--it was in the same general area...

Skeptic Ginger · 27th July 2011, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

I think we can rule out "accidental". A bridge over the Rio Grande is pretty well marked. What I don't get is, wasn't there a border check?

Skeptic Ginger · 27th July 2011, 09:50 AM

I take that back. This was a rural bridge that the border check is a short distance in on the other side. So they went the wrong way and probably couldn't turn around without crossing the bridge.

This is a non-event.

Grizzly Adams · 27th July 2011, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Dragonrock

According to the right-wing nuts in my family the Mexican army has been escorting drug shipments across the border for years. Given the corruption in Mexico that doesn't seem as far fetched as some of her claims.

Not knowing her other claims, I'd say this is more than plausible. Especially after speaking with some Aduanas (Mexican Customs officers) over the last couple months.

bikerdruid · 27th July 2011, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Not knowing her other claims, I'd say this is more than plausible. Especially after speaking with some Aduanas (Mexican Customs officers) over the last couple months.

why not the mexicans too?
the cia has been importing drugs into the u.s. for decades.

bikerdruid · 27th July 2011, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by USEagle13

What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps?

you found us out.
canada and mexico are planning an invasion on two fronts.
you guys are soooo screwed!

Grizzly Adams · 27th July 2011, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger

I think we can rule out "accidental". A bridge over the Rio Grande is pretty well marked. What I don't get is, wasn't there a border check?

Yes. It's a bridge, so it's a designated port of entry. Ergo, customs & immigration have a presence.

Grizzly Adams · 27th July 2011, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Ginger

I take that back. This was a rural bridge that the border check is a short distance in on the other side. So they went the wrong way and probably couldn't turn around without crossing the bridge.

This is a non-event.

There is nothing they could have done at the US side of the bridge that they couldn't do on the bridge itself. There is no more space to turn around on the north side than there is all along the bridge.

And, since the road splits into a divided highway on the US side, there is even less space to turn around after the bridge.

WildCat · 27th July 2011, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop

Testing what? Do you think Mexico are planning an invasion?

I'm guessing they were escorting drug smugglers over the border, as they have been known to do on prior occasions.

Originally Posted by malbui

A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.

This isn't a land border, the border is the river and it's the only one in the vicinity. This was not a mistake.

marplots · 27th July 2011, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by timhau

You guys better start learning Spanish, pronto.

Oui!

dudalb · 27th July 2011, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by Dragonrock

According to the right-wing nuts in my family the Mexican army has been escorting drug shipments across the border for years. Given the corruption in Mexico that doesn't seem as far fetched as some of her claims. Also, I remember a report from years ago that said that a Mexican army humvee was on the US side of the border when they machine-gunned a border patrol truck killing two agents. It would seem that had that actually happened then a bigger stink would have been made of it.

Yeah, I have no doubt that a number of people in the Mexican Army are on the drug lords take. but I doubt that either the Druglords or the Army would be so stupid as to want a uniformed escort across the border........

I suspect this is another case of the old saying that the most dangerous thing any army had to worry about is one of their newly commsioned 2nd Lts with a map and compass and/or GPS.....

26th July 2011, 11:27 PM	#1
USEagle13 Muse Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty South Posts: 612	Mexican Army/Vehicles Cross Texas Border I usually don't start threads but this left me flabbergasted. They have crossed our border before in smaller numbers than this, but 33 troops and multiple vehicles is pretty nuts. http://www.woai.com/news/local/story..._k0P_r5Qw.cspx What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps?

27th July 2011, 01:14 AM	#2
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,417	About time. I've been reading that we need help with border enforcement. Finally a solution that doesn't increase my taxes.
marplots Philosopher Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,417

27th July 2011, 02:03 AM	#3
Travis Misanthrope of the Mountains Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tuolumne City, CA Posts: 17,957	Remember when that army crossed a border because of screw up with Google Maps?
	__________________ "Because WE ARE IGNORANT OF 911 FACTS, WE DEMAND PROOF" -- Douglas Herman on Rense.com Zingiber Officinale The Humor blog of some not crazy guy

27th July 2011, 02:18 AM	#4
Ysidro I'm watching you Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5,334	Oh god, right wing radio was right! We really are being invaded by Mexico! Run for the hills! Save your women and children! Stock up on BitCoins!
Ysidro I'm watching you Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5,334	__________________ This is a sig file. Does anyone even read this stuff?

27th July 2011, 02:40 AM	#6
PhantomWolf Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lost Deimos Moon Base Posts: 9,966	Originally Posted by Captain_Swoop Testing what? Do you think Mexico are planning an invasion? If they are, I would have thought that California would have been a better place to start, Texan's have too many guns.
	__________________ It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question. -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) My Apollo Page. 1 on 1 Debating Forum for Skeptics and sceptics.

27th July 2011, 02:22 AM	#5
Captain_Swoop Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3,948	Testing what? Do you think Mexico are planning an invasion?

27th July 2011, 02:48 AM	#7
malbui Beauf Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Pays de Gex Posts: 2,094	A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency.
	__________________ "But Master! Does not the fire need water too? Does not the mountain need the storm? Does not your scrotum need kicking?"

27th July 2011, 03:09 AM	#8
timhau NWO Litter Technician Join Date: May 2004 Location: East of Sweeden Posts: 9,692	You guys better start learning Spanish, pronto.
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27th July 2011, 03:57 AM	#9
Travis Misanthrope of the Mountains Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tuolumne City, CA Posts: 17,957	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank That is the greatest beginning to an anecdote that I've possibly ever seen. All the story would need after that is a lightsaber and Summer Glau and it would be "awesome" perfected.
	__________________ "Because WE ARE IGNORANT OF 911 FACTS, WE DEMAND PROOF" -- Douglas Herman on Rense.com Zingiber Officinale The Humor blog of some not crazy guy

27th July 2011, 04:14 AM	#10
PhantomWolf Philosopher Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lost Deimos Moon Base Posts: 9,966	Originally Posted by Travis That is the greatest beginning to an anecdote that I've possibly ever seen. All the story would need after that is a lightsaber and Summer Glau and it would be "awesome" perfected. I don't know, my work colleague has one about a tank/bridge layer, a ninety degree turn on a cobbled street, a red-faced MP, and a little old German woman on a balcony that would have you laughing in the aisles.
	__________________ It must be fun to lead a life completely unburdened by reality. -- JayUtah I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question. -- Charles Babbage (1791-1871) My Apollo Page. 1 on 1 Debating Forum for Skeptics and sceptics.

27th July 2011, 04:36 AM	#11
commandlinegamer Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mazes of Menace Posts: 5,905	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. That happened in Austria too a few years back; you've no idea the trouble that ensued.
	__________________ He bade me take any rug in the house.

27th July 2011, 04:45 AM	#12
Sawbones79 Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sundsvall, Sweden Posts: 329	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency. I came very close to doing the same thing with my medical transport APC during army service, though that was the finnish border. Admittedly, that border to northern Sweden is basically only a clearing in the woods and we probably would have been out of gas ages before anyone actually noted we were there (or missin from our great excercise, for that part).

27th July 2011, 04:53 AM	#13
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,398	Scary. It really troubles me to read stuff like this. Wait, did you say "Mexican"? Oh, never mind.

27th July 2011, 05:53 AM	#14
Spindrift Enturbulator Extraordinaire Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Right here! Posts: 8,458	Originally Posted by USEagle13 I usually don't start threads but this left me flabbergasted. They have crossed our border before in smaller numbers than this, but 33 troops and multiple vehicles is pretty nuts. http://www.woai.com/news/local/story..._k0P_r5Qw.cspx What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps? I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens. What could they possibly be testing us for?
	__________________ I've always believed that cluelessness evolved as an adaptation to allow the truly appalling to live with themselves. - G. B. Trudeau A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky dangerous animals and you know it. - Kay, Men in Black.

27th July 2011, 06:39 AM	#15
Bluegill Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,188	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency. Thanks for the laugh. I've been needing it.

27th July 2011, 06:55 AM	#16
The Shrike Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: USA Posts: 1,818	Originally Posted by Spindrift I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens. From the link, they seem to have crossed a bridge over the Rio Grande. That ain't gettin' lost. I can imagine the BP guys keeping watch on the Texas side watching this unfold: "What the he - - ?" Side story - I spent several days birding the border region near McAllen a few years ago. At one point, we were stopped and questioned by a BP agent and we had a long talk about why the area is so important to North American birders. He was a really cool guy, but we definitely got the sense that at any moment he could've kicked the crap out all four of us.

27th July 2011, 07:00 AM	#17
The Don Philosopher Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cymru Posts: 8,265	Originally Posted by Spindrift I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens. What could they possibly be testing us for? Well conceivably it could be that some of them are involved in people smuggling and they were using this "accident" as a way of testing how secure this portion of the border is, while still having plausible deniability - or something.

27th July 2011, 07:12 AM	#18
boooeee Dart Fener Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: The Lando System Posts: 2,396	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency. Who needs currency when you have a tank?
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27th July 2011, 07:13 AM	#19
DC dedicated aphilatelist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 21,675	Originally Posted by USEagle13 I usually don't start threads but this left me flabbergasted. They have crossed our border before in smaller numbers than this, but 33 troops and multiple vehicles is pretty nuts. http://www.woai.com/news/local/story..._k0P_r5Qw.cspx What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps? accidental invasions can happen, happened to our army also
	__________________ AGW is a fact, including the A, face it

27th July 2011, 07:16 AM	#20
DC dedicated aphilatelist Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Switzerland Posts: 21,675	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency. yeah sure we still don't buy that story, he tested us, we know that , we are watching him.
	__________________ AGW is a fact, including the A, face it

27th July 2011, 07:30 AM	#21
rwguinn Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: 16 miles from 7 lakes Posts: 8,456	Originally Posted by Spindrift I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens. What could they possibly be testing us for? Um. The Rio Grande is the entire border between Texas and Mexico. It is the only river in that part of the world--for many hundreds of miles. You don't cross it by mistake--unless they maybe got stuck on a one-way road and didn't want to break the law?
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27th July 2011, 07:41 AM	#22
Aepervius Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bierland. I mean , germany. Posts: 7,765	Originally Posted by Spindrift I think they screwed up and got lost. It happens. What could they possibly be testing us for? To see if the tacos are as tasty as on the south side of the frontier.
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27th July 2011, 07:44 AM	#23
Dragonrock Militant Elvisian Tacoist Join Date: May 2002 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 9,856	According to the right-wing nuts in my family the Mexican army has been escorting drug shipments across the border for years. Given the corruption in Mexico that doesn't seem as far fetched as some of her claims. Also, I remember a report from years ago that said that a Mexican army humvee was on the US side of the border when they machine-gunned a border patrol truck killing two agents. It would seem that had that actually happened then a bigger stink would have been made of it.
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27th July 2011, 08:02 AM	#24
patchbunny Graduate Poster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Right about... here. Posts: 1,553	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency. He parked a tank in a Mini-mart's parking lot, and the proprietor gave him grief about having the wrong currency? Man, that cahsier had balls.
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27th July 2011, 08:18 AM	#25
Hellbound Abiogenic Spongiform Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a handbasket Posts: 8,942	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency. Originally Posted by commandlinegamer That happened in Austria too a few years back; you've no idea the trouble that ensued. Originally Posted by Sawbones79 I came very close to doing the same thing with my medical transport APC during army service, though that was the finnish border. Admittedly, that border to northern Sweden is basically only a clearing in the woods and we probably would have been out of gas ages before anyone actually noted we were there (or missin from our great excercise, for that part). Heh. That seems fairly common. When I was stationed in Germany, we got lost on the way to a range (it was in a place we didn't go often). We took a wrong turn and got lost on some back roads. We ended up finding out we'd crossed a border after we found a main road, and came upon the border checkpoint to get back into Germany. So here's a truckload of American soldiers, in helmets and armor, with M-16s, trying to get back into Germany. I'm just glad I wasn't the driver or AD.

27th July 2011, 08:20 AM	#26
Resume Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 8,038	Originally Posted by Hellbound Heh. That seems fairly common. When I was stationed in Germany, we got lost on the way to a range (it was in a place we didn't go often). We took a wrong turn and got lost on some back roads. We ended up finding out we'd crossed a border after we found a main road, and came upon the border checkpoint to get back into Germany. So here's a truckload of American soldiers, in helmets and armor, with M-16s, trying to get back into Germany. I'm just glad I wasn't the driver or AD. Was John Candy navigating?
Resume Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 8,038

27th July 2011, 08:31 AM	#27
Hellbound Abiogenic Spongiform Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: In a handbasket Posts: 8,942	Originally Posted by Resume Was John Candy navigating? Let's just say, a close enough facsimile thereof

27th July 2011, 08:58 AM	#28
Sawbones79 Critical Thinker Join Date: May 2011 Location: Sundsvall, Sweden Posts: 329	If I may ask: How sensitive an issue is this? My main frame of reference for land borders is the Swedish-Norwegian border, and that's basically an arbitrary line that I've hiked across numerous times, and even on major highways there's no bigger obstacle than a road sign, with only yellow markings on the road to show you're in Norway. (Oh, and the fact that the stores sell ready-to-eat Creme Brulée in cardboard boxes, yummy). In contrast, if facts are correct as reported above, it seems like a rather major incident. Is this because of suspicions of smuggling (human or drugs)? The OP mentions the Mexicans "testing" the U.S, does that imply fear of an actual military threat? Though not an expert on US-Mexico relations, I was under the impression that most of the tensions along that border stems from immigration issues and drugrunning rather than threat of invasion.

27th July 2011, 08:59 AM	#29
RandFan Mormon Atheist Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 53,398	Originally Posted by Resume Was John Candy navigating?

27th July 2011, 09:05 AM	#30
rwguinn Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: 16 miles from 7 lakes Posts: 8,456	Originally Posted by Sawbones79 If I may ask: How sensitive an issue is this? My main frame of reference for land borders is the Swedish-Norwegian border, and that's basically an arbitrary line that I've hiked across numerous times, and even on major highways there's no bigger obstacle than a road sign, with only yellow markings on the road to show you're in Norway. (Oh, and the fact that the stores sell ready-to-eat Creme Brulée in cardboard boxes, yummy). In contrast, if facts are correct as reported above, it seems like a rather major incident. Is this because of suspicions of smuggling (human or drugs)? The OP mentions the Mexicans "testing" the U.S, does that imply fear of an actual military threat? Though not an expert on US-Mexico relations, I was under the impression that most of the tensions along that border stems from immigration issues and drugrunning rather than threat of invasion. You are correct--drugs and people smuggling are the issues. The fact that you have to cross a river to get into Texas from Mexico makes it less likely to be a "getting lost" issue. There was the helicopter issue a year or so back that raises questions, too--it was in the same general area...
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27th July 2011, 09:41 AM	#31
Skeptic Ginger formerly skeptigirl Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shifting through paradigms Posts: 40,628	Originally Posted by malbui A friend of mine once absent-mindedly drove his tank over the border into Switzerland. Didn't realise until they stopped to buy cigarettes and found out they didn't have the right currency. I think we can rule out "accidental". A bridge over the Rio Grande is pretty well marked. What I don't get is, wasn't there a border check?
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27th July 2011, 09:50 AM	#32
Skeptic Ginger formerly skeptigirl Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Shifting through paradigms Posts: 40,628	I take that back. This was a rural bridge that the border check is a short distance in on the other side. So they went the wrong way and probably couldn't turn around without crossing the bridge. This is a non-event.
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27th July 2011, 09:57 AM	#33
Grizzly Adams Muse Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 993	Originally Posted by Dragonrock According to the right-wing nuts in my family the Mexican army has been escorting drug shipments across the border for years. Given the corruption in Mexico that doesn't seem as far fetched as some of her claims. Not knowing her other claims, I'd say this is more than plausible. Especially after speaking with some Aduanas (Mexican Customs officers) over the last couple months.
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27th July 2011, 10:02 AM	#34
bikerdruid hermit hippy weirdo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: green island autonomous zone Posts: 7,369	Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams Not knowing her other claims, I'd say this is more than plausible. Especially after speaking with some Aduanas (Mexican Customs officers) over the last couple months. why not the mexicans too? the cia has been importing drugs into the u.s. for decades.
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27th July 2011, 10:04 AM	#35
bikerdruid hermit hippy weirdo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: green island autonomous zone Posts: 7,369	Originally Posted by USEagle13 What do you guys think? Testing us perhaps? you found us out. canada and mexico are planning an invasion on two fronts. you guys are soooo screwed!
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