Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
While many in the media seem more interested in Gov. Rick Perry's thoughts on clouds of color, at least one reporter is covering the growing scandal of the ATF's Operation Fast and Furious. That's the program where the U.S. Government intentionally trafficked guns illegally across borders, a brilliant idea that led to two guns being used to kill a U.S. Border Patrol agent. The Los Angeles Times' Richard Serrano reports that guns from the program have been linked to 11 more violent crimes.
We also learn that acting director Kenneth Melson likely became aware of the program in 2009, just a month after it began. That's noteworthy in part because he has said he didn't learn about it until 2011, when it was canceled.
Anything else?
Well, three key supervisors of the program have been promoted:
All three have been heavily criticized for pushing the program forward even as it became apparent that it was out of control. At least 2,000 guns were lost and many turned up at crime scenes in Mexico and two at the killing of a U.S. Border Patrol agent in Arizona.
The three supervisors have been given new management positions at the agency's headquarters in Washington. They are William G. McMahon, who was the ATF's deputy director of operations in the West, where the illegal trafficking program was focused, and William D. Newell and David Voth, both field supervisors who oversaw the program out of the agency's Phoenix office.
Not jailed. Not fired. Not demoted. Promoted.
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Dec '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
Promoted a step above the level of their incompetence. It's the way government does things. If we're lucky they'll only be able to waste our money from their new positions instead of endangering the lives of our citizens and border patrol agents.
Jun '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
Easier to keep an eye on them, or a leash.
Mar '11
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
The Peter Principle is strong in government.
Mar '11
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
I know the COC here doesn't like the suggestion of conspiracies, this whole operation was a deliberate attempt to set up the gun industry for a crackdown. As with the NLRB, the EPA, the FDA, and every other executive branch agency, they implement through regulation what they can't get Congress to approve.
This admin has lied time and again about the sources of guns in Mexico, and touted how this showed our need to reinstate the AWB and crack down on dealers. Now we find they deliberately set up dealers to take the fall, so as to promote a mandatory registration of purchases (a blatantly illegal act).
As far as these 3 ATF guys are concerned, "Mission Accomplished"! To this administration, they did everything right.
Oct '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
True to a painfull degree, sad that what one might think were trusted with enforcing some simple laws could be bought so easily.
All that aside, for all the agencies involved and the levels of participation...
This has nasty outcomes this administration will go to great lengths to cover.
In all this, the Peter Principle has reached broached the highest levels of Government.
May '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
Now Playing...
Nov '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
You know what's funny about this whole thing? Nobody thought of it. One minute it didn't exist, and the next minute it was a fully-formed operation, budgeted and staffed, with all the field operatives in place. Jut like that. Absolutely nobody knows where it came from.
I'm a big gun guy (see avatar, right). So I should really be wound up about what's becoming pretty obvious, that this whole thing was cooked up so that the federal government could issue new gun control laws without any politician's fingerprints on them.
But to tell the truth, I'm more wound up about the fact that Eric Holder can look us (and Chuck Grassley) in the eye and refuse to tell us who thought of it or how it evolved into a live operation.Holder has asked the IG to investigate. Why? Don't they know? Project Gunrunner must have been somebody's "baby", and it's impossible that dozens of senior bureaucrats don't know who that is... how about just telling us?
Mar '11
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
Love It!
But given Hollywood's penchant for conspiracy movies involving the CIA/FBI/NSA - mightn't a potboiler be more suitable for a parody? I know the title would be more awkward, but you could have "3 days of the Holder", "The Man who (didn't) know too much", "The evidence vanishes", etc.
Edited on Aug 16, 2011 at 9:25pmOct '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
skipsul
Love It!
But given Hollywood's penchant for conspiracy movies involving the CIA/FBI/NSA - mightn't a potboiler be more suitable for a parody? I know the title would be more awkward, but you could have "3 days of the Holder", "The Man who (didn't) know too much", "The evidence vanishes", etc. · Aug 16 at 9:19pm
Edited on Aug 16 at 09:25 pm
Hollwood cannot compete with this, think of, Gone in Sixty Seconds.
The evidence and any truth that may have applied.
Mar '11
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
How about "None of the President's Men"?
May '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
You know I feel somewhat guilty about this one. A fine agent died because of these screwups. But they need to be ridiculed if the press won't help hold them accountable.
Mar '11
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
It's a fine line you tread there.
May '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
There has always been a fine line between stupid and brave. As I have said before, I have earned the nickname my wife has placed on me: First in line to be hung.
Oct '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
skipsul
It's a fine line you tread there. · Aug 16 at 9:46pm
The Press is a usefull tool if called upon. What is odd is that the DOJ has denied victim status to the family of the Border Agent killed. Note the press has ignored that.
Work with me on this....
Mar '11
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
EJHill
There has always been a fine line between stupid and brave. As I have said before, I have earned the nickname my wife has placed on me: First in line to be hung. · Aug 16 at 9:53pm
Sometimes you don't realize the difference between dumb and brave till it's all over.
Keep up the good work.
Oct '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
skipsul
EJHill
There has always been a fine line between stupid and brave. As I have said before, I have earned the nickname my wife has placed on me: First in line to be hung. · Aug 16 at 9:53pm
Sometimes you don't realize the difference between dumb and brave till it's all over.
Keep up the good work. · Aug 16 at 10:03pm
Work smarter, not harder.
Dec '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
wilber forge
The Press is a usefull tool if called upon.
Not so useful for our purposes. See here for an explanation.
Aug '10
Re: Obama Admin Promotes Supervisors Of Scandalous Gun Trafficking Program
This truly is a story that could have serious consequence, but there are many ways to unravel it to make it appear innocuous. Like the meme that we have been dealing with criminals forever and things like this have happened throughout history. It's all coming down to which president the press is interested in protecting. Change the pieces around, make the President Kennedy, make the guns women, and count the news stories during his administration about that .