Sunday, March 20, 2011

Fast And Furious-And An Impeachable Offense

While the Middle East is getting to the point where it could erupt in flames at any given moment, and while all eyes are focused on the plight of the Japanese, other things are happening, believe it or not, and they are going on almost under the radar screen, as if by design.

Its recently come out that an operation of the ATF, dubbed "Fast And Furious" has been underway for some time, and is an attempt to flood Mexico with American guns, allow Mexican gangs and gunrunners to pass instant background checks for gun sales, and then just sit back and see where those guns end up going. The idea was supposedly to then bust the criminal cartels in possession of the guns.

It didn't quite work out that way. Instead, the guns ended up disappearing as soon as they crossed the border, and there is very credible evidence that they have been used in crime in Mexico, crimes that have resulted in many deaths, including the deaths of American citizens.

An ATF agent has even alleged that he was ordered to sit back and let the gun sales go through and to not interfere, an order that agitated him in that it was in conflict with his sworn duties as a federal agent.

What gives this story even greater credibility to many who might otherwise disregard it is that it was first reported by Sheryl Atkinson of CBS.

But this was a story that was bound to break wide open, as there were a number of agents who in fact objected strenously to this operation, according to the Center For Public Integrity.

It gets worse. Not only is this a strict violation of our diplomatic relations with the Mexican government, almost tantamount to an act of espionage, if not open war, but there are very credible allegations that this might be part of a broader effort by the Obama Administration to rein in the sales of firearms.At least, that's what several agents have been saying to some people in Congress, Both Chuck Grassley in the Senate, and Darrell Issa in the House, are vowing an investigation into the matter.

It is also worth noting that a measure in the UN also seeks to severely limit and curtail the rights of citizens to own firearms, supposedly on the pretext of fighting terrorism. And our State Department is alleged to be negotiating some kind of concordance with these aims.

It's incredible that a large segment, and at times even a majority, continue to vote for a party whose politicians reluctantly affirm their commitment to the Second Amendment while appointing judges that they know good and well will uphold the most stringent of gun control laws, if challenged in the courts. It should be no surpise to any on either side of the gun debate then that something like this would happen. But we keep putting up with it. After all, there always seems to be "more important things".

It's almost like every morning, half the country gets up, looks in their bathroom mirror, and says "May I live in interesting times".