Disaster Test of steel prototype for border wall showed it could be sawed through - lol

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/im...-border-wall-showed-it-could-be-sawed-n956856

President Donald Trump has repeatedly advocated for a steel slat design for his border wall, which he described as "absolutely critical to border security" in his Oval Office address to the nation Tuesday. But Department of Homeland Security testing of a steel slat prototype proved it could be cut through with a saw, according to a report by DHS.

A photo exclusively obtained by NBC News shows the results of the test after military and Border Patrol personnel were instructed to attempt to destroy the barriers with common tools.

The Trump administration directed the construction of eight steel and concrete prototype walls that were built in Otay Mesa, California, just across the border from Tijuana, Mexico. Trump inspected the prototypes in March 2018. He has now settled on a steel slat, or steel bollard, design for the proposed border barrier additions. Steel bollard fencing has been used under previous administrations.



Test of border prototype showed its weaknesses
Jan. 10, 201904:06
However, testing by DHS in late 2017 showed all eight prototypes, including the steel slats, were vulnerable to breaching, according to an internal February 2018 U.S. Customs and Border Protection report.

Photos of the breaches were not included in a redacted version of the CBP report, which was first obtained in a Freedom of Information Act Request by San Diego public broadcaster KPBS.

The photo of testing results obtained by NBC News was taken at the testing location along the California-Mexico border, known as "Pogo Row."

Responding to the picture from the South Lawn of the White House on Thursday morning, Trump claimed "that’s a wall designed by previous administrations."

While it is true that previous administrations used this design, the prototype was built during his administration.

"It's very, very hard — the wall that we are doing is very, very hard to penetrate," Trump said.

NBC News toured the eight wall prototypes twice before President Trump's March 2018 inspection. According to San Diego Sector Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, the versions seen by NBC News and the president, however, were larger than the actual prototypes tested at "Pogo Row."



Mulvaney says WH offer to Democrats: Steel, not concrete
Jan. 5, 201901:13
In a statement, DHS Spokeswoman Katie Waldman said, "The steel bollard construction is based on the operational requirements of the United States Border Patrol and is a design that has been honed over more than a decade of use. It is an important part of Border Patrol's impedance and denial capability."

 

[NOT Sword Fighter Super]

Well of course, even the best locked door can eventually kicked in. The point is to not leave it wide open and make it easy to breech.

 

[FierceBrosnan]

"It's very, very hard — the wall that we are doing is very, very hard to penetrate," Trump said.

From the master of hard penetration himself.

Said it already in the TDS thread, no way a "common saw" cut through that.

 

[Smaug's Smokey Hole]

If the wall isn't made of unbreakable adamantium or the finest dwarven mithril then why even have a wall? :thoughtful:

 

[JohnDoe]

Right, as stated, theoretically no security system is perfect. If it can be accessed legitimately, it can be illicitly penetrated by a suitably motivated actor. The point is to change the cost/benefit ratio to deter only the most motivated parties.

In a more practical, real world application the border will be defended by surveillance systems and patrols in addition to the wall. In the time it takes to cut through the barrier, these complementary systems will no doubt be tripped by the cacophony of the specialized tools and the offenders apprehended. Even if the initial breach is not interrupted, the security vulnerability would be discovered quickly and offer very narrow opportunity for illicit traffic.

Both conceptually and in practical application the wall is sound and should be implemented wherever recommended by CBP.

 

[FierceBrosnan]

If the wall isn't made of unbreakable adamantium or the finest dwarven mithril then why even have a wall? :thoughtful:

Because the Weapon X project is both Canadian and cancelled and Moria no longer trades with tall folk.

 

[The Last Stand]

Would have been nice to explain WHAT they used to cut through. Looks more like a fence than a wall.

 

[Autopsy]

Sounds like concrete is a better option, huh?

 

[RP 520]

you can buy power saws that can cut through sheet metal at the hardware store, but whether they will go through a border fence is dubious. depends on what material is used and how thick it is.

I could see cartels building a shed near the border to house some sort of power generator just so they can charge and operate a power saw long enough to cut through the slats.

 

[byuu]

Just build the walls out of soap, no invader can get through that.
Or just open the magma floodgates.

 

[Haramburger]

This is why we test. The system works!

 

[It's HK-47]

Would have been nice to explain WHAT they used to cut through. Looks more like a fence than a wall.

Or the duration of time that it took to saw through it, or the power source(s) that the saw required, or the availability of the tool to the public market. There's a lot of questions left unanswered here. I mean if you give me a run-of-the-mill hammer and 1,000 years, I can tear down Fort Knox. The point still remains that yeah, they can cut through it, and that's cool, but they still have to cut through it rather than just walk right through.

The reason that deterrents are called deterrents is because they deter people, not because they completely, 100% prevent them from doing something. If a 10-foot wall can be defeated by an 11-foot ladder, that still means that suddenly everyone who wants to cross the border needs to bring a ladder.

 

[NOT Sword Fighter Super]

Sounds like concrete is a better option, huh?

Concrete can be cut through too, though.

 

[The Last Stand]

Or the duration of time that it took to saw through it, or the power source(s) that the saw required, or the availability of the tool to the public market. There's a lot of questions left unanswered here. I mean if you give me a run-of-the-mill hammer and 1,000 years, I can tear down Fort Knox. The point still remains that yeah, they can cut through it, and that's cool, but they still have to cut through it rather than just walk right through.

The reason that deterrents are called deterrents is because they deter people, not because they completely, 100% prevent them from doing something. If a 10-foot wall can be defeated by an 11-foot ladder, that still means that suddenly everyone who wants to cross the border needs to bring a ladder.

I'm agreeing with you. Or are you agreeing with me? I figured it would be mentioned what and how it was cut through.

 

[ES 148]

Just use wood you fancy-ass nigga

 

[kidatari]

does it state what type of saw was used and how long it took to cut through?

 

[FierceBrosnan]

"While the design currently being constructed was informed by what we learned in the prototypes, it does not replicate those designs," said Waldman. "The steel bollard design is internally reinforced with materials that require time and multiple industrial tools to breach, thereby providing U.S. Border Patrol agents additional response time to affect a successful law enforcement resolution. In the event that one of the steel bollards becomes damaged, it is quick and cost-effective to repair.

So it's steel, filled with stuff, and probably more steel. Neat.

I figured it would be mentioned what and how it was cut through.

Because that would be giving away tips on how to do it and the prototype bollards they cut through aren't even the ones used in the final design.

BC News toured the eight wall prototypes twice before President Trump's March 2018 inspection. According to San Diego Sector Border Patrol Chief Rodney Scott, the versions seen by NBC News and the president, however, were larger than the actual prototypes tested at "Pogo Row."

 

[It's HK-47]

I'm agreeing with you. Or are you agreeing with me? I figured it would be mentioned what and how it was cut through.

I'm all but positive that's exactly why the type of saw wasn't even mentioned. If they could make a hole in the bars like that with sandpaper and a rubber mallet, we'd be hearing no end of it. The fact that they've chosen to be particular defensive about what sort of tool was being used really tells me all that I need to know.

 

[byuu]

I could see cartels building a shed near the border to house some sort of power generator just so they can charge and operate a power saw long enough to cut through the slats.

Just run it of a truck's battery and keep the engine running.

 

[Doc Cassidy]