Brilliant idea. Let's give the bad guys guns, then when they shoot us with them we can catch them. What genius came up with that? Originally Posted by CuteOldGuyDo you understand the concept of the big picture? Supply and demand?
Except Fast and Furious was a political scheme cooked up to attack the Second Ammendment ! Originally Posted by Whirlaway+1 The U.S. has no authority to make arrests in Mexico; so the current “official” explanation for “Operation Fast and Furious” makes no sense. The current “excuse” by Holder, et al, suggests the U.S. was formulating a “list” of cartel leaders who received heavy weapons (semi-auto assault rifles) by way of a U.S. anti-drug program. Evidently, if you accept Holder’s, et al, excuse, the U.S. would then give the Mexican government a copy of that “list” as the U.S. officials explained they know these cartel leaders are heavily armed because the U.S. facilitated the purchase of those weapons. After all, of what use is such a list to U.S. authorities? The U.S. has no jurisdiction or authority in Mexico to affect any arrests. Furthermore, Mexico probably has already identified most, if not all, of the cartel leaders it is at war with.
Here is a little history for you. What do you have to say about what Bush did.
What does Reagan have to do with this? Originally Posted by CuteOldGuy
Here is a little history for you. What do you have to say about what Bush did.Please explain what the Obama administration was trying to accomplish by selling weapons to Mexican drug cartels. Was the Obama administration seeking the overthrow of the socialist government in Mexico?
The most well-known and politically damaging of the scandals came to light in November 1986, when Ronald Reagan conceded that the United States had sold weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran. It was disclosed that the money from the arms deal with Iran had been covertly and illegally funneled into a fund to aid the right-wing Contras counter-revolutionary groups seeking to overthrow the socialist Sandinista government of Nicaragua. The Iran-contra scandal as it became known, did serious damage to the Reagan presidency. The investigations were effectively halted when President George H. W. Bush (Reagan's vice president) pardoned Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger before his trial began. Originally Posted by BigLouie
Please explain what the Obama administration was trying to accomplish by selling weapons to Mexican drug cartels. Was the Obama administration seeking the overthrow of the socialist government in Mexico? Originally Posted by I B HankeringYou are wrong on a number of points. You indicate that the administration was specifically selling weapons to the drug cartels which is not correct.
You are wrong on a number of points. You indicate that the administration was specifically selling weapons to the drug cartels which is not correct.So you do recognize that the U.S. government thwarted local, federal and international laws by overseeing and encouraging local, U.S. gun shops to illegally sell weapons to "mules" who worked for the cartels. ATF agents watched the mules make the purchases and assured the gun stores the weapons would be seized before they could be used in any criminal activity. However, the “mules” were not busted. Instead, the weapons were allowed to “walk” into Mexico where the ATF has no authority, and where the ATF cannot make arrests. Subsequently, the weapons were used in the murders of scores of Mexican nationals.
Operation Fast and Furious was a sting run by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) between 2009 and 2010 as part of Project Gunrunner in its investigations into illegal gun trafficking . The stated purpose of the operation was to permit otherwise-suspected straw purchasers to complete the weapon's purchase and transit to Mexico, in order to build a bigger case against Mexican criminal organizations suspected of being the ultimate buyer. Originally Posted by BigLouie
In the Iran-Contra situation the Reagan admin was selling weapons to raise money for illegal activities. There is a huge difference between the two. Originally Posted by BigLouieSo now you are saying these two incidents are not alike. Unlike the Iran-Contra situation, in the Fast and Furious situation the Obama administration was conducting illegal activities so that Mexican narco-terrorists can buy weapons to suborn the authority of a friendly government – Mexico – and so that these narco-terrorists can continue to raise money by selling illicit drugs in the U.S. It makes perfect sense. The Reagan administration as seeking to give aid to an ally, the Obama administration was seeking to give aid to the enemies of an ally.