You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Home Front: Politix
Obama: We will hold responsible those who 'screwed up' Fast and Furious
2011-10-19
President Obama pledged to hold those who "screwed up" in the Fast and Furious scandal responsible, and said that he first became aware of the "upsetting" program through media reports.

In an interview on Nightline, Obama said, "This investigation will be complete, people who have screwed up will be held accountable, but our overarching goal consistently has been to say we've got a responsibility not only to stop drugs from flowing north, we've also got a responsibility to make sure we are not helping to either arm or finance these drug cartels in Mexico."

House Oversight Chairman Darrel Issa has suggested that Eric Holder has been intentionally withholding information from Congress and that he may have been aware of details of the operation earlier than he said during testimony to Congress.

On CBS, Issa said, "His chief of staff had intimate details; we have notes in his handwriting that shows that the number two and Eric Holder's right hand had intimate details for long time. One of the questions is, why wouldn't you tell your boss about a program that had gotten so out-of-control that it had all kinds of people scurrying to try to stop it?"

Obama defended Holder however, saying he stood by his Attorney General and said he thought Holder was handling the investigation appropriately. Obama said, "This is not something we were aware of in the White House and the Attorney General it turns out wasn't aware of either. Obviously Eric Holder has launched a full investigation of this, it is not acceptable for us to allow guns to go into Mexico."

The president also defended DoJ programs meant to prevent the trafficking of drugs and weapons across the border. He said, "Our whole goal has been to interdict aggressively in the flow of weapons and cash flowing south into Mexico because the Mexican president, President Calderon, has done a heroic job of trying to take on these transnational drug cartels."

Still, the president decried the methods of the Fast and Furious program and pledged not to let similar operations happen again. Obama said, "It's very upsetting to me to think that somebody showed such bad judgment that they would allow something like that to happen and we will find out who and what happened in this situation and make sure it gets corrected."
Posted by:ryuge

#18  So all those emails and correspondances between the WH and AZ field office were about the Fast and Furious BBQ right?
Posted by: CrazyFool   2011-10-19 18:22  

#17  If I was Eric Holder I'd be a little bit concerned about that bus.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2011-10-19 17:47  

#16  Hey, does that sound like a bus coming down the road?
Posted by: AlmostAnonymous5839   2011-10-19 17:38  

#15  If that is true then the Administration is more inept that first thought.

Not at all. The plan was to attack the Second Amendment by creating a self-fulfilling prophesy that would support new "common sense" gun control laws (meaning banning 80% or so of currently available models). Getting Mexican and American citizens killed was a bonus (good for their narrative), as was helping the Zetas become the dominant force in the Mexican Underworld, and thus easier to deal with under the table.

So, so clever... in the way that juvenile men like Obama and Holder think of clever. Only they got caught, so now it's a "screw up."
Posted by: Secret Master   2011-10-19 17:00  

#14  ... and by "screwed up", we mean "let the cat out of the bag".
Posted by: SteveS   2011-10-19 16:50  

#13  first became aware of the "upsetting" program through media reports.

If that is true then the Administration is more inept that first thought.

Posted by: jack salami   2011-10-19 16:05  

#12  I believe after the Mexican extradition requests are honored we'll see those responsible really being held accountable [less those who plead to lesser offenses in return for useful testimony in the States and protection against double jeopardy prosecution in Mexico City].
Posted by: Procopius2k   2011-10-19 15:57  

#11  There was an interesting posting on youtube from March 2009. > You Tube--Deputy Attorney General David Ogden March 2009 Announces Gunrunner

Ogden has since left DOJ over some dust up with Holder.
Posted by: JohnQC   2011-10-19 15:16  

#10  "he is going to find a fall guy to throw under the bus. Since Agent Terry was murdered as the result of this botched operation this might not be so easy"

Naahhh, it's simple, John.

"Who can we blame for this mess?

That Terry guy is dead. let's blame him!"

See? Simple.
Posted by: Barbara   2011-10-19 14:44  

#9  Since Obama is not going to resign and fire Holder, this means he is going to find a fall guy to throw under the bus. Since Agent Terry was murdered as the result of this botched operation this might not be so easy.
Posted by: JohnQC   2011-10-19 14:33  

#8  When do we get to the phase "Rewards and praise for the uninvolved?"

September 6, 2012
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2011-10-19 14:20  

#7  Mojo,
When do we get to the phase "Rewards and praise for the uninvolved?"

Al
Posted by: Frozen Al   2011-10-19 14:10  

#6  gorb: That info is at obamaclock dot org
Posted by: Canuckistan sniper   2011-10-19 14:03  

#5  those who 'screwed up' Fast and Furious

So I guess he approves of the operational concept, but disapproves of it getting out of the closet.

How long before Obean is gone again?
Posted by: gorb   2011-10-19 14:01  

#4  Obama defended Holder however, saying he stood by his Attorney General and said he thought Holder was handling the investigation appropriately.

That's right. He's erecting that stone wall as fast as he can.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2011-10-19 13:21  

#3  Fifth Phase of the Project – Punishment of the Innocent

The guilty have been identified. Management has taken the appropriate action to address employees or vendors that contributed to the demise of this project.

The deadline is approaching and management is feverishly meeting with the remaining project team to see what can be done by the deadline date.

As long as management continues to take action regarding any issues that impede the project deadline, the better it is for management. No one can mention the mistake that lead to this demise out of fear of being identified as one of the guilty.

In addition, management begins to solicit advice and information from people outside of the project team. The objective is to tap every resource available as the deadline approaches. The project is far from perfect but something is always better than nothing.
Posted by: mojo   2011-10-19 13:18  

#2  Obama defended Holder however, saying he stood by his Attorney General and said he thought Holder was handling the investigation appropriately.
Yes, he's not giving the Congress the information it asks for. He's handeling it quite well for a cover-up artist.
Posted by: Deacon Blues   2011-10-19 12:29  

#1  I guess "Beware what you ask for" is not Harvardian folk saying.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2011-10-19 12:11  

00:00