Retired Marine Gen. John Kelly spoke about border security and Russian meddling in U.S. political activity during a confirmation hearing for his nomination to be Secretary of Homeland Security Tuesday, telling a Senate panel he has “high confidence” in the Intelligence Community’s assessment that the Kremlin directed interference amid last year’s presidential election.
Kelly also told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee that it would take more than just a physical wall to secure the United States’s southern border with Mexico.
“A physical barrier in and of itself—certainly as a military person that understands defense and defenses—a physical barrier in and of itself will not do the job. It has to be, really, a layered defense,” he said. “If you were to build a wall from the Pacific to the Gulf of Mexico, you’d still have to back that wall up with patrolling by human beings, by sensors, by observation devices.”
He also said defending the border “really starts about 1,500 miles south,” working with nations as far as Peru to address issues of drug trafficking.
Kelly led the United States Southern Command, whose area of responsibility includes Central and South America, for more than three years during President Obama’s second term. Trump was reportedly drawn to him for his knowledge of the area; testimony he provided to the Senate Armed Services Committee in 2015 was a particular hit with the Trump team, the Washington Times reported.
Aaron MacLean profiled Kelly for THE WEEKLY STANDARD that same year, which you can read here.
