"There goes the "we were letting guns randomly "walk" into Mexico to see where they went" lie. It was a quid pro quo with the Sinaloa international terrorist drug cartel."
"0bama, Holder and the whole lot of them are sponsors of terrorism, murder, drug trafficking, human slavery, money laundering and arms trafficking with intent to undermine a sovereign friendly nation."
[emphasis added... because I vociferously think this as well and have so posted! You and I are in the minority on this.]
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Setting aside your last point, the one that I emphasized, for the moment...
Some thoughts for the thread's reflection and critique:
Early into my understanding of Fast and Furious, I suspected that the motives of the crime reached far beyond the attempt to outlaw guns. That may be the "face" of the Obama adm's public rationalization---but ONLY because it is the "sexy," convenient, PC face.
The Obama adm ALWAYS tries to kill as many birds with one stone as possible---and the bird they publicize to kill is rarely the chief bird they are aiming for.
As has been posted on this thread (see post 26), this may backfire on us---BUT
Obama and the Hezbollah Terrorist
and
Hezbollah Terrorist Handed Over to Iraqis by U.S. May Face Only Minor Criminal Charge
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Not to mention:
"Sinaloa drug cartel was sending elite assassins to train on weapons and explosives with Islamic radicals in Iran.44 The article reported that this travel was facilitated through Venezuela, courtesy of the direct airline flights established between the two countries, and that some of the operatives even used Venezuelan travel documents.45 This mutually beneficial arrangement allowed the assassins to receive training in guerilla tactics, while the extremists gained entry into Latin America with its relative ease of access to the Untied States.
The article went so far as to claim that some extremist group members were purchasing marriages to local Venezuelan and Mexican nationals in order to take on Latino surnames, increasing ease of entry into the United States.46 Taken together, these reports indicate extensive associations between Iran, Hezbollah and drug cartels, highlighting the potential for Hezbollah to utilize these groups’ existing support networks and infrastructure.
PDF Source
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It is a known fact that Hezbollah is working with MANY cartels. Why is the media emphasis on Zetas alone?
The Sinaloa Cartel is a global criminal organization that moves up to two-thirds of drugs into the United States and operates in 52 countries.
The Obama regime is brilliant (Obama being merely the useful figurehead)---a fascist oligarchy criminally operating like queen bees...worker bees firmly in tow.
Untethered from ethics, morality, and law...
I am not optimistic.
Having said that, I forwarded my post to someone who is in regular contact with a successful federal prosecutor, now also a respected journalist. Although not in his area of expertise, I am hoping he might weigh in on the legalities of the last link I cited in my post:
Gunwalker: Justice Dept. Violated U.S. Laws Beyond Those Being Investigated
I wish Mark Levin and other legal experts who have the public's ear and respect would do the same.
I am also curious if Issa has this statute in mind.
We can't defer hope to the next election; however, GOP candidates have a bully pulpit few of our conservative leaders are willing to use. Will any candidate be willing to aim for the jugular? I doubt it. The outcry will have to come from a conservative grassroots groundswell.
IMO, the factual evidence for a big-picture conspiracy is beginning to come into view---of which F & F was only one important thread that unraveled by the death of Brian Terry, and now that unraveled thread threatens to unravel the whole fabric of the conspiracy. Is it any wonder that F & F is depicted as just a "botched" operation inspired by misguided and errant underlings who only deserve "reassignment" as penalty for their keystone-cops plan?
Good point---"follow the money." This sleeper scandal came to mind when I read your post.
How a big US bank laundered billions from Mexico's murderous drug gangs [April 2011]
Wachovia Drug Money Laundering
The first link is from the Guardian. To my knowledge it was the most indepth article published.
A review of some of the facts [The entire article should be read]:
"On 10 April 2006, a DC-9 jet landed in the port city of Ciudad del Carmen, on the Gulf of Mexico, as the sun was setting. Mexican soldiers, waiting to intercept it, found 128 cases packed with 5.7 tons of cocaine, valued at $100m. But something else – more important and far-reaching – was discovered in the paper trail behind the purchase of the plane by the Sinaloa narco-trafficking cartel."
"During a 22-month investigation by agents from the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and others, it emerged that the cocaine smugglers had bought the plane with money they had laundered through one of the biggest banks in the United States: Wachovia, now part of the giant Wells Fargo."
Criminal proceedings were brought against Wachovia, though not against any specific individual.
The case never came to court.
In March 2010, Wachovia settled the biggest action to date brought under the US bank secrecy act.
Wachovia paid $110m in forfeiture, and a $50m fine.
"Wachovia was sanctioned for failing to apply the proper anti-laundering strictures to the transfer of $378.4bn [between May 2004-May 2007]– a sum equivalent to one-third of Mexico's gross national product – into dollar accounts from so-called casas de cambio (CDCs) in Mexico, currency exchange houses with which the bank did business."
Wachovia's total fine was less than 2% of the bank's $12.3bn profit for 2009.
"At the height of the 2008 banking crisis, Antonio Maria Costa, then head of the United Nations office on drugs and crime, said he had evidence to suggest the proceeds from drugs and crime were "the only liquid investment capital" available to banks on the brink of collapse. "Inter-bank loans were funded by money that originated from the drugs trade," he said. "There were signs that some banks were rescued that way.""
[Note to Hoosiermama: If the above paragraph is true, How could anyone follow THIS money trail?] The only entity with the means to do so is the government, and they don't have the will (foremost, because it would require the government to indict itself)---except in selected cases, like Wachovia, where punishing the crime became self-serving to the government.
The Guardian article was written with the assistance of Martin Woods (one of the most important whistleblowers of our time.") If for no other interest, the article is worth a read to hear his story. I barely touched the highlights---and perhaps not even the most important ones.
Martin Woods: "Is it in the interest of the American people to encourage both the drug cartels and the banks in this way? Is it in the interest of the Mexican people? It's simple: if you don't see the correlation between the money laundering by banks and the 30,000 people killed in Mexico, you're missing the point."
One last note: The article suggests that the settlement doesn't preclude additional liability on the specifics of this case---which just tells me that the government has a powerful inducement for Wachovia (purchased by Wells Fargo) to play ball.
After reading that and all of the stuff in #49 as well, I must admit to feeling a little less than bullish on hopes for the truth to triumph any time soon.
"The Obama adm ALWAYS tries to kill as many birds with one stone as possible---and the bird they publicize to kill is rarely the chief bird they are aiming for."
Always watch the other hand(s).