[bkt]

Republicans balking on Fast and Furious help suppress new information
David Codrea
Gun Rights Examiner

Two significant insider accounts that would expand public knowledge about the government’s role in the Fast and Furious “gunwalking” criminal enterprise are being withheld from public dissemination because the sources fear reprisals, an “Armed American Radio” panel discussed on last night’s nationally syndicated program. This correspondent joined host Mark Walters, Producer Sean Young, guests Joe Weaver of WGUL 860 AM and blogger George “Mad Ogre” Hill, to examine the effects the slow pace of the investigation and a perceived lack of will to pursue serious legal consequences by the GOP leadership have had on discouraging a whistleblower and an industry source from allowing their stories to be made public.

The first account deals with an ATF whistleblower. Gun Rights Examiner engaged in extensive telephone conversations with a known source, followed by numerous emails, to clarify information provided, only to be asked not to publicly release the report after it had been drafted. The reason for this was the source had no confidence that anyone would provide protection, particularly in light of personal experience as well as other documented cases of retaliation by the government.

The second story was sourced by an industry insider in a geographical region that is not the Southwest, but who nonetheless provided details of gunwalking and straw purchasing to include the name of an agent from Phoenix familiar to those who have followed reporting on Fast and Furious. Again, after a long and detailed telephone interview, supplemented by a series of clarifying follow-up questions, the source elected not to proceed with publication because of a sudden ATF visit that could devastate the business or worse. Further or more specific details cannot be provided in order to protect this source’s identity, but it can be said that (he/she) runs an enterprise many gun owners would recognize and this person is also implicitly trusted by the head of a prominent state-level gun rights group who brought (him/her) together with Gun Rights Examiner.

“Through the lack of aggressive leadership by the Republicans, two things are happening,” this correspondent observed. “People who want to come forward with information, information that I have and can now not share, are backing off because they’re scared that they’re going to be left out to hang.”

“That’s frightening,” Walters remarked. “Frightening. Free society? Free? These people are petrified of their own government and won’t open their mouths.”

Indeed. And these are but two instances with which Gun Rights Examiner has had direct recent experience. That similar reluctance to get involved is probably more widespread seems a reasonable assumption, and it’s fair to ask what more the public isn’t learning -- and may never know -- because those who do see no personal “up” side in coming forward and plenty of sobering reasons not to.

[Mason609]

"plenty of sobering reasons not to"

Well, that makes all the difference, doesn't it? Personally, I don't believe they are looking for a personal "up" side, other than to not have their lives destroyed by the same people that allowed F&F to happen.

I also believe that if given protection from those people, they would come forward. But, who can protect anyone from this administration without destroying the lives of the whistleblowers to give them the protection needed?

Now, I could be wrong.

[dog2000tj]

Cowards - sometimes in life you just have to do the right thing ... no mater what!

[bkt]

By all means, Fast & Furious should be investigated.

But what should also be investigated are the thug threats against businesses and individuals by the ATF and DOJ who have information they're scared to share.

Yes, doing the right thing is important. At the end of the day, though, if I have a business which my family and I depend on and I know it will be shut down if I "do the right thing" I'm probably going to be a lot less inclined to open my mouth.

[alsaqr]

Yes, doing the right thing is important. At the end of the day, though, if I have a business which my family and I depend on and I know it will be shut down if I "do the right thing" I'm probably going to be a lot less inclined to open my mouth.

+1
Bingo!!!!

The entire F&F "congressional investigation" has lacked direction and fortitude. Its more like a love hate affair between the Republicans in congress and the BATFE. Few, if any, in congress have said one damn word about reining in the out of control BATFE.

Congressman Darryl Issa has guts; too damn bad Boehner and the house leadership are a bunch of wavering, gutless milquetoasts.

[triggerjob]

Fast & Furious began under the Bush administration, which is why the Republicans are giving it the short shrift.

The only way anything will get done is if local law enforcement does it.

You guys need to realize that niether Political party gives a damn about the Constitution, and there is virtualy no difference in any of their policies only in there timing. This is why the Teaparty revolt is so critical, its an attempt to "republicanise" the republican party.

[bkt]

Originally Posted by triggerjob

Fast & Furious began under the Bush administration, which is why the Republicans are giving it the short shrift.

The only way anything will get done is if local law enforcement does it.

You guys need to realize that niether Political party gives a damn about the Constitution, and there is virtualy no difference in any of their policies only in there timing. This is why the Teaparty revolt is so critical, its an attempt to "republicanise" the republican party.

That's not entirely correct. Operation Wide Receiver was run from 2006-2007 under Bush but the Bush admin worked with Mexican officials and actually tracked firearms.

Operation Fast and Furious began in 2009 and differed significantly from OWR in that Mexican authorities were not made aware of it and there was no way to track weapons once they crossed the border.

But you are right that neither political party gives a damn about the constitution.

[triggerjob]

I've often wondered if Ramos and Campione stumbled across F&F and that's why they were railroaded. We'll never know because the terms of their commutations require them to keep there mouth shut.

As far as more "details" on F&F,you might try infowars.com

[opaww]

Originally Posted by triggerjob

As far as more "details" on F&F,you might try infowars.com

Why not go the people who first exposed the F&F and have been keeping and reporting tabs on it sense they broke the story.

http://waronguns.blogspot.com/

http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/

[AcidFlashGordon]

In Katie Pavlich's book, Fast and Furious, she shows just how little protection the whistleblowers got concerning this case. And she shows how those responsible for this atrocity weren't punished but rewarded by promotions. Several ATF agents have basically had their careers ruined by their (promoted) superiors and nothing has been done to correct that situation. It's time for everyone to contact their elected officials and let them know that these people responsible for this failed project, which has resulted in the deaths of two U.S. agents, have to be brought to justice.

I would have thought that Ms. Pavlich's book would have galvanized investigations and brought more public outcry against this ineptly run program but it seems that is not the case. Unless and until MORE public outcry occurs, this whole mess could end up being flushed down the toilet. There are too many high-ranking officials, up to and including Holder and Napolitano, that were involved but are lying about that involvement.