Big Week for Gunwalker Scandal -- Agents Suggest Witness List. "God have mercy on our agency but please don't give the bad guys another free pass."

Between February 20–25, 1944, as part of the European strategic bombing campaign, the United States Strategic Air Forces (USSTAF) launched Operation Argument, a series of missions against the Third Reich that became known as Big Week. . . Big Week bolstered the confidence of U.S. strategic bombing crews. Until that time, Allied bombers avoided contact with the Luftwaffe; now, the Americans used any method that would force the Luftwaffe into combat. Implementing this policy, the United States looked toward Berlin. Raiding the German capital, Allied leaders reasoned, would force the Luftwaffe to battle. -- Wikipedia.

It is perhaps fitting that this week, which I predict will prove in hindsight to be the Big Week in the Project Gunwalker scandal, is happening in the same month as the anniversary of the U.S. Army Air Force's Big Week over Germany in 1944. I will have at least three posts on Gunwalker today. David Codrea will of course have more. The Spanish translation of my letter to the Consul General of Atlanta is ready to go out to the Mexican press and David and I have a joint blockbuster that we're going to drop later today.

First, though, I'd like to draw your attention to some posts by ATF agents over at CleanUpATF.org. You may recall my post drawing attention to ATF agent "1DesertRat's" piece at CUATF ATF Agent: "Unfortunately the objectives usually have nothing to do with the best interest of the Government or the public."

The exchange between ATF agents takes place responding to 1DesertRat's post. Both the heartbreak and the cynicism are evident.

"x1811" writes:

1desertrat's post is interesting and raises an analogy. He states in sum..."Have any of you non-ATF employees reading these posts ever ask yourselves “where is the adult supervision in that organization?” As “gunwalker” continues to gain attention, the guys in the Phoenix Division rumored that the number of “walked” guns could be as high as 3,000." Also..."However, with the recent flooding of guns being “walked” to Mexico by ATF (intended to be future crime guns) there is statistical evidence to demonstrate an escalated flow of guns going South from the US. The solution…….(Part I) take “data” to Congress to get more money, Agents and stuff to battle the flow of guns to Mexico….but actually spend it “wherever”."

The statements by 1desertrat serve to give the public the notion that ATF is fueling the gun problem in Mexico in order to demonstrate to Congress that there is a need for more funding for this investigation. The analogy is like the fire department that sets fires to show that there is an arson problem so they can get more resources.

"abteilung" responds:

Excellent analogy. If more cops/LEO's get killed with guns "walked across the border," we'll be dead as an agency. Only question is, which street agents will get the blame from the self-serving SES's?

Also, we'll never have to worry about ATF setting fires or placing IED's around, because, thanks to Joe Riehl, we've given up our A&E program for all practical purposes.

"apostate" replies:

ATF management will lie under oath like they did after Waco and this fact is well documented. They will then all give each other $50,000 bonuses for a job well-done. Again documented

Don't worry though because word from HQ is that RIF's are in the near future for newer ATF employees.

Finally, "onesparkz" offers this:

Perjury, also known as forswearing, lying under oath or lying on oath, is the willful act of swearing a false oath or affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to a judicial proceeding. Perjury is considered a serious offense as it can be used to usurp the power of the courts, resulting in miscarriages of justice. The perjury statute under Federal law defines perjury as a felony and provides for a prison sentence of up to five years. Subornation of perjury, attempting to induce another person to perjure themselves, is itself a crime.

The people running the Phoenix Field Division and those that supervise them are the masters of deception. They will lie without regard, top to bottom. The ONLY way to get to the bottom of this is for the Senate to put them under oath. This will at least cause them pause when answering direct questions as they balance their freedom and pensions against a career-preserving cover up. It is a risk vs. reward decision for them. Lie and maybe save my career but risk incarceration or answer truthfully, kill my career but maybe save my retirement and stay out of prison.

None of these guys are loyal to each other when the heat is on. They will trample each other for survival. They should be handled no differently than a bunch of crack heads who know of a murder - the first snitch in the door gets the best deal. As soon as one in the conspiracy cracks then watch it all cave in.

If the media and Senate allow these guys to wiggle, they will. The past strategic answer has been to say they thought someone else was paying attention to the problem and therefor they believed it appropriate to defer their responsibility elsewhere. How long will that be acceptable? Make these guys raise their right hand before a subcommittee and we'll see if they are as elusive and arrogant as they normally are. These guys are fine with lying in depositions, etc., because they know they are not going to be walked out in handcuffs. Grassley is raising the stakes if he does this right.

If they say they don't know when they really do - Perjury. If they say they don't recall when they really do - Perjury. If lying to the Senate is good enough to land Scooter Libby, Martha Stewart, Bernie Madoff, Kwame Kilpatrick, Mark Fuhrman, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds in jail then why should the standard be any less for a public servant law enforcement officer sworn to serve and protect?

This would be my witness list:

Melson, Carter, Hoover, Chait - did you know of these strategies and did you approve them? Who from DOJ and the White House helped you develop your plan? Explain.

ATF Chief Counsel Attorneys - what was your role in developing this investigative stratagy? Explain.

McMahon, Newell, Gillett - what EXACTLY did you do or not do in the management of this investigation? How closely were you monitoring this significant case? Explain.

Gil, Canino, Ortiz, Kumar, Rowley - did you protest the actions being taken in this investigation and what was the result of your complaints?

Case Agents and Supervisors - who, to the best of you knowledge, was approving and supporting this investigative path? What was your plan?

ATF Phoenix Division Agents - is there a track record of retaliation, mismanagement, reprisal, hostile work environment, cover-up, lying and blind defense of such in your job? By whom? Explain.


I got the feeling that the arrogance and 'above the law' mentality of those involved is about to be exposed. Let's see how quick Rubenstein and Loos are to defend the mismanagement and corruption of their boys when Senator's are asking questions instead of an agent trying to defend himself/herself against these known repeat offenders. In the coming weeks, maybe months, the country is going to learn of how truly corrupt the management of ATF is. God have mercy on our agency but please don't give the bad guys another free pass.

To which I would add: Are you listening Senator Grassley?