(July 11, 2007)—The National Guard plans to reduce the number of troops serving along the US-Mexico border in Texas and three other states from about 6,000 to about 3,000, a National Guard Bureau spokesman said Wednesday.

Last year President Bush directed the guard to provide support to Border Patrol agents along the 2,000-mile border in a temporary move designed to give the US Customs and Border Protection Agency time to add and train personnel.

The reduction should be complete by Sept. 1.

"It was never meant to be a permanent solution," National Guard Bureau spokesman Army Maj. David Kolarik told American Forces Press Service Wednesday.

"It was just an intermediate measure to provide support for border security efforts until they brought the additional resources and personnel in line that they needed."

More Local And State News >>More National News >>More Business News >>Sports >> Weather >>