Sunday, March 6, 2011

CBS confirms: Mexico requests info from U.S. on gun-running.

With link to the document in Spanish.

Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is asking the U.S. government for details about ATF's "Fast and Furious" operations.

As our CBS News Investigation has revealed, "Fast and Furious" was a secret program under which, sources say, ATF purposely allowed thousands of assault rifles and other weapons from the U.S. into the hands of drug cartels in Mexico. Insiders call it letting the guns "walk."

The idea was to supposedly see where the guns ended up and use the information to take down a major cartel.

ATF sources tell CBS News that Mexican officials were intentionally kept in the dark for fear that they would jeopardize the controversial program. The strategy drew fierce criticism from federal agents ordered to employ it, including John Dodson. Dodson told CBS News that that letting guns "walk" endangered too many lives.

Now, according to the statement, posted online by Mexico's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Spanish), the Mexican government has requested detailed information about the "Fast and Furious" operation being conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Department of Justice.

The statement also reinforced the bilateral efforts of the United States and Mexico to stop arms smuggling, as endorsed by President Felipe Calderon and President Barack Obama on Thursday during Calderon's visit to Washington, D.C.

Documents show that ATF-walked guns began turning up at many violent crime scenes in Mexico from the start. Two of them - AK-47 variant semi-automatic assault rifles - were found at the murder scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry on December 14, 2010.

After CBS News reported on the alleged gun walking, ATF announced it will review its anti-trafficking strategies. The Department of Justice has asked its Inspector General to look into the matter.

The controversy has hit headlines in Mexico and in Europe.

Despite the international nature of the controversy, White House Chief of Staff William Daley today told us he wasn't really familiar with it. "To be honest with you, I didn't see the report, so I'll have to say no comment until I get some understanding on that. I don't have any information on that," he said.

6 comments:

Kurt '45superman' Hofmann said...

Despite the international nature of the controversy, White House Chief of Staff William Daley today told us he wasn't really familiar with it.

R-i-i-i-i-g-h-t.

Anonymous said...

Honestly, with the level of corruption evident in Mexico's government (which we seem to be emulating here in the US)....I'm not surprised they didn't inform Mexican authorities of the plan.

That does not absolve our government from responsibility for what has happened......

Mine is really just a commentary on the fact that Mexico is a 3rd world shithole with a political system awash in corruption.....and we are apparently headed for the same fate.

If we don't fix our problems soon....our people, like those in Mexico, are likely to just accept it as "the way things are" and allow rampant graft and corruption to destroy our country.

Preaching the converted,
Sean

Anonymous said...

Despite the international nature of the controversy, White House Chief of Staff William Daley today told us he wasn't really familiar with it. "To be honest with you, I didn't see the report, so I'll have to say no comment until I get some understanding on that. I don't have any information on that," he said.

BULLSHIT.

Anonymous said...

"45superman", You took the words right out of my mouth!

This is another one of the Chicago gang that has come to D.C. "No comment" says a lot right there on its face. These guys are life long political operatives. They know damn well what they are playing here.

KPN3%

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that Hillary was down in Mexico almost every other week last year and before. Funny that she wouldn't let them in on a little secret. Or maybe just forgot, what with all the drug running and DEA cover.

0321

Anonymous said...

The assholes in power want to maintain their secure coke $upply and 30,000 Mexican families don't mean squat to them. They're too busy making organic borscht omelets for the 'greater good' -and force-feeding said omelets to the American people- to care about consequences for the little people.

WV: atilaboi
An effeminate Hun's sig?