In the news today, the chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona, Patrick J. Cunningham, refused to testify before Congress concerning the government program called “Fast and Furious.” He will use his Fifth Amendment protection.
I don’t personally know what role Cunningham played or didn’t play in this government gun-running and drug operation, but what I do know is that much bigger players were involved, probably right up to the White House. Certainly, Eric Holder was in this up to his neck, but he still to this day denies any knowledge of the operation, even though it has been shown that he was briefed about it as early as July 2010.
Exposing one or another politician is not the most important issue here, as this scheme involved many in government, and involved many government agencies. This was not a rogue operation by a few, but a planned operation that had many adverse consequences, and was rotten to the core. BATF special agent John Dodson told the House Oversight Committee:
“This is not a matter of some weapons that had gotten away from us or allowing a few to walk so that we could follow them to a much larger significant target. Allowing loads of weapons that we knew to be destined for criminals was the plan. This was the mandate.
“ATF is supposed to be the guardians – the sheep dogs that protect against the wolves that prey upon us – especially along our southern border. But rather than meet the wolf head on, we sharpened his teeth, added number to his claws, all the while we sat idly by watching, tracking, and noting as he became a more efficient and effective predator.”
As far as I’m concerned, the news today about Cunningham simply shines the light on what I consider to be a patsy for the federal government and the BATF. This operation is much more important than the individual participants, because many at every level of government were involved in drugs and gun running.
If it had not been for the death of border patrol agent Brian A. Terry, would this nefarious operation have even been exposed? I think not! These corrupt adventures by government run much deeper than most realize, and I for one would like to know everyone who was involved at every level, and who had knowledge of this operation.
Who were the real targets of this new army created by U.S. government agencies? What agencies were involved? What was the real objective, and what bedlam was expected to take place due to this rotten operation?
These questions should be answered. If they were, the very corrupt nature of government would be exposed for all to see, and the high level of involvement would rattle the minds of even the most gullible and apathetic among us.