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How to end the wall controversy

Jan 30,2019 - Last updated at Jan 30,2019

The 35-day partial shutdown of the US government due to differences over funding of the proposed US-Mexico border wall got a temporary respite when President Donald Trump caved in and ordered the ending of the shutdown for three weeks, pending the resolution of the standoff between him and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives.

It so happens that the shutdown of the US government affects negatively not only the US, but also the world at large in one way or another. The international community has a stake in ending this "sterile” debate about whether to build a wall on the US-Mexican border or rely on other more sensible and cost-effective means to secure the border between the two countries.

It is no longer an academic or abstract issue of whether constructing a wall or a metal barrier or whatever between the two countries is the most effective way to stop the flow of migrants from Latin America to the US through Mexican territory. President Trump is stubbornly committed to the wall idea. His opponents from the Democratic side are also stubbornly rejecting the idea. The cost of any such wall could be staggering and reaching well more than $5 billion.

In retrospect, the wall idea should not be left to personal determination, derived at by subjective thinking and evaluation. The issue should rather be discussed and decided upon professionally by experts from both sides of the fence, who should offer their professional verdict on it.

People who are well-endowed with expert knowledge on what could be the best and most effective way to secure the border between the US and Mexico should have the final say on the subject and not politicians. Accordingly, instead of the current stalemate between the Republican-controlled US Senate and the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives on political grounds, the two sides should present their differences during the three-week hiatus to a group of experts to decide on their behalf, in a professional way, what can serve the US border interests best.

The US can move the controversy and standoff over the wall from the political arena to a professional and expert-oriented arena. This way, no side can rejoice or lament over the outcome.

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