Posted on 01/14/2012 11:16:37 AM PST by marktwain
Discovery of a January 2011 e-mail exchange between then Acting ATF Director Ken Melson and the Bureau’s chief council Steve Rubenstein has put the kibosh on Obama administration elites’ latest “we didn’t know about it” defense concerning the regime’s involvement in Operation Fast and Furious.
On December 22, 2010, a contributor identifying himself as “1desertrat” posted the following to the “CLEANUP ATF” website:
Word is that curious George Gillett the Phoenix ASAC stepped on it again. Allegedly he has approved more than 500 AR-15 type rifles from Tucson and Phoenix cases to be “walked” to Mexico. Appears that ATF may be one of the largest suppliers of assault rifles to the Mexican cartels! One of these rifles is rumored to have been linked to the recent killing of a Border Patrol Officer in Nogales, AZ. Can anyone confirm this information? [1]
Well, Director Melson read this “CLEANUP ATF” post and didn’t appreciate the fact that ATF business had been so willfully shared with the general public. Especially, this business. So, he contacted ATF Chief Council Steve Rubenstein for advice. And the e-mail reply he received from Rubenstein is a beauty. Rubenstein wrote:
The disclosure of this information has a potential deleterious effect on ATF’s undercover operations. In that regard, suspects may alter their behavior if they know that law enforcement is allowing certain firearms to “walk” into Mexico. (my bold text) In addition, public knowledge of this type of operation potentially places informants and undercover agents in jeopardy.If “1desertrat” is an ATF employee, then he/she is subject to our Orders and Standards of Conduct….[2]
(See below for copy of email)
Rubentsein goes on to quote the ATF Code of Conduct for employees, making it clear to Melson that the individual responsible for the post could be dealt with rather severely if indeed an ATF agent.
And Melson’s response: “Thanks Steve. I’m going to forward this to IA.” That is, Internal Affairs, which had by this time earned the reputation of being little more than a tool for the intimidation of agents who did not adequately adhere to ATF policy, regardless of how corrupt or nefarious.[3]
The question is, where was Ken Melson’s outrage? Where are the endless questions about the “gunwalking” charge? Where is the anger about not having been informed of the operation? It has been Melson’s defense and testimony to congress for the past year that no one told him of Operation Fast and Furious. He didn’t know about guns being “walked” into Mexico. And of course it stands to reason that if he, the ATF Director didn’t know, no one above his pay grade could have known either, letting Eric Holder and Barack Obama off the hook.
But Melson doesn’t act like an innocent dupe who had been kept deliberately in the dark. He seems interested only in what steps can be taken to silence and punish “1desertrat” should his identity as an ATF employee become known.
But dupe or not, treated like an outsider by ATF old-timers or not, kept in the dark about gunwalking to Mexico or not, Ken Melson had been introduced to the Fast and Furious, gunwalking scheme no later than December 2010. His yearlong performance before congressional investigators as “innocent bystander” will no longer fly.
And neither will the fact that he supposedly kept the deliberate, highly illegal smuggling of guns into Mexico quietly to himself, sparing his superiors in the Department of Justice any of the gory details. As an attorney, Ken Melson knew the consequences, both of such a crime and its cover up. One can wager, if only to protect his own hide, he made sure his Department of Justice and executive branch bosses knew it as well.
Gunwalker ping.
bttt
Was there ever any doubt?
To us it is...to the MSM it will be ignored as an old story with no bearing on the BO admin.
They have an agenda of change and it is not based on the Constitution. It is based on their view of what good slaves and serfs should do and be allowed to do.
This is a good reference for the denials that will continue to be said (even if they are not true) in the hope that the MSM and public will believe the false denial.
At some point in time (hopefully) the general public will start to connect the dots. The Presidents promise to Mrs. Brady; the Gun Walking at ATF being forced on gun dealers; the press announcements about US weapons being used by Mexican drug gangs; and the recently announced US federal government assistance in money laundering of a major Mexican drug gang's money to help them.
Hopefully someone will connect all the dots all the way to the White-house and the Cabinet and there will be demands for wholesale impeachments and jail terms for our highest federal officials.
Seems that the LA Times (and Human Events) are carrying a story that details the mystery of "Operation White Gun". Its an investigation into the Sinoloan cartel that simply... stopped ....
First, the task force had a list of 9 upper level Sinoloan cartel persons. Word from the cartel was that money was not a problem, and they were interested in buying military grade hardware, and maybe even a tank. Then one of the bigwigs was contacted and set up and even met with an agent, but no arrest was made. Not clear why.
Then 3 lower-level dealers were setup and arrested for trying to trade meth for shoulder-fired rocket launchers. ("throw me a bone here") ...According to news articles, the only other action seen in operation "white gun" is listed below. IMHO, it almost seems like Operation "white gun" was identifying who in the sinoloan cartel should not be pursued!
Task force management went to Mexico on an official visit to look for heavy weapons that had been confiscated by the government of Mexico. Seems that perhaps they were looking for some of the big guns that were "lost". We don't know because no notes or lists or other information exists (or anyway released to the public) as a result of that visit.
Free republic thread -- here.
The BATFE needs to be frog-marched off to Gitmo’.
ROTFLMAO! What planet are you liv'in on? Before this is over Big Ears will be the hero. We are a Banana Republic.
So much bigger than Watergate.
____________________________________________________________
It’s only bigger if somebody does something about it. So far, it’s just minor inconvenience for the Great Dictator.
Is Melson willing to take the fall for this? How much CYA email does he have to protect himself and implicate the higher-ups?
We are stuck with betting on which will come first; Republicans growing a spine and finding their principles or hell freezing over.
The only motivation that an administration bent on the destruction of the US would have to participate in a program such as “Gun Walker” would come from the anticipation that those guns would be returning here in the hands of criminals.
No way Mark.U B crazy.
Come on folks, who you gonna believe, this crazy guy marktwain or your beloved leader???
This is just a bunch of folks who are not obammy and holders people trying to harm them.
Nothing to see here with this evil gun business, now move along.
The sad part is that even a GOP controlled congress loaded with tea party members, will never take this scandal to the criminal conclusion that would spell Justice. They never do.
Wait a minute! Don't send them to me!
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