Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by martyb on Monday November 04 2019, @05:25PM   Printer-friendly
from the if-you-build-it-they-will-come...and-cut-through-it dept.

Smugglers have found an easy way to get through the vertical steel tube Mexican border wall. From https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/smugglers-are-sawing-through-new-sections-of-trumps-border-wall/2019/11/01/25bf8ce0-fa72-11e9-ac8c-8eced29ca6ef_story.html

The breaches have been made using a popular cordless household tool known as a reciprocating saw that retails at hardware stores for as little as $100. When fitted with specialized blades, the saws can slice through one of the barrier's steel-and-concrete bollards in minutes, according to the agents, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the barrier-defeating techniques.

After cutting through the base of a single bollard, smugglers can push the steel out of the way, creating an adult-size gap. Because the bollards are so tall — and are attached only to a panel at the top — their length makes them easier to push aside once they have been cut and are left dangling, according to engineers consulted by The Washington Post.

The taxpayer-funded barrier — so far coming with a $10 billion price tag — was a central theme of Trump's 2016 campaign, and he has made the project a physical symbol of his presidency, touting its construction progress in speeches, ads and tweets. Trump has increasingly boasted to crowds in recent weeks about the superlative properties of the barrier, calling it "virtually impenetrable" and likening the structure to a "Rolls-Royce" that border crossers cannot get over, under or through.

In other words, no one did any serious pen testing on the wall design, or it would have been obvious that with all that leverage, the top tie-in was easy to flex.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday November 04 2019, @08:17PM (3 children)

    by Freeman (732) on Monday November 04 2019, @08:17PM (#915893) Journal

    Apparently during testing all prototypes could be defeated with the proper application of power tools.

    With the proper application of power tools, you'd be hard pressed to find something you can't get through.

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 04 2019, @10:41PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 04 2019, @10:41PM (#915994)

    With the proper application of power tools, you'd be hard pressed to find something you can't get through.

    Bullet hailstorm.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 05 2019, @03:59PM (1 child)

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 05 2019, @03:59PM (#916307)

      Psychopath

      And you think you're righteous too, whaddaprick

      • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday November 05 2019, @11:17PM

        by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday November 05 2019, @11:17PM (#916596) Journal

        Irrespective of the state of mind or moral stance, I can't stop noticing it's a good example to using tools doesn't necessarily dismantle the defense.
        Yes, the use of tools can get around the defence (e.g. dig tunnels).

        --
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford