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In two programs code named “Project Gunrunner” and “Operation Fast and Furious” President Obama’s Justice Department through the Bereau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (the “ATF”) approved the sale to Mexican drug cartels of more than 1,800 AK-47s and 50 caliber sniper rifles. The ostensible plan was to follow the weapons across the Mexican border to allow the ATF to chart a path to the leadership of the cartels. One not so small problem, the ATF “lost track” of more than 1,000 of the assault and sniper rifles.
Unfortunately, these weapons have started turning up at crime scenes and two were found at the murder of United States Border Agent Brian Terry who was killed in a gun battle with members of a Mexican drug cartel. When Agent Terry’s mother was informed about the connection between the ATF sold guns and her son’s death she responded that she was “flabbergasted.” “At first I didn’t believe it,” she said.
This program started two months into the Obama administration and was the responsibility of United States Attorney General Eric Holder. The ultimate responsibility for the programs lands at President Obama’s feet, but the President has denied any knowledge of the operations until details of the murder of Agent Terry started to emerge.
In congressional hearings last Wednesday, Rep. Darrell Issa ripped into high-level Justice Department officials, saying that they were fully aware of the deadly sale of guns to Mexican drug cartels, and declared that the entire operation “looks an awful lot like Iran Contra.” Some commentators have speculated that these operations were actually part of the Obama gun control plan to show increased gun activity in Mexico as an evil to be cured in this country through the imposition of strict gun control laws while others simply find them to be horribly botched and tragic.
“Some commentators have speculated…”
Yes, they do that so well, don’t they? Red meat for a dumbed-down audience.
THAT’s the part of the story that bothered you anon?
That’s right anon, don’t let the facts get in the way of the one opinion in the post. Ignore the fact that an agent was killed and two guns were found at the site. Ignore the fact that the Justice Department initially lied and claimed that no weapons were allowed into the carels’ hands. Ignore the fact that when ATF agents expressed concern that someone would get killed with the guns, they were shut down and threatened with termination. Ignore the fact that the ATF leader is being scapegoated for Holder’s incompetence. Keep up those good posts.
Facts. Yes, all the facts are out on this. Got it.
That doesn’t stop the punditocracy from engaging in endless speculation. Go ahead, join with them if you’d like.
Where is the outrage ?
A US Law Enforcement Officer was killed – 1,800 assault rifles handed over to drug cartels by the Obama Administration.
Where is the F**CKING outrage lefties ???
Well, if this is indeed the way Geoff reports it here, it’s indeed a colossal f–kup.
I always take these stories with a grain of salt. Yesterday he wanted us to believe that NBC wants us to take “under God” out of the Pledge of Allegiance.
If that is what happened then heads should roll including Holder, but I am not going to base my facts on press releases from the tea party via e-mails.
Some commentators have speculated that these operations were actually part of the Obama gun control plan to show increased gun activity in Mexico as an evil to be cured in this country through the imposition of strict gun control laws ..
See, this is how freaking batshit crazy this whole thing is. I can’t believe we’re even talking about it. Gun control has never been on Obama’s radar. His whole record shows that. Yet suddenly he’s sneakily orchestrating some murderous, convoluted scheme to sneak through the secret gun-control plot he’s always had? Black helicopters, tin-foil-hat stuff. Geoff, please write something serious.
He COULD have written something serious, had he taken a moment to step back and look at the bigger picture, as Anonster has done. But then that would permit reality to get in the way of a partisan screed, and we can’t have THAT.
Sorry Geoff and Newbie this program started in 2006;
From the ATF;
ATF HomeFirearmsProgramsProject Gunrunner
Project Gunrunner
Gun trafficking to Mexico is a nationwide problem with consequences on both sides of the border. In response, ATF implemented Project Gunrunner in 2006 as a comprehensive strategy to reduce firearms and explosives related violent crime associated with Mexican criminal organizations operating in the U.S. and Mexico by preventing these organizations from unlawfully acquiring and trafficking firearms and explosives. Through Project Gunrunner, ATF works in conjunction with its domestic and international law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the firearms and explosives trafficking infrastructure of criminal organizations operating in Mexico, along the border, and other areas of the U.S.
Project Gunrunner’s objective is to deny Mexican drug cartels the tools of the trade, which they employ to murder rival drug traffickers, civilians, as well as political, military, and law enforcement figures in order to strengthen their grip on the lucrative drug and firearms routes into and out of the United States.
The cornerstone of Project Gunrunner is intelligence-led firearms trafficking investigations. This process involves the collection of information from a variety of sources such as Federal Firearms Licensees, ballistic and forensic analysis, and data derived from firearms tracing in addition to traditional intelligence sources and methods. This information is then synthesized, analyzed and appropriate leads are disseminated to ATF field offices for investigative action. The information is also shared with our Federal, State, local and tribal partners, as well as our Mexican law enforcement counterparts, each contributing their unique capabilities and resources, forming a multi-layered, comprehensive approach to disrupting firearms trafficking and drug-related violence.
Project Gunrunner investigations have resulted in the identification and prosecution of firearms trafficking organizations in all parts of the United States, from Minnesota to Florida to all our border states, where ATF criminal intelligence and tracing data has provided valuable leads used in identifying individuals and organizations providing firearms to Mexican criminal enterprises.
In 2009, ATF established several new offices dedicated to Project Gunrunner firearms trafficking investigations in McAllen, Texas, El Centro, California, and Las Cruces, New Mexico, including a satellite office in Roswell, New Mexico, in addition to new Gunrunner teams in Tucson, Arizona and El Paso, Texas. In September 2010, ATF announced plans to expand Project Gunrunner by opening additional Gunrunner offices in Sierra Vista, Arizona, and Brownsville, Texas. Additional expansion plans include the opening of three new offices located in U.S. Consulates in Mexico, as well as adding additional investigative and analytical staff to the ATF Country Office in Mexico City. These steps will allow for more timely and effective collaboration among the various law enforcement partners dedicated to Project Gunrunner.
Today, there are nearly 4,500 active Project Gunrunner investigations throughout the United States. Since its inception in 2006, and through Fiscal Year 2010, ATF’s Project Gunrunner has recommended over 1,100 criminal cases and in excess of 2,500 defendants for prosecution. To date, Project Gunrunner investigations have resulted in the seizure of over 10,000 firearms and nearly one million rounds of ammunition destined for Mexico.
Obama’s statement in March 2011;
“In his first public comments addressing Project Gunrunner — a national initiative by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to combat illegal gun trafficking along the Mexico border now taking heat for allegedly letting guns end up in the hands of criminals — President Barack Obama conceded that “a serious mistake” may have been made.
During an interview with a reporter from Univision that aired Tuesday night, Obama said he was “absolutely not” informed about the ATF program. The agency came under fire after a senior ATF agent told media outlets that supervisors ordered agents not to intercept weapons made in suspicious sales — but instead to monitor them to see where the weapons ended up.
The whistleblower alleges that the agency intentionally let more than 1,700 guns be illegally trafficked to Mexico.
“I did not authorize it; Eric Holder, the attorney general, did not authorize it. He’s been very clear that our policy is to catch gun-runners and put them into jail,” Obama said.
Clarity about what exactly took place during Project Gunrunner may come soon: Holder has asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has also launched his own probe. He told a radio show that he has four investigators working full-time to try and understand why guns were allowed to “walk” over the border without any safeguards in place.
Obama said that he would hold someone responsible if, indeed, a mistake was made.
“We have to make sure that we’re enforcing the kinds of measures that will stop the flow of guns and cash down south that is helping to fuel these transnational drug cartels,” he said.
“There may be a situation here in which a serious mistake was made,” he said. “If that’s the case, then we’ll find out and we”ll hold someone accountable.”
Anonster- your 2006 report is completely inconsistent with all of the reports I have seen from all quarters. I am at a play tonight but I will supply a number of supporting sources timorrow.
Here’s the link;
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/programs/project-gunrunner/
A year before Obama took office the ATF was deploying eTrace;
ATF Expands Efforts To Combat Illegal Flow Of Firearms Into Mexico
January 16, 2008
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) plans to add additional staff members, including 35 special agents and 15 industry operations investigators, to the southwest border and deploy eTrace technology in nine U.S. consulates in Mexico in an effort to stem the illegal flow of firearms to Mexico as part of Project Gunrunner, ATF Acting Director Michael J. Sullivan and Director Arthur Doty of the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) today announced.
From One Man’s View;
Back in 2005, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) initiated a program called Project Gunrunner. Project Gunrunner is also part of the Department’s broader Southwest Border Initiative, which seeks to reduce cross-border drug and firearms trafficking and the high level of violence associated with these activities on both sides of the border. ATF has determined that the Mexican cartels have become the leading gun trafficking organizations operating in the southwest U.S. (DUH) and is working in collaboration with other agencies and the Government of Mexico to expand the eTrace firearm tracing software system. eTrace is supposed to provide web based access to ATF’s Firearms Tracing System to allow law enforcement both domestically and internationally the ability to trace firearms encountered in connection with a criminal investigation to the first recorded purchaser – who may have innocently sold the gun years ago. eTrace supposedly allows law enforcement to access their trace results directly (name and address of first purchaser) and offers the ability to generate statistical reports to analyze their trace data to estimate firearms trafficking trends or patterns. Here’s where it gets interesting.
Project Gunrunner has a stated official objective to stop the sale and export of guns from the United States into Mexico in order to deny Mexican drug cartels the firearms considered “tools of the trade”. However, since February 2008 under Project Gunrunner, Operations “Fast and Furious”, “Too Hot to Handle”, “Wide Receiver” and others (all together satirically dubbed “Operation Gunwalker”), have done the opposite by ATF permitting and facilitating “straw purchase” firearm sales to traffickers, and allowing the guns to “walk” and be transported to Mexico. This has resulted in considerable controversy.
http://onemansview.us/government/political/im-from-the-government-and-im-here-to-help/
“.. since February 2008 under Project Gunrunner, Operations “Fast and Furious”, “Too Hot to Handle”, “Wide Receiver” and others (all together satirically dubbed “Operation Gunwalker”), have done the opposite by ATF permitting and facilitating “straw purchase” firearm sales to traffickers, and allowing the guns to “walk” and be transported to Mexico. This has resulted in considerable controversy.”
And how many deaths – including at least one US Law Enforcement Officer ? And all Obama and Holder can come with is “I didn’t know” – WTF?
As I said before: “Where is the F**CKING outrage” ???
junior,
Remember,Feb. 2008 is almost a year before Obama took office, does your “outrage” extend to the Bush adminstration who gave birth to this abomination?
It also seems the NRA has some culpability in this situation, will your “outrage” F**CKING include them?
The following article from Newsweek might shed some light on the happenings at the ATF.;
ATF Has No Head 15 Months Into Obama Presidency
Just last month, secretary of State Hillary Clinton flew to Mexico City and announced the Obama administration was “doing all that we can” to curb the illegal flow of U.S. weapons to Mexico’s drug cartels. But 15 months after the president took office, the White House has yet to nominate a director to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the agency tasked with policing weapons traffic. In fact, the acting director, Kenneth Melson, recently had to be demoted to deputy director because of a law that limits how long acting chiefs can run federal agencies. This has left ATF without a Senate-confirmed leader at a time of increased cross-border gun violence and mounting concerns about militia activity. “It’s shocking and indefensible,” says Kristen Rand of the Violence Policy Center, a gun-control group, “that when you have a huge problem from gun trafficking and gun violence, they have left this agency leaderless.” The void has also dispirited ATF field agents, some current and former officials say. “The message that’s sent to the employees is, ‘You don’t matter,'” says Jim Cavanaugh, a 33-year bureau veteran who retired this month as the agent in charge of the Nashville office.
Advocates like Rand say the failure to nominate a director reflects the administration’s larger fear of tackling any firearms issue–like reinstating the assault-weapons ban–that might rile the gun lobby. A White House spokesman declined requests for comment. But privately, senior officials (who asked not to be identified talking about a personnel issue) say they have had a tough time even finding a candidate interested in the ATF job because of likely gun-lobby resistance. That’s what befell the last person President George W. Bush nominated for the job, Michael Sullivan. He never got a vote after then-senator Larry Craig of Idaho–upset about the ATF’s treatment of a firearms dealer in his state–put a hold on Sullivan’s nomination. “Do you think there is anybody we can get confirmed for that job?” asks an administration official. Still, says another, the administration hopes to have a nominee “soon.” (NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam says, “If they want to delegate the authority to make that nomination, we’d be happy to do it.”)
The absence of a chief, say critics, has made the ATF more cautious about going after gun-trafficking rings or firearms dealers who sell bulk weapons to gangs. Mexican President Felipe Calderón, for example, recently complained about the U.S.’s failure to crack down on the 10,000 gun shops operating along the border. “I’m absolutely confident that because of the lack of a confirmed director, crimes are being committed and innocent people are dying,” says James Pasco, a former ATF assistant director. But the bureau’s Melson disputes any suggestion that the agency has backed off big cases, citing recent successes targeting illegal traffickers in Houston. The lack of a nominee to run ATF hasn’t had “any impact” on the agency’s operations, Melson says. “I emphatically deny that the agency has stood still.”
*********************************
This is a VERY INTERESTING excerpt, from Politico;
The acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is expected to resign in the next few days as a scandal over the agency’s “Fast and Furious” anti-gun-trafficking operation continues to boil.
Kenneth Melson, acting ATF director since April 2009, could step down on Monday or Tuesday, CNN reported. That report comes on the heels of another, published by the Wall Street Journal on Saturday, which speculated that moves toward replacing Melson could begin this week. ………
The agency has been without a permanent director since 2006. The Obama administration last year nominated Andrew Traver, the head of the agency’s Chicago office, to become the permanent director, but the confirmation process stalled after the National Rifle Association said it “strongly oppose[d]” his nomination.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57358.html#ixzz1Q6ZyxHlA
There are conflicting reports as to when the ATF started allowing weapons across the border to Mexican gangs and cartels (see Geoff’s related post). What is not disputed is that agent Terry is the first death to be identified where guns that were lost in tracking appeared at the scene of a death of a US agent. It’s also undisputed that Justice initially lied to Congress (during this administration) about whether guns were allowed across the border. It’s alos undisputed that agents testified before Congress that they expressed concern about allowing guns into Mexican criminals’ hands (during this administration) and they were shut down and threatened with termination. So, when you have that type of evidence from the Bush administration, I’ll consider it. Until then, you have nothing but unsubstantiated reports.
And what’s so interesting about the Politico story? It’s obvious that Melson is being scapegoated for Justice’s blunders.
Ok, I’m now saying you’re totally wrong anonster by claiming that the process of allowing guns to walk across the border started during the Bush administration. Here’s the first paragraph from the joint staff report prepared by Congress on the matter:
In the fall of 2009, the Department of Justice (DOJ) developed a risky new strategy to
combat gun trafficking along the Southwest Border. The new strategy directed federal law enforcement to shift its focus away from seizing firearms from criminals as soon as possible—and to focus instead on identifying members of trafficking networks. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) implemented that strategy using a reckless investigative technique that street agents call “gunwalking.” ATF’s Phoenix Field Division began allowing suspects to walk away with illegally purchased guns. The purpose was to wait and watch, in the hope that law enforcement could identify other members of a trafficking network and build a large, complex conspiracy case.
The fall of 2009 – hmmm, who was President when the “risky new strategy” was initiated? If you said Obama, give that woman a cigar. So sorry anonster – but YOU are wrong. Now, will you admit it? Inquiring minds want to know.
“Scapegoated”?
He’s acting head of the ATF, if this is his agency (even if only temporarily) and his program he’s exactly who should be fired.
“Scapegoated,” LOL. Translation: “If we were honest we’d admit this leads directly to Obama.” OBAMA MURDERGATE!!!!!
Exactly Vern, conservatives want to slime Obama with anything and everything, from his “suspect” birth, to ‘his’ use of teleprompters, the way he says the pledge of allegiance, the kind of beer he serves and on and on and on.
They don’t get that when everything is an outrage, nothing is.
Every administration needs monitoring and makes mistakes and sometimes do stupid or illegal and even evil, things (a certain war comes to mind) what is needed is PERSPECTIVE.
Funny how you didn’t use those same rules during the Bush administration.
Apparently Obama and Holder are looking hard into this colossal f-kup and will hold those responsible responsible. Bush? What’s the closest parallel with this, and what’s the most memorable line?
HECKUVA JOB, BROWNIE!
Geoff, I never had to resort to minutia to criticize Bush as there were too many REAL DISASTERS;
9-11
TWO UNFUNDED AND DISASTROUS WARS
FOOLISH TAX CUTS THAT DOUBLED OUR NATIONAL DEBT
OUTING OF A CIA AGENT
KATRINA
MEDICARE PART D
PRIVATE MILITARY CONTRACTOR SCANDALS
TORTURE SCANDALS
US ATTORNEY SCANDAL
LOSING 25% OF OUR MANUFACTURING BASE
TANKING OF OUR ECONOMY
0 PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS CREATED
TARP
Just to name a few of the HORRORS of George Jr’s presidency. I guess we really should be grateful that you republicans have to make do with manufactured scandals.
Anonster. As Geoff will surely respond himself I do find your list worthy of comment.
Are you the Orange County conspiracy maven blaming president Bush 43 for 9-11?
And did he assume responsibility for that natural disaster called Katrina?
Losing 25% of our manufacturing base? We lost our manufacturing base long before he was elected.
I spoke on “outsourcing” as far back as 1985 and again in 1991 at another international conference. Did you ever hear of NAFTA, Maquiladora and the WTO?
Let’s look at the Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
“During the Bush presidency, net total employment went up by 1.08 million jobs. So far, during the Obama presidency, total employment has been reduced by 3.3 million jobs.
Under Bush, private employment shrank by 673,000 jobs, federal employment grew by 50,000 jobs, and government employment grew by 1,753,000 jobs.
Under Obama, the private sector has shed some 2.9 million jobs while the federal government has grown by 40,000 (after growing massively, the federal workforce shrank throughout the summer). Total government jobs, however, shrank by 357,000 jobs, mainly because of cuts at the state and local levels.”
I like the one about private sector job creation, especially while we heard president Obama claim that unemployment would be below 8% with his $862 BILLION DOLLAR “stimulus” for “shovel ready” jobs.
Where are we today. Somewhere around 9.8 % unemployment.
I guess like all of your anti Bush rhetoric this is also his fault.
Thanks for handling so well Larry, I was debating even responding since we will see shortly that Obama’s one term presidency looks a lot more like Carter than Kennedy.
You quibble with the tiniest disagreement with my facts and then present this list with a straight face? 9-11 was Bush’s fault? Katrina was Bush’s fault? Not even worth continuing comment.
Larry,
Hate to break it to you buddy, but there’s plenty of evidence that Bush’s National Security team dropped the ball on 9-11.
Here’s a re-cap of those events from the Daily KOS;
*Just a month before the 9/11 attacks, while on a month long vacation, Bush was personally handed a presidential daily briefing entitled:
Bin Laden determined to strike in US.
With characteristic intelligence and class, Bush responded with the words:
All right. You’ve covered your ass, now.
And went fishing.
*But Bush wasn’t the only member of his administration to blow off warnings, and ignore the threat of terrorism. Indeed, his Attorney General, John Ashcroft, revealed his own lack of concern just a day before the attacks:
In his final budget request for the fiscal year 2003 submitted on Sept. 10 to the budget director, Mitchell E. Daniels Jr., the attorney general called for spending increases in 68 programs, none of which directly involved counterterrorism. Upgrading the F.B.I.’s computer system, one of the areas in which he sought an increase, is relevant to combating terrorism, though Mr. Ashcroft did not defend it on that ground.
But in his Sept. 10 submission to the budget office, Mr. Ashcroft did not endorse F.B.I. requests for $58 million for 149 new counterterrorism field agents, 200 intelligence analysts and 54 additional translators.
Mr. Ashcroft proposed cuts in 14 programs. One proposed $65 million cut was for a program that gives state and local counterterrorism grants for equipment, including radios and decontamination suits and training to localities for counterterrorism preparedness.
*And Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld reacted similarly, less than a week before that:
When Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who was then chairman of the Armed Services Committee, sought to transfer money to counterterrorism from the missile defense program, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld sent a letter on Sept. 6, 2001, saying he would urge Mr. Bush to veto the measure. Mr. Levin nonetheless pushed the measure through the next day on a party-line vote.
*And former counterterrorism chief Richard Clarke had this to say about National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice:
…I believe it was, George Tenet called me and said, “I don’t think we’re getting the message through. These people aren’t acting the way the Clinton people did under similar circumstances.”
***************************************************************
And I suggested to Tenet that he come down and personally brief Condi Rice, that he bring his terrorism team with him. And we sat in the national security adviser’s office. And I’ve used the phrase in the book to describe George Tenet’s warnings as;
“He had his hair on fire.” He was about as excited as I’d ever seen him. And he said, “Something is going to happen.”
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**************************************************************
Now, when he said that in December 1999 to the national security adviser, at the time Sandy Berger, Sandy Berger then held daily meetings throughout December 1999 in the White House Situation Room, with the FBI director, the attorney general, the head of the CIA, the head of the Defense Department, and they shook out of their bureaucracies every last piece of information to prevent the attacks. And we did prevent the attacks in December 1999. Dr. Rice chose not to do that.
Indeed:
We know, for example, that then National Security Adviser Rice was warned repeatedly in 2001 about an imminent al-Qaeda attack against the U.S., but, along with Cheney and Rumsfeld, she simply didn’t believe that a cave dweller like Osama bin Laden could be that much of a threat. She was warned by the outgoing Clintonite Sandy Berger, in January 2001. She was warned by the White House counterterrorism scold Richard Clarke. And now, with Bob Woodward’s new book, State of Denial, and subsequent Washington Post reports, we’ve been reminded that CIA Director George Tenet warned Rice on July 10, 2001, that “the system was blinking red,” meaning that there could be “multiple, simultaneous” al-Qaeda attacks on U.S. interests in the coming weeks or months.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*But the Bush team was so obliviously sanguine that:
Though Predator drones spotted Osama bin Laden as many as three times in late 2000, the Bush administration did not fly the unmanned planes over Afghanistan during its first eight months and was still refining a plan to use one armed with missiles to kill the al-Qaida leader when Sept. 11 unfolded, current and former U.S. officials say.
*And as for Cheney himself:
Bush administration officials told former Sens. Gary Hart, D-Colo., and Warren Rudman, R-N.H., that they preferred instead to put aside the recommendations issued in the January report by the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century. Instead, the White House announced in May that it would have Vice President Dick Cheney study the potential problem of domestic terrorism — which the bipartisan group had already spent two and a half years studying — while assigning responsibility for dealing with the issue to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, headed by former Bush campaign manager Joe Allbaugh.
The Hart-Rudman Commission had specifically recommended that the issue of terrorism was such a threat it needed far more than FEMA’s attention.
Before the White House decided to go in its own direction, Congress seemed to be taking the commission’s suggestions seriously, according to Hart and Rudman. “Frankly, the White House shut it down,” Hart says. “The president said ‘Please wait, we’re going to turn this over to the vice president. We believe FEMA is competent to coordinate this effort.’ And so Congress moved on to other things, like tax cuts and the issue of the day.”
“We predicted it,” Hart says of Tuesday’s horrific events. “We said Americans will likely die on American soil, possibly in large numbers — that’s a quote (from the commission’s Phase One Report) from the fall of 1999.”
Let’s highlight that:
Instead, the White House announced in May that it would have Vice President Dick Cheney study the potential problem of domestic terrorism — which the bipartisan group had already spent two and a half years studying — while assigning responsibility for dealing with the issue to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, headed by former Bush campaign manager Joe Allbaugh.
The Hart-Rudman Commission had specifically recommended that the issue of terrorism was such a threat it needed far more than FEMA’s attention.
Not only did the entire Bush Administration ignore multiple screaming warnings, but Cheney himself was tasked with studying the risk of domestic terrorism! And even though Bush himself said he’d periodically review the issue:
Neither Cheney’s review nor Bush’s took place.
*Bush and Cheney. Both. Both given specific warnings. Both claiming they would study the risks. Neither doing so. Their entire administration failing in every possible way, despite numerous specific and personal warnings. Despite numerous specific and personal warnings that kept coming, right up until the days before the September 11 attacks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
****************
He may have “assumed responsibility” for Katrina, but FEMA like most government agencies under Bush were purposely headed up by nincompoops and thus were ineffective, corrupt and inept. Too late for those folks trapped on rooftops and suffering in the Super dome, but that is the conservative plan isn’t it, purposely make government not work, so people don’t look to or rely on government?
I do have to give you kudos for attempting to defend Bush’s job creation record, it takes real hutzpah to take on those miserable statistics.
Here’s something from Politifact on manufacturing under Obama, not as good as we could hope, but a whole hell of a lot better than Bush (and you’ve got to remember Obama is dragged down by you republicans (extending those destructive tax cuts) who are willing to tank the economy AGAIN, just to win in 2012).
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jun/06/austan-goolsbee/austan-goolsbee-says-manufacturing-jobs-growing-fa/
Anonster. I truly miss our exchanges. It forces me to do more research.
However your opening illustration plays right into my hands. Quoting from your opening:
“Bush’s National Security team dropped the ball on 9-11.” That’s not what you alleged. You placed the blame on HIM.
So, let’s go “south of the border, down Mexico way” and follow some AK47’s that we permitted to cross the border.
Who was responsible for that screw up? Based on your finger pointing, that the buck stops in the Oval Office, president Obama deserves the blame and not the interim head of ATF. would you agree?
Larry,
I never said that this ATF operation won’t be a black mark on Obama’s administration, it absolutely will.
“Based on your finger pointing, that the buck stops in the Oval Office, president Obama deserves the blame and not the interim head of ATF. would you agree?”
Wow Larry, where to begin?
First off, saying “Bush” is actually shorthand for him AND his administration. Do you really want to go down this path of me calling ALL you right-wingers out every time you say “Obama” when you’re really meaning Obama’s administration?
Secondly if you can’t figure out the difference between the failure’s of Bush’s National Security team and a failure at the ATF then I suggest you stay away from paper bags.
Hint; one is hand-picked by the POTUS, in constant contact with the POTUS and has offices in the west-wing of the White House and one is part of a huge bureaucracy.
Oh and another reason you might not want to go down this path as Bush had a scandal at the ATF as well;
From Wikipedia;
2006. ATF mismanagement and Misconduct by Carl J. Truscott, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. An investigation by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), Oversight and Review Division, revealed that Carl J. Truscott, Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), mismanaged government funds, committed travel abuse, engaged in improper hiring practices, and created a hostile work environment.[28] Truscott, who had been a Secret Service executive before being named ATF Director, was reported to OIG for investigation by an anonymous letter.[30]
Where is Geoff with the screaming headline?
BUSH THIEVERY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonster.
They are both out of office. Bush 43 AND Bill Clinton.
Can we agree to stop spending so much time looking in our rear view mirrors while America is on the verge of a financial disaster? Use your windshield to see and address the picture in front of us.
If you peel the onion back to the Bush Administration don’t overlook Bill Clinton and his failure to successfully deal with the terrorists who attacked Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia, two US Embassies in Africa and the USS Cole in Yemen, each on HIS watch.
Geoff,
“You quibble with the tiniest disagreement with my facts and then present this list with a straight face? 9-11 was Bush’s fault? Katrina was Bush’s fault? Not even worth continuing comment.”
Well, harumph to you too. LMAO
Larry,
It was Geoff who brought Bush into this discussion, CHASTISE HIM.
Anonster. Not having read every comment on Geoff’s post I accept the challenge and agree with you.
As we are going off a cliff my concern is the actions taken to avoid that disaster.
Not Obama (as of yet). But definitely to Justice, and Holder’s the one responsible there, unless he’s too busy disimissing slam dunk winners against the New Black Panther Party, that is.
Did you miss my post up above where Obama addressed this situation?
Obama’s statement in March 2011;
“In his first public comments addressing Project Gunrunner — a national initiative by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to combat illegal gun trafficking along the Mexico border now taking heat for allegedly letting guns end up in the hands of criminals — President Barack Obama conceded that “a serious mistake” may have been made.
During an interview with a reporter from Univision that aired Tuesday night, Obama said he was “absolutely not” informed about the ATF program. The agency came under fire after a senior ATF agent told media outlets that supervisors ordered agents not to intercept weapons made in suspicious sales — but instead to monitor them to see where the weapons ended up.
The whistleblower alleges that the agency intentionally let more than 1,700 guns be illegally trafficked to Mexico.
“I did not authorize it; Eric Holder, the attorney general, did not authorize it. He’s been very clear that our policy is to catch gun-runners and put them into jail,” Obama said.
Clarity about what exactly took place during Project Gunrunner may come soon: Holder has asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to investigate.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has also launched his own probe. He told a radio show that he has four investigators working full-time to try and understand why guns were allowed to “walk” over the border without any safeguards in place.
Obama said that he would hold someone responsible if, indeed, a mistake was made.
“We have to make sure that we’re enforcing the kinds of measures that will stop the flow of guns and cash down south that is helping to fuel these transnational drug cartels,” he said.
“There may be a situation here in which a serious mistake was made,” he said. “If that’s the case, then we’ll find out and we”ll hold someone accountable.”
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It does indeed look like this specific operation started in the fall of 2009, and yes, it’s a bad program, Obama admitted as much.
That does not mean there is a gun conspiracy and a scandal brewing, just bad decisions made by the head(s) of the ATF. It also doesn’t mean that Obama is a murderer.
Are you outraged by the NRA lobbying/meddling that is preventing the ATF from having competent management?
“And how many deaths – including at least one US Law Enforcement Officer ? And all Obama and Holder can come with is “I didn’t know” – WTF?
As I said before: “Where is the F**CKING outrage” ??? ”
It’s got to be the fault of the “riff raff” that litter your neighborhood with broken bongs and unused sheets of Zig Zags at the neighborhood dispensary, right junior? By the way, how much does an 1/8th cost at your neighborhood pot shop right now? You never answered my question.
I can tell you where my outrage lies. 40 years of draconian drug policy and a trillion dollars wasted on this unnecessary War on Drugs. A war which has done nothing but enable this kind of violence to occur in our inner cities and in places like Juarez and Tijuana. I’m outraged that the US officer lost his life as a result of these stupid drug policies. Right now, we have a two party system hell bent on keep the illegal drug trade in tact so political cronies like Bill Bennett and Gil Kerlikowske can have high paying government jobs with little or no oversight whatsoever.
To be somewhat fair to Obama (who I am no fan of), this is the end result of the chickens coming home to roost after 40 years of fighting an unwinnable war. The sad thing is that in 2004, he said that our drug policy is a failure. In 2011, he’s now towing the line of the status quo as established by Yorba Linda’s favorite son Richard Nixon. Although, I’m sure the nation’s biggest Drug War cheerleader, G.I. Joe Biden, has a great deal of input in furthering this quagmire that we have been stuck in for awhile now.
If you really want to credit anyone with starting the Drug War, look no further than FDR and his appointment of Harry J. Anslinger as the nation’s first unofficial drug czar. A move, in conjunction with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, that was intended to appease WIlliam Randolph Hearst and his associated cronies in the timber industry.
Where is junior’s and Geoff’s outrage about the 40,000+ deaths of Mexican men, women and children as a result of their Drug War (a war that we continue to finance with our TAX DOLLARS!!!!)? For all of the conservative Republican chest thumping rhetoric about “protecting children and families,” it seems to me that certain children and families are more equal than others. Or more expendable depending on your point of view. Needless to say, the Democratic Party is no better on this issue either (with a few exceptions and Ron Paul and Gary Johnson on the GOP side)
“You never answered my question – how much does an 1/8th cost at your neighborhood pot shop right now?”
45 cap
*Having been FFL Dealers for over 30 years…..we had to step away a few years back.
The reporting requirements were beefing up….the security provisions very tough….the instant background check was a good thing, but sometimes edgy to get through. When or if the ATF played out the “Fast and Furious” game plan as according to the latest American Rifleman…..there will be some strong hell to pay. Eric Holder will have to find a suitable response in his bag of tricks. What will happen? Probably two things: First off, the pressure will be off the dealers around border for a while. The buzz is that those dealers have been turning in anyone to the ATF that wanted to sell over two semi-autos. Some busts will be made now. Secondly, the straw purchases in this country will be monitored sharply. The NCIS will be processing bunches and making sure that the ID can hold water and not be found in a local mortuary! Holder, will will be made to look like a true believer in the 2nd Amendment.
People, people, people. I mean all you from the center to the right. You have to stop wasting your valuable time and energy trying to have a rational conversation with the irrational stupid fools on the left. How many times do you have to be told, ” You can’t fix stupid!” Therefore it is irrational and stupid to continue to even try to educate those ?people. Some are stupid out of choice, others are stupid because of heritage and the others are stupid just because they want to fit in with something or someone. They don,t even want to know the truth, and thats why they always attack it so vigorously. But , you see, this is what makes stupid ? people so angry and dangerous. Even though they don’t want to know the truth, its the fact that they realy do know the truth which is to the contrary to what they have been tough or led to believe, therefore creating an interpersonal conflict that they do not have the knowledge or personal skills to deal with, hence the only out5let for their anger, confusion and rage is to strike out against those to the right of their mind-set. It is more difficult for the to accept the truth and act accordingly than it is eisier to reject it and to the contrary and even violent then to change. Being a hardcore democrat is a mental disorder. The End!!!
Sure Gary. How’s that Obama Murdergate working out for you? Even Darryl Issa has had to conclude there’s no there there. Oh yeah. He must be a secret hateful stupid leftwinger.