Babeu: ATF agents accomplices to murder in gun program

by KTAR.com (September 29th, 2011 @ 7:02am)

Arizona Wildfire News

PHOENIX -- Federal agents who allowed weapons into the hands of Mexican drug cartels are accomplices to murder, according to Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu.

Babeu spoke with CNN's Anderson Cooper Wednesday night about the "Fast and Furious" weapons program conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The program filtered weapons purchased in the United States into Mexico, where they were to be tracked. However, Babeu said there was no tracking mechanism and that the weapons have been used in more than 200 murders.

Three of the guns, Babeu said, were found at the scene where Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed last December in a shootout north of Nogales.

"I'm fearful that not just my deputies, but other officers, citizens in America, we are going to be facing the barrels of guns that have been put in the hands of the most violent criminals in North America and who's going to be held accountable?" Babeu told Cooper.

When asked if he believed ATF agents have been accomplices to murder, Babeu replied, "Absolutely," and added, "Now, that's one step away from Eric Holder (U.S. attorney general). This is his Department of Justice and there are people who have lost their lives."

Babeu said the U.S. put guns into the hands of cartels working to topple Mexico's government.

The sheriff said "Operation Fast and Furious" made no sense at all. He said it was patterned after the concept of sometimes letting drugs, cash, people go and watching a crime in progress to see where it leads.

But, he said using the concept with weapons "is pure insanity."

"It's never been done before -- to give weapons like this. Their idea was to track the weapons. There was no tracking mechanism. Now, all these weapons are nowhere to be found and for years this will haunt the conscience of America rightly," Babeu said.

Watch Babeu's interview with Anderson Cooper 360.


Last 5 Comments

  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Reality
    Solitaire
    This administration now in office is trying to bring down America in anyway that it can. So you better wake up American's. Holder had someone else let him do it.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    I have no real proof!
    disbeliever
    But I Think the real reason for this federal scam was to create an excuse to limit the right to keep and bear arms in Arizona. And look! It Worked! In spite of the exposure the program has received about official federal sponsorship of this fracaso, they are now limiting the number of weapons a dealer can sell to a single person. And so far, none of the main stream press has acknowledged that President Obama is behind the whole thing.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Accept it already...
    BackAZwardz
    Your ATF/FBI at work – sneaking around the United States, constructing drones made of toy planes, building bombs, handing out weapons and live explosives to prospective “terrorists” & "drug cartels" then stopping them “just in time” for sensational headlines to get Americans wringing their hands in fear from "terronoia.” The U.S. Government is the biggest drug cartel there is and ever will be. The illegal war on drugs is all a scam and unfortunately most citizens are falling for it and falling victim to this farce.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Face it...
    BackAZwardz
    The biggest supporter of terror organizations foreign & domestic is the US Government.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    If they enforced the laws, and
    losinmyreligion
    stopped this illegal immigration invasion, then probably half the daily crime and violence would probably dry up.. WOW! I KNEW Abogaga would be on hear running off at the mouth..No matter what it just never stops. You are a liberal and a pain in the you know what..
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