Mexico Seeks Info on ATF Program Allowing Guns Into Mexico

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 04:51:51 PM EST
Tags: ATF, cartels, Mexico (all tags)

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The Mexican Government is requesting information about Project Gunrunner, also called "Fast and Furious", which began in Phoenix. Agents were directed to allow guns to be brought into Mexico. (You can read the English translation of its press release here.) The theory was that they could then determine where they ended up and bust the cartels. Many agents objected.

But the Mexican Government was never told about this. How many of these guns ended up killing people? ATF Agent and whistleblower John Dodson says what he was asked to do is "beyond belief."

ATF has ordered a complete review of the program. You can read one indictment that details how many guns got through to alleged cartel members here.

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Mexico Seeks Info on ATF Program Allowing Guns Into Mexico | 10 comments (10 topical)

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uh-oh (5.00 / 0) (#2)
by sj on Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 08:03:45 PM EST

Another whistleblower. To my own incredulity, I find myself fearing for him.

First Thing (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by cal1942 on Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 08:45:29 PM EST

is what fevered mind concocted such a scheme. Next thing is who approved. Next thing is what kind of institutional cultural environment harbored or promoted this unconscionable lunacy.

We will be lucky if (none / 0) (#10)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 09:08:34 AM EST

We will be lucky if this is only stupidity or incompetence. The drug trade generates vast amounts of untraceable cash. This smells of someone being bought off.

: It's not as though (none / 0) (#13)
by cal1942 on Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 11:38:04 PM EST

stupid acts are unique to this agency.
The history of the early CIA is heavily laced with ludicrous stupidity.

that strange noise you hear (5.00 / 2) (#5)
by cpinva on Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 01:51:57 AM EST

is the sound of leather slapping on floor, as the rush to back-pedal begins its full flight.

cal1942 asks (and quite reasonably, i think):

what fevered mind concocted such a scheme

and the answer is.............none. it will turn out, after months of in-house investigation by the ATF, that no human being thought of this, it simply evolved in a petri dish, in an ATF lab. therefore, no one will be found to be at fault.

What ? (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by ScottW714 on Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 09:48:44 AM EST

So our federal government is allowing crimes to occur in hopes of catching criminals at some distant point in time while simultaneously arming the very people they want to catch. Great F idea.

Instead of raids on civilians, maybe someone should be raiding ATF offices, chances are they are responsible for more deaths than soul they have taken in recently.

As mentioned above, no one will have to take responsibility, again. Accountability is so un-Americana circa twenty first century.

Twofer (none / 0) (#1)
by Yes2Truth on Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 05:24:04 PM EST

Corporate welfare for gun industry
Gov. creates crimes to bust & get budget boost

in the process

Gops remain political wing of nra (none / 0) (#4)
by getoffamycloud10 on Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 08:52:30 PM EST

Gops remain wholly-owned subsidiary and political wing of the nra.

I think you're missing the context. (none / 0) (#8)
by redwolf on Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 06:44:45 AM EST

All of this went down during the time the ATF/Government is blaming our gun laws for allowing the guns into Mexico. Remember the whole:"U.S. gun stores and gun shows are the source of more than 90 percent of the weapons being used by Mexico's ruthless drug cartels" line that ran through the media a couple of years back?

In several of the cases the gun shops called the ATF and told them they have a straw buyer. The ATF told them to go ahead with the sale anyways. But then again this is a perfect win win for the ATF. More people die from US weapons in mexico and thus they are given more power and money to control weapon sales. With all things always follow the money/power trail.

: It turns out the 90% number is BS (none / 0) (#11)
by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 09:20:36 AM EST

.
Apparently the Mexicans captured about 80,000 guns. Of those, they sent about 4,000 to the ATF for tracing. Of the 4,000 about 90% were so traced.
There was no reason to send the whole 80,000 as many of those the Mexicans traced from other sources such guns stolen from the Mexican army and police, Chinese and east European heavy weapons, Chinese hand grenades etc.
The 90% is more like 5%, but that number would hardly support more ATF funding.
.