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As part of a Report issued by the Office of Inspector General
(OIG) commencing inOctober 2010, the State agency criticizes the
Office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, andExplosives (ATF) for
taking down the little guys but not securing enough
convictionsagainst the higher-level traffickers, smugglers, and the
ultimate recipients of traffickedguns, particularly into
Mexico.
OIG recommends implementation of Project Gunrunner, including
that ATF should
improve its intelligence sharing with other federal law
enforcement agencies and thatATF should work with the government of
Mexico to improve the rate of successfultraces.
OIG neglects to recognize that many Mexican officials, from the
police to the politiciansare corrupted drug dealers themselves; and
that the FBI and DOJ is ineffective atsharing intelligence with
anyone.
Project Gunrunner is a program designed to move and track
weapons through strawpurchasers into the hands of dangerous Mexican
drug cartels. While Federal officials are
justified in their assertion that Project Gunrunner stems from a
2005 Laredo, Texas ATF
program, a national initiative starting in 2006 led to Operation
Fast and Furious.
Operation Fast and Furious was cleared at the highest levels of
government with theirfingers deliberately pointed at ATF. An agency
that successfully prosecutes 1000s ofcases annually is now subject
to complete the job the Justice Department should havebeen doing
all along.
In March of 2007, [I began] working in my current post of duty
as a Supervisor of thePhoenix Field Office. Within weeks, I was
surprised at what I had observed. In myprofessional opinion, dozens
of firearms traffickers were given a pass by the US
Attorneys Office for the District of Arizona. Despite the
existence of probable cause inmany cases, there were no
indictments, no prosecutions, and criminals were allowed towalk
free. In short, their office policies, in my opinion, helped pave a
dangerous path.(Testimony of Phoenix ATF Special Agent Peter
Forcelli June 15, 2011)
Exporting guns from the US is indeed a violation of the Arms
Export Control Act, so redflags were raised by whistleblowers when
ATF agents were expected to circumventFederal law.
The ATF limited by jurisdictional, Arizona law, could not arrest
straw purchasers offirearms who were US citizens and could pass a
Brady check, even when they knew the
weaponry would be delivered to a Mexican drug cartel.
Special Agent Peter Forcelli continues:
When I voiced surprise and concern with this tactic to Special
Agent in Charge WilliamNewell and ASAC George Gillett, my concerns
were dismissed. This operation, which inmy opinion endangered the
American public, was orchestrated in conjunction with
Assistant US Attorney Emory Hurley. I have read documents that
indicate that his boss,US Attorney Dennis Burke, also agreed with
the direction of this case. Allowingfirearms to be trafficked to
criminals is a dangerous and deadly strategy.
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As a career law enforcement officer, who has had to investigate
the deaths of policeofficers, children and others at the hands of
armed criminals, I was and continue to behorrified. Truly
horrified. I believe that these firearms will continue to turn up
at crimescenes, on both sides of the border, for years to come.
While being questioned by members of Congress, former ATF
Special Agent in ChargeWilliam Newell dodged questions, tripped
over answers, and essentially lied under oath
to protect a failed, federal law enforcement operation.
(Congressional Hearing July 26,2011)
Rumor has it that Newells actions were not at the behest of ATF,
but rather approvedby the Justice Department who refused to end the
program when ATF Acting Directorurged that it be terminated.
On September 21, SAC Newell issued a supplemental statement,
where Newellcontinued the false notion that ATF agents did not
knowingly allow thousands ofweapons to reach criminal hands. Any
concerns raised over the program were nevervoiced to appropriate
authorities. (FoxNews.com)
Now theres hell to pay for agents who have objected to Operation
Fast and Furiousand demanded it be stopped early on. Those who
publically object to the actions takenby the Federal government in
implementing Operation Fast and Furious have beencautioned to keep
quiet in their opposition, otherwise suffer the consequences
Gestapo style. Watch out America!
Raquel Okyay is a conservative writer and activist in New York
State. She is aConservative Party Leader and Founder ofUlster
Orange Tea Party. Raquel also serveson the Board of Directors ofNYS
Right to Life.
http://raquelokyay.com/ulster-orange-tea-party/http://www.nysrighttolife.org/http://www.nysrighttolife.org/http://raquelokyay.com/ulster-orange-tea-party/
