ATF: The White House Knew

IBD Editorials ^ | July 28, 2011 | Staff

[Kaslin]

Scandal: A former ATF special agent tells Congress a National Security Council staffer was informed about Operation Fast and Furious before guns allowed into Mexico wound up at the murder scene of a U.S. agent.

The latest evidence that both the White House and attorney general knew and approved of Project Gunrunner and its deadly offshoot, Operation Fast and Furious, came this week in the testimony of William Newell, ATF special agent in charge of the Phoenix office, before Rep. Darrell Issa's House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

That the "stench of cover-up," as Fox News analyst Brit Hume described the administration's handling of the matter, may reach even into the Oval Office itself was evidenced by Newell's testimony that he communicated with Kevin O'Reilly, a staffer on President Obama's National Security Council, about Operation Fast and Furious in September 2010.

O'Reilly was national security director for North America tasked with monitoring the activities of Mexican drug cartels. We are asked to believe he inquired about a program that was providing the cartels with guns but kept what he found out to himself.

That date, by the way, is three months before weapons permitted to "walk" into Mexico were found at the scene in Arizona were U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was murdered. Newell said O'Reilly had inquired about the status of Project Gunrunner to brief administration officials before a trip to Mexico.

Newell sent O'Reilly the requested information with the caveat, "You didn't get this from me."

Why was a National Security Council staffer asking about an operation that no one in the upper echelons of the administration was supposed to be aware of? We find it hard to believe it was for O'Reilly's personal amusement. Why would Newell request that he not be acknowledged as the source?

[visualops]

seriously, bump again. Impeach/jail the criminals

[TigersEye]

Prosecute them all.

[Windflier]

This would be the single largest political scandal to ever hit this nation and it would wipe out the executive branch in one fell swoop making the speaker of the house president.

Which makes it all the more curious that Drudge, the number one most influential driver of news stories in the US, hasn't posted a single thing about it.

I'd like to think that he's holding back for some excellent reason, but this thing has now reached the level of a congressional investigation, and yet, he still hasn't posted on it.

You just have to wonder why he's chosen to remain mum on what is potentially the biggest scandal to ever touch the executive branch of our government.

[cripplecreek]

It is curious. It makes me wonder if he isn’t getting inside info on the condition that he not release it till the time is right.

[raptor22]

Gun control ping

[Gargantua]

Projects Gunrunner and Fast And Furious were hatched by this Cabal to restrict our gun rights. Everyone at this table were in on it, and it was hatched between O’Bunghole, Cankles and Dead Fish.

[Gargantua]

President Palin will throw his bony "Larry Sinclaire target" behind bars.

Big House Barry.

;^)

[Candor7]

Blood in the water. Impeachment articles will be drawn up in the House. Subjects? Holder and Obama who have perpetrated acts of war against an allied state.

[rawcatslyentist]

>"If a foreign country had allowed thousands of illegal firearms and explosives to be imported into the US, it would be considered an act of war."

You mean "kinetic military action".

[boxlunch]

I’ve been wondering something similar, I’ve been wondering if they were trying to destablize Mexico for some reason. What benefit would a failed state south of the border be to a Marxist president who hates our country? Hmmmm????? We know they also were running guns to violent cartels with links to Hezbollah in Honduras and Guatemala. How about three failed states near our southern border?

[Windflier]

It is curious. It makes me wonder if he isn’t getting inside info on the condition that he not release it till the time is right.

Based on what we in the rebellion know about this, the time sure looks right to me. What's Drudge waiting for? A blue dress?

[infowarrior]

ATF agent Brian Newell did, however, admit 'mistakes were made' with Fast and Furious.

I am truly beginning to absolutely loathe that phrase. *THAT* Agent Newell, is both complete and utter bullsquat, and unacceptable. Those 'mistakes' have names on them, and those names should both be made public, and held accountable for the results of said 'mistakes'. People are very dead, and covering it up like a PR flack is reprehensible...

the infowarrior

[cranked]

Hey ATF, contrary to the collective idiots and half the folks at FOXNews — like Bill O’Reilly — this was A GIVEN (as well as Holder knowing)! =.=

[Rapscallion]

I’ve been wondering something similar, I’ve been wondering if they were trying to destablize Mexico for some reason. What benefit would a failed state south of the border be to a Marxist president who hates our country? Hmmmm????? We know they also were running guns to violent cartels with links to Hezbollah in Honduras and Guatemala. How about three failed states near our southern border?

1. Create a small army (CIA?)to destabilize Mexico or some other government? Possible,

2. Arm terrorists to start terrorism on our border (They hate America that much). Improbable

3. Guns for contributions from drug cartels to political party. Very possible

4. Personal gain by higher ups (bribes). Very possible

5. Create support for more gun control inside the US. Unlikely

[Tunehead54]

Ahh crap! Not Boehner ... well better than Pelosi ... Nite. ;-)

[okie01]

This smells so bad.. Law Enforcement? Good God.. people died at the hands and out of the barrels of weapons ‘planted’ to track the bad guys.

At least two American LEOs were among the dead.

The Federales claim that over 150 Mexican law enforcement officers and military men were killed by F&F weapons.

And who knows how many civilians (and gangsters)...???

Nobody died in Watergate.

[Smokin' Joe]

6: Arm LaRaza factions for the 'Reconquista'? Seriously, they've been allowing the invasion for decades now.

'Trillions for butter, but not a dime fo' de fence.'

[nikos1121]

He said also that the sending limit is raised so the govt is free to spend, yet there are no cuts...There should be cuts immediately...

The govt is so big and out of control, it can’t be controlled.....

[stevie_d_64]

I would not have given it “maybe” at all...

Things like this will never be discussed in the historical “reality”...The real story will die off as we expire...

But the history they teach in the screwels of the future will paint this fantasy picture of an administration which worked very hard under extreme circumstances to save this nation from itself and the hateful right-wing political machine that wanted to assasinate, subjugate and reverse every “progressive” policy this beloived president ever supported or proposed...

Man, I wish I could get paid for this BS!!!

Tell you what...There have been many times I have spent mere minutes letting my fingers do the walking on this keyboard, only to regret ever typing my thoughts down, only to hit the “back” button and not post what I was thinking at the time...I know most people wish I would do that more often...;-)

[NFHale]

“....what a country, indeed....”

It’s not the “Country”, Norm...just some of the scumbag people in it, masquerading as “americans”.