Right on the border of irony

How is this for irony? On Monday, there was a three-hour backup of people waiting to enter the United States at the Peace Arch at Blaine. But it had disappeared by the time members of two congressional homeland security subcommittees arrived to inspect operations, the president of a union representing Customs and Border Protection officers said Tuesday.

"They were told to clear it, and they did," said Gregory Johnson, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "... It's called, 'Hi, how are you? Have a nice day.' "

Makes you wonder what would have happened if the same thing had occurred at Port Angeles on the day in 1999 when Ahmed Ressam tried to bring in bomb materials intended for the Los Angeles airport. He didn't get by an alert agent who had enough seconds to get suspicious.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency officials did not respond to the questions about the allegation Wednesday. If true, it is disturbing that federal workers were told to deceive members of Congress on a fact-finding mission.

Since 9/11, the number of personnel at the U.S. border with Canada, including in Washington, has increased dramatically. But it still is not enough, judging from Johnson's testimony and that of the others testifying before U.S. Reps. Dave Reichert, R-Auburn, Norm Dicks, D-Bremerton, and three others. In 2004, Congress authorized 10,000 new border agents — 2,000 for the north — but fewer than 1,000 have been added along both borders.

More technology can help alleviate some of the pressure, but more people are needed, especially in Washington. Here, state and federal officials are facing an exceptional challenge in preparing for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C. As many as one-quarter of the 3 million people attending are expected to cross the border from Washington.

Too often, the U.S. southern border with Mexico is given the personnel — and political attention — as Congress debates controversial immigration reform and the problem of illegal immigration from Mexico. Even though it is half as long as the U.S.-Canada border, the border with Mexico has 10 times the 1,000 workers on the northern border.

Resources are tight, but security should not be done on the cheap or be directed by political fashions.