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In 2009, the ATF (under the leadership of Kenneth E. Melson) took to gun-running
in a ridiculous attempt to apprehend Mexican gun traffickers and drug cartel
members. What transpired however was an historical investigation into the
operations, policies, and procedures of the ATF and beyond. Guns sold as part
of Operation Fast and Furious have surfaced at crime scenes in both America and
Mexico –depicting the ATF’s operation as dumb and ridiculous.
“Under “Fast and Furious” ATF agents
recorded and tracked straw purchases of weapons and allowed the guns to “walk”
across the U.S. border into Mexico in an effort to locate major weapons
traffickers, rather than catching the low-level buyers. The operation took a
tragic toll when two weapons where Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was murdered
were linked to the ATF program” (Ryan, 2011).
The ATF’s dumb and ridiculous
operation is now under investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, as well as the Senate Committee on the Judiciary for their
actions (or lack thereof) that ultimately lead to the loss of thousands of
firearms, that are now being recovered at horrific crime scenes across the
border and on American soil.
“According to an investigative
report compiled for [the] two congressional committees investigating the operation,
122 weapons have been recovered at 48 crime scenes in Mexico. [A] joint report
for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Senate
Committee on the Judiciary also details how guns from the ATF operation were
used in the kidnapping and murder of a Mexican official’s brother” (Associated
Press, 2011).
The egregious conduct of the ATF has
Americans and the Mexican Government asking just how this was allowed to happen.
How deep the incompetence and corruption does run, and, were White House officials
aware of the inapt operation? Republican Darrell Issa of California called the
ATF’s handling of the operation “felony-stupid bad judgment” obviously
disgusted with the operations lack of competent leadership. Some Americans are
wondering if the “felony-stupid bad judgment” is in fact felony-corruption;
furthermore, was Agent Brian Terry murdered for lack of participation and assimilation
to a corrupt ATF?
As heads begin to roll, Fox News reported on August 31st :
“Acting
ATF Director Kenneth Melson has been reassigned to a lesser post in the Justice
Department and the U.S. attorney for Arizona [Dennis Burke] was also pushed out
Tuesday as fallout from Operation Fast and Furious reached new heights”
(Lajeunesse, 2011).
More heads are certain to roll as
the investigations into Fast and Furious continue beyond that of the ATF. Accusations
have also been waged against the FBI, DEA, Department of Homeland Security, and
a few high-ranking officials of the Justice Department; accusations that reach
all the way to the White House.
References
Associated Press. (2011, September 10). 2nd Arizona crime scene yeilds guns from ATF sting. FoxNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/10/2nd-arizona-crime-scene-yeilds-guns-from-atf-sting-22355965
Lajeunesse, William. (2011, August 30). ATF Director reassigned; U.S. attorney out amid ‘fast and furious’ uproar. FoxNews.com.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/30/sources-atf-director-to-be-reassigned-amid-f…
Ryan, Jason. (2011, August 30). ATF shake-up comes fast and furious. abc News.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/08/atf-shake-up-comes-fast-and-furious/
