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Monday, July 11, 2011

Nixon Was Forced Out For Less


Understand this: Project Gunrunner began in 2005. Operation Fast and Furious, deliberately allowing known smugglers to purchase firearms, began in 2009.

The present botched program, sometimes referred to as "Fast and Furious" or "The Gunwalker Scandal," does, however, involve governmental attempts at cover-up and hindrance of investigation.

Remember, it was the cover-up and the hindrance of the Watergate investigation that brought down the Nixon administration — not the break-in itself.

A simplification of the present scandal from the sidebar of Sipsey Street Irregulars:

The Gunwalker Scandal Made Simple

There are five key accusations against ATF and DOJ made by ATF whistleblowers and other sources within FedGov:

1. That they instructed U.S. gun dealers to proceed with questionable and illegal sales of firearms to suspected gunrunners.

2. That they allowed or even assisted in those guns crossing the U.S. border into Mexico to "boost the numbers" of American civilian market firearms seized in Mexico and thereby provide the justification for more firearm restrictions on American citizens and more power and money for ATF.

3. That they intentionally kept Mexican authorities in the dark about the operation, even over objections of their own agents.

4. That weapons that the ATF let "walk" to Mexico were involved in the deaths of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and ICE agent Jaime Zapata, as well as at least hundreds of Mexican citizens.

5. That at least since the death of Brian Terry on 14 December, the Obama administration is engaged in a full-press cover-up of the facts behind what has come to be known as the "Gunwalker Scandal."
What is the official explanation for the gunrunning operations involving the ATF, ICE, the DAD, DEA, DOJ, the State Department, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security — and apparently included gunrunning operations from Tampa to Honduras?
Why would so many agencies of the federal government involve themselves in a massive scheme to deliberately place U.S. guns into the hands of Mexican drug cartels and criminal elements in the Central American country of Honduras?

The official explanation given by the government is that the scheme was concocted to trace the illegal activity of criminals in Mexico in order to eventually capture and prosecute such persons. But those captures never occurred. And no one was prosecuted. Instead, at least 2 American agents were murdered by the smuggled guns, and at least 150 Mexican citizens were slaughtered by the cartels who used American firearms given to them by the U.S. Government.
Additional information HERE, including the following:
Justice Department officials sought to limit and control [BATFE Acting Director Kenneth Melson's] communications with Congress.

[...]

The evidence we have gathered raises the disturbing possibility that the Justice Department not only allowed criminals to smuggle weapons but that taxpayer dollars from other agencies may have financed those engaging in such activities.
More information about about Gunwalker HERE at Maggie's Notebook, with frequent updates.

In my view, most Americans know more details about the high-profile trial of Casey Anthony than about the corruption charges that should be leveled against the Obama administration.

One should wonder if some of these gunrunning assault weapons have ended up in the hands of Hezbollah. After all, it is a fact that Hezbollah is present in Mexico and involved with the drug cartels. See this pdf file from the Tucson Police Department; the release is dated September 20, 2010. Excerpt:
Based on a study done by Georgetown University, the number of immigrants from Lebanon and Syria living in Mexico exceeds 200,000. Along with Iran, Syria is one of Hezbollah’s strongest financial and political supporters, and Lebanon is its country of origin.

In July of [2010], Mexican authorities arrested Jameel Nasr in Tijuana, Baja California. Nasr was alleged to be tasked with establishing the Hezbollah network in Mexico and throughout South America. In April of [2009], the arrest of Jamal Yousef – in New York City – exposed a weapons cache of 100 M- 16 assault rifles, 100 AR-15 rifles, 2,500 hand grenades, C4 explosives and antitank munitions. According to Yousef, the weapons, which were being stored in Mexico, had been stolen from Iraq with the help of his cousin who was a member of Hezbollah.

With the arrest of Jameel Nasr and Jamal Yousef, obvious concerns have arisen concerning Hezbollah’s presence in Mexico and possible ties to Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTO’s) operating along the U.S. – Mexico border.

38 comments:

  1. http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-in-national/new-york-times-not-following-project-gunwalker-because-it-s-not-their-scoop

    I think that says best what I was going to infer here in this comment until I first Googled "PROJECT GUNRUNNER NEW YORK TIMES" to see if they were covering this. The NEW YORK TIMES isn't following this in depth for a typical reason.
    Wow, the whole country sure did hear about Nixon, didn't they!

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  2. From this source:

    There are now reports that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Tampa Field Division, ran a gun-running investigation that was walking guns to Honduras using the techniques and tactics identical to Fast and Furious. 1,000 of those guns were sold to MS13 buyers.

    There is also a video at the above link.

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  3. Z,
    Haven't I been harping for years that one of the biggest problems with getting the truth out is the mainstream media!

    My neighbor voted for Obama in November 2008. His only source for news is the mainstream media. Therefore, my neighbor is blissfully ignorant of the actual doings of the mainstream media and will likely vote for Obama again in 2012. But my neighbor isn't a bad man -- and usually so very reasonable! If only he knew a fraction of what you and I know about Obama and his administration!

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  4. It's up to the bloggers to get the info out--doing the job that the progressive Mainstream Media gets paid to ignore...

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  5. I actually think Holder will be indicted for this(wishful thinking?)and thrown under the bus by his boss...

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  6. It is like the Democrat want criminals to have guns. Of course the rest of gun are forbidden to have guns. But then again this works well for the Democrats because when you live in fear you are willing to surrender your freedom for the illusion of security provided by others. They become your master and you their slaves.

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  7. The hypocrisy is ASTOUNDING!

    This is an incomprehensibly bad idea... And imagine this occurring under a Republican president. I'll bet the MSM would be 'scooping' it then, NONSTOP!

    Excellent point about the cover up bringing Nixon down. It appears that Obama can get away with anything and any subsequent lie.

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  8. It is the coverup that does them in for the most part. Thinking of Martha Stewart for one. I bet if you asked most people what she went to jail for, few would know. Fox has been hammering away on Holder. Issa has been on all weekend and this morning.

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  9. Randy,
    Speaking of Eric Holder (my post today at The Astute Bloggers):

    Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder Thursday requesting an explanation as to why the Justice Department declined to file charges against a federal prosecutor with child pornography found on his work computer.

    [...]

    ...The AUSA acknowledged that he had spent a significant amount of time each day viewing pornography.

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  10. Thank you for this informative wrap-up!

    I really hope this doesn't die. I want the GOP to investigate this when (inshallah) they take over both houses of congress and the white house in 2012.

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  11. This is an excellent review of the Gunwalker scandal. I agree with Bob Mack. It falls to we bloggers to dissiminate the truth. Unfortunately we can't reach everybody; like your neighbor for example.

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  12. "In my view, most Americans know more details about the high-profile trial of Casey Anthony than about the corruption charges that should be leveled against the Obama administration."

    So true, so sad.

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  13. The old question "who knew what when" comes to mind, and those that knew, authorized, or ordered this mess should be fired and prosecuted.

    Debbie
    Right Truth
    http://www.righttruth.typepad.com

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  14. I'm with Bob and Jim. We're it as far as this story is concerned.

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  15. the media runs the country with their distortions and lies..sigh

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  16. Though the issue is disturbing and needs to be totally understood and dealt with legally and professionally, I see no link or comparison to Watergate at all and find it disturbing that such a comparison was even raised at all.

    The Watergate cover-up came directly from Nixon himself and he broke even more laws in the process of ensuring he was not linked at that those attempting to uncover the story were discreditted.

    This event has been exposed by the ATF and it is between them and the Justice Department. We have seen no evident that President Obama is involved or in fact that the White House is covering it up.

    If anything I see just more typical far-right agendas trying to "wish" that there is a link and it only makes the conservatism movement look more silly.

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  17. Damien,
    You won't like the source, but you should take a look at this information.

    If Eric Holder lied before Congress -- and it seems that he did -- Obama should have fired Holder forthwith.

    Orders for the gunrunning operation were not unconstitutional in and of themselves; any cover-up following the operation is something the Obama administration should be held accountable for.

    Additional reading: "Operation Fast and Furious Could Decimate Obama Reelection Bid." That the funding for Operation Fast and Furious was in the stimulus package, which Obama signed, is damning.

    If you find my posts silly, you are welcome not to read them.

    BTW, I hadn't read this post at Big Government until this morning when I did a search of Obama operation fast and furious.

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  18. The family of slain Border Agent Brian Terry may be suing the federal government:

    The family of murdered Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry wants justice, and that may include suing the federal government.

    "If the evidence shows Brian's death was proximately caused by the negligence of the federal government, there may be a cause of action," said Terry family attorney Paul Charlton.

    Terry was killed in December 2010 at the hands of an illegal immigrant working for the Sinaloa Cartel while patrolling an area near Tucson known as Rio Rico.

    Officials traced the gun found at the scene to Operation Fast and Furious...

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  19. Although said rather casaully i do think reevaluating all government agencies and their functions is a worthy endeavor. It is likely ATFs functions may in fact be duplicated by other agencies and/or could be consolidated into another agency.

    That said can u imagine if this happend during the watch of a republican president.....

    The New York Times would be running articles daily

    As to why Casey Anthony grabs more media time than the criminal actions of our government...the fault is ours as we choose to watch.............

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  20. Nixon didn't have the media keeping his bed warm at night. If today's media was half as critical as they were with Nixon, hearings would be scheduled by now.

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  21. OAW, I have no doubt that Holder will go if it comes down to it, Obama is not silly enough to defend the indefencible.

    As for the links, they in fact say not much and plays it neither one way or the other and for me considering the sites/links it is all under the "political point-scoring" category.

    Though I am sure many of not most will not agree or get a bit annoyed at my comment, if we are to believe all that is on the far-right blogs then in reality the middle-of-the-road and main stream media would be harking on for impeachment etc when they are only demanding a serious investigation and therefore wait for the result. Or in other words, it is only far-right and blogs 'wishful thinking' that are making a thing of it and the track record on that is pretty piss-poor when it comes to showing reality.

    With all due respect to most (or all of you), I have a huge problem with partisan bashing that is illogical and damaging to your nation. You may dislike Obama but the "marxist", "Muslim", "non-American" and "impeach him" chanting IMOA only makes your cause (which I assume is not have Obama reelected) look weak, fringe and rather foolish. Sure, target the real and factual details, raise the questions and there is a hell a lot of subjects that are worth attacking such as economics and social agenda.

    Cheers and with respect (awaiting the thunderclap)

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  22. Alberto Gonzales, one of Bush's Attorney Generals was railroaded out of office for next to nothing.

    Yet this corrupt, incompetent, racist ass Eric Holder is STILL THERE?

    This is another of those stories that would be a HUGE scandal if a Republican was in the White House but nary a peep since it's Obama.

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  23. Damien,
    No thunderclap.

    But I don't take kindly to commenters using the word "silly" in reference to my post or other commenters' input. Disagreement is no problem at this blog (as you know), but personal attacks are unacceptable. My site, my property -- and all that.

    Also, please remember that blogs push the envelope. We bloggers are often agitators. In real life, you might find some of us quite different from our online persona.

    You said: I have no doubt that Holder will go if it comes down to it, Obama is not silly enough to defend the indefencible.

    The delay is damning, IMO. Holder serves at the pleasure of the President, and Obama's not firing Holder makes Obama look complicit in a cover-up.

    And I'm not so sure that Obama won't defend the indefensible. Just look at what he said yesterday about August Social Security checks, etc. He cannot possibly ignorant of the fact that nursing homes, hospitals, and homeowners with mortgages are dependent upon receiving those checks, from which Medicare premiums covering health care are deducted. My husband receives Social Security Disability as he has been totally disabled (Hospital bed and bedside commode in the living room!) since September 15, 2009, when he had a brain hemorrhage at the age of 59; without that check, my husband can't possibly pay the $700/month health-insurance premium.

    BTW, comments by me are often delayed because of my caregiving responsibilities. Hence, the delay in my response to your recent comment.

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  24. Damien,
    BTW, "far-right" blog implies racism and white supremacy. This web site is not racist. I'm made that clear numerous times.

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  25. Mike,
    Good point about Alberto Gonzales.

    This is another of those stories that would be a HUGE scandal if a Republican was in the White House but nary a peep since it's Obama.

    Exactly.

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  26. LA Sunset,
    If today's media was half as critical as they were with Nixon, hearings would be scheduled by now.

    Obama is The Teflon Man. **sigh**

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  27. AOW,

    Please excuse the "silly" comment, it was intended to be directed at you, this paritcular post but a rather general term in what for me is a frustrating set of patterns that I think damage much credibility in certain sectors within Conservative America. Though we have a Conservative government in my country, we suffered similar but less.

    Perhaps it is my work but I live by facts and evidence and allowing the system to function and if one thinks the system does not work then it is through joining it, influencing it via democratic means. If it takes four years then so be it and then prove better rather than fall for what some do which is simply "whinging".

    Again, all respect and I most certainly appreciate your fairness and management and I please, a caregiver is not only an important and honourable function but I believe God has a special place in heaven for them.

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  28. correction: "it was NOT intended to be directed at you..."

    Wow, what timing to get that wrong....

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  29. Damien,
    Wow, what timing to get that wrong....

    Not to worry. I knew that you had made a typo even before I saw your correction and even had a good chuckle over it. After all, I teach Advanced Composition at the secondary level and have learned to find humor in such mistakes.

    Please excuse the "silly" comment...

    Apology accepted.

    There is no doubt that conservatives in America have a feeling of desperation as we believe that America cannot "survive" another 4 years of Obama.

    a caregiver is not only an important and honourable function but I believe God has a special place in heaven for them

    Thank you for your kind words in that regard. Caregiving my husband is the hardest thing I've ever done, both physically and psychologically. And I will admit that caregiving has also made me a bit edgy. Come and live my life, and you'll get a full understanding of why I'm a bit short-tempered these days.

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  30. Damien, a word of advice.

    Its been said that the Americans and the British are nations separated by a common language.

    Most of us are unimpressed by upstairs downstairs attitudes and our opinions of solicitors are rather less lofty than you will find on the Continent.

    If you express an opinion expect to defend it, otherwise keep it to yourself. Passive aggressive behavior will only annoy us and label you as unserious.

    Many of us know each other personally or have a history that reaches back many years. I say this not to exclude you but to make you aware that there may be more going on than is readily apparent.

    Perhaps the biggest difference between us is that as American Conservatives, we are the descendents of revolutionaries. We have a healthy suspicion of government and a disrespect for authority uncommon in Torys/Conservatives. As a matter of fact, our Torys got booted during our Revolutionary war.

    As American Conservatives, we believe in the values of family, personal responsibility and self-reliance.

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  31. Warren, though I appreciate your advice and the background, I would aks you this. Do you prefer that I base my opinion on what you want to here and thus not really what I think/view? Alternatively, would you prefer that you hear exactly what I see/think/view?

    If you base your conversations here on your long-standing closeness and knowledge of each other then is it worth having and open blog and not membership as in say a club? When one runs and open forum then there should be rules of conduct but to be honest, you must accept both alternative views and styles, especially when they are foreign to you.

    I have made it clear on this blog to AOW that though we will not agree, I both appreciate, respect and consider it a good thing that there is freedom of speech and debate which only allows all of us to learn something. I have learnt in fact more than I thought I would here.

    As for my style and my very strong British Center-Left Conservatism, I make no apologise for either as it is simply me and I am passionate in the core values that I have garnered over 45 years of activism.

    A last comment (and a bit of friendly sarcasim), your law-for-profit system is well know world wide, and it should be reminded that it remains on your side of the pond.

    Cheers and Gob bless.

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  32. correction - "want to hear".

    (please excuse, I tend to a lot of time editing legal docs in Spanish and my touch typing has given my fingers there own rules.....)

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  33. Damien,
    No one is excluding you. Rather, Warren, my webmaster and site designer and fellow administrator of this blog, is offering you some advice -- and some insights of which you might not have been aware:

    I say this not to exclude you but to make you aware that there may be more going on than is readily apparent.

    BTW, we do have a private, members-only site.

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  34. Wow, I have heads in two places - Centre-Right Conservatism not Centre-Left of course, I wrote more than the comment space gave me and started cutting and pasting...... As you can see, two years to retirement is not short enough!

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  35. Damien,
    FYI, Warren, his wife Jacqueline, and I are best friends -- I'd go so far as to say we (and I include Mr. AOW in that statement) are "family."

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  36. AOW, the advice was appreciated and stated.

    One of the things I appreciate on this site, is that you actually do support freedom of expression. I have seen some good subject matters on other sites but spoilt by the closed shop of "friends" and though they talk about it, as soon as someone disagrees, has an alternative view or points to some inconsistancies, you are driven out by "the mob" or even quietly blocked.

    I will agree that it is my style to play a little bit of the "devil's advocate" because it brings out the best in people if they are true to their beliefs. I do not play that game here because it was already clear that the views are strong here but I do raise questions in comparison to the Conservative Movement here in Europe. In the mid 1980s I was doing my MLLB in London and was part of the Policy Ethics Committe of the British Conservative Party albiet just one of 14 people and not one of PM Thatcher's circle friends (but John Major appreciated me).

    Oh, did you hear last night Grover Norquist's "bipartisanship is akin to date-rape" comment to CNN?

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  37. "Do you prefer that I base my opinion on what you want to here and thus not really what I think/view?"

    No Damien, just be aware the idiom is different and can make for misunderstandings.

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