Earlier today the House voted to let the Pentagon put troops on the border in certain cases. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), this looks like 'boob bait for Bubba':

"The Texas delegation is very concerned about the border and are pushing urgency," said Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, who joined other Texas Republicans in a meeting with [Karl] Rove this week. He said Rove was "very forthright" about border projects that Homeland Security is starting up, its current projects and what the needs are.

The only "need" the Bush administration is interested in is looking tough in order to keep from falling even lower in popularity, while at the same time actually doing nothing or even making it easier for illegal aliens to enter the country.

Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano said the military help "is basically what she has been asking for," spokeswoman Jeanine L'Ecuyer said. Napolitano has been asking the Pentagon to send more National Guard troops — but not regular military — to confont illegal immigration from Mexico. About 170 National Guard troops are helping in such efforts in the state now.

If you think Napolitano is in favor of reducing illegal immigration, raise your hand.

Under the Civil War-era Posse Comitatus Act, federal troops are prohibited from performing law enforcement actions, such as making arrests, seizing property or searching people. In extreme cases, however, the president can invoke the Insurrection Act, also from the Civil War, which allows him to use active-duty or National Guard troops for law enforcement.

That is indeed one of the very major downsides of this plan. In fact, this might be an attempt by some to grant more powers to the military rather than the stated purpose. It would be much better if the government could start doing workplace enforcement on a regular basis, and in that case any discussion of the Posse Comitatus Act wouldn't be necessary.