Underground Threat: Tunnels Pose Trouble From Mexico To Middle East

Though the authorities have many sophisticated tools at their disposal — by 2014, it is projected that most of the border aboveground will be monitored by sensor-equipped towers — most tunnels are uncovered through human intelligence. There is, as yet, no easy way to detect the tunnels below ground. Sandy Huffaker / Getty

From Time Magazine:

With swine flu frenzy gripping the U.S., the threat coming from south of the Mexico border may seem more real to many Americans than ever before. But the U.S. border authorities who patrol that 1,969 mile long border have another stealth threat to worry about. This month, they will begin installing the first small, 50 mile segment of a "virtual fence" on the dividing line with Mexico. By 2014 most of the border will be home to sensor-equipped towers that are linked to a central communications network. But while proponents argue that the system will help stem the flow of illegal immigrants, drugs and arms coming over the border, most experts admit it will do little to guard against people making their way under it.

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My Comment: Quite a difference from the "tunnel rats" that were popularized after the Great Escape in the Second World War.