POLITICS: Gunwalker: The ATF’s Kenneth Melson Blows the Whistle on the Justice Department

July 7, 2011
By CMAC

Gunwalker: The ATF’s Kenneth Melson Blows the Whistle on the Justice Department

by Hans A. von Spakovsky

A blockbuster development in the Operation Fast and Furious scandal.

Law Enforcement Finally Admits Hezb’Allah is Operating in Mexico

Atlas readers remember any number of posts and articles, particularly this piece back in August 2010 in the Washington Times: GELLER: Borderline Obama, National security is not the president’s interest.

With fresh evidence of Hezbollah activity just south of the border, and numerous reports of Muslims from various countries posing as Mexicans and crossing into the United States from Mexico, our porous southern border is a national security nightmare waiting to happen.

[...]It is well documented in the Department of Homeland Security‘s 2008 Yearbook of Immigration Studies, from the Office of Immigration Statistics: Federal law enforcement agencies detained 791,568 deportable aliens in fiscal year 2008, and 5,506 of them were from 14 “special-interest countries” – i.e., nations full of jihadists such as Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.Here is what we do know:

Whenever Arizona law enforcement officials contact Homeland Security about a suspected OTM (Other Than Mexican) they have detained, federal authorities swoop down, cart off the illegal entrant, and tell local officials nothing more about the case. OTMs have utilized sophisticated human smuggling networks to enter the United States from as many as 157 countries around the world – including Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, Morocco and Egypt.

All this is happening against the backdrop of President Obama‘s refusal to admit that the global jihad even exists. John Brennan, his counterterrorism adviser, even denies that jihad is a motive for jihadists.

Well, today, finally the Tucson police said: Yes, Hezbollah is operating in Mexico. Doug Ross has this:

LulzSec doc drop: Arizona Officials Say Hezbollah Operating in Mexico

A document drop by LulzSec has revealed an ominous bulletin from police officials in Tucson, Arizona. In short, law enforcement is advised to be on the lookout for Hezbollah terrorists operating in the traditional smuggling corridors on our (wide-open) southern border with Mexico.

Presence in the Tri-Border Region

Made up of Puerto Iguazu, Argentina; Foz do Iguazu, Brazil; and Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, the area in South America known as the Tri-Border area (TBA), has long been considered a safe haven for organized crime and Islamic terrorist networks, including Hezbollah. As of 2002, the population of the TBA reached 630,000 of which approximately 25,000 were Arab or of Arab descent. Illegal activity in the region includes counterfeiting, money laundering, and the easy acquisition of false documents. The recent arrest of Moussa Ali Hamdan [arrested in Ciudad del Este, Paraguay, for conspiring to provide material support to Hezbollah] confirms Hezbollah’s continued presence in the region.

Presence in Mexico

Based on a study done by Georgetown University, the number of immigrants from Lebanon and Syria living in Mexico exceeds 200,000. Along with Iran, Syria is one of Hezbollah’s strongest financial and political supporters, and Lebanon is its country of origin.

In July of this year, Mexican authorities arrested Jameel Nasr in Tijuana, Baja California. Nasr was alleged to be tasked with establishing the Hezbollah network in Mexico and throughout South America.

In April of last year, the arrest of Jamal Yousef – in New York City – exposed a weapons cache of 100 M-16 assault rifles, 100 AR-15 rifles, 2,500 hand grenades, C4 explosives and antitank munitions. According to Yousef, the weapons, which were being stored in Mexico, had been stolen from Iraq with the help of his cousin who was a member of Hezbollah.

With the arrest of Jameel Nasr and Jamal Yousef, obvious concerns have arisen concerning Hezbollah’s presence in Mexico and possible ties to Mexican drug trafficking organizations (DTO’s) operating along the U.S. – Mexico border. The potential partnership bares alarming implications due to Hezbollah’s long established capabilities, specifically their expertise in the making of vehicle borne improvised explosive devises (VBIED’s).

Recent incidents involving the use of VBIED’s in Mexico mark a significant change in tactics employed by DTO’s and conjures images expected to be seen in the Middle East. While no connection has been made, Hezbollah’s extensive use of VBIED’s raises strong suspicion concerning a possible relation to Mexico’s DTO’s.

Why Is the U.S. in Libya? Good Question

by Barry Rubin

Obama has no end game, no strategy, and absolutely no idea of what to do.

Read bullet | 8 Comments bullet

Iran Approaching Fission? I’m Talking Politics, not Nukes…

by Michael Ledeen

Is the Islamic theocracy on the verge of a meltdown?

Time to X Out the Ex-Im Bank

The Export-Import Bank of the United States claims to correct market failure, but it introduces distortions into the economy and inserts politics into what should be purely commercial decisions. By diverting resources from the private sector, the bank’s activities produce a less-efficient economy and lower general standard of living than would occur in a free market for export finance. In a new paper, Cato scholar Sallie James says that Congress should move to terminate the bank as soon as possible: “Such corporate welfare programs have no rightful place on the U.S. trade policy agenda.”

Email Confirms ‘Gunwalker’ Known Throughout Justice Department

by Bob Owens

Attorney General Holder’s credibility takes another hit.

How to Get Real Spending Cuts
Michael D. Tanner on debt ceiling negotiations in National Review (Online).

Debt Limit Negotiations Continue

It is getting close to “crunch time” in the debate over raising the debt ceiling. Much of the debate continues to focus on whether Republicans will accept tax hikes as part of the package, and how big the debt-reduction package will be. But Cato scholar Michael D. Tanner has argued, “In the end, this is not really a debate about budgeting or the size of the national debt. It is a debate about whether we will have a limited constitutional government or a European-style social democracy.”

Campaign Finance Law Can’t Take a Joke

by Sean Parnell

Stephen Colbert unwittingly reveals a regulatory stranglehold on speech.

The Future of Obama’s Stealth Gun Control

by Mike McDaniel

It’s not “under the radar” anymore.

Defense spending faces $700 billion cut

John T. Bennett

07/07/11 05:35 AM ET

National security spending could be cut by as much as $700 billion in a deal to raise the debt limit.…

Related: Panetta: Defense cuts won’t leave ‘hollow force’

Related: Think tank: Shrink ground forces for savings

The Assault Weapons Ban: How Silly Was It? (Part One)

by Bob Owens

With the Obama admin and a Washington Post editorial calling for its reinstatement — amidst a tie-in to the Gunwalker scandal — it’s worth revisiting the boneheaded law.

  • House Committee Looks for Ways to Cut Down on Foreclosures 

    Associated Press

    Today, two House Subcommittees hold a hearing on mortgage servicing and foreclosure mitigation practices. Members will review the role of Federal regulators in the ongoing mortgage servicing settlement negotiations and consider the development of new mortgage servicing standards.

    The hearing is being held in response to complaints and various lawsuits filed by homeowners who have encountered problems with their mortgage servicers despite making on-time payments.  Homeowners have faced foreclosure threats and other types of misconduct due to irregularities by mortgage servicers in recent years. More »

NEA has Obama’s back

 

The NEA overwhelmingly voted at its recent Chicago convention to support President Obama for re-election — an indication that the union’s “good fortune” is linked to the president’s success, according to one researcher.

 

Senators to try again on trade deals

Vicki Needham

07/06/11 03:54 PM ET

Sen. Max Baucus has scheduled another markup of the agreements after Senate Republicans boycotted a session last week in protest.…

  • GOP discussing blocking Obama from making future NLRB recess appointments

    Thu Jul 7 19:57:18 2011 · by freespirited 

    Examiner ^ | 07/07/11 | Philip Klein
    House Republicans have been in talks with their counterparts in the Senate about blocking President Obama from filling two upcoming vacancies to the National Labor Relations Board through recess appointments, which would leave the body deadlocked with just two members, Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., said on Thursday. “The major flaw here is that the board is grotesquely imbalanced,” Kline, chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, told reporters after a hearing about the NLRB’s new proposed rules to speed up union elections. Right now, Democrats on the board outnumber Republicans by 3-to-1, but the terms of two Democrats will expire…

  • Democratic Congressional Candidate Janice Hahn Connected to LA Gang Criminals

    Thu Jul 7 19:55:49 2011 · by george76 · 6 replies 

    Fox 11 ^ | July 7, 2011
    Janice Hahn, congressional candidate in the special election to replace Democrat Jane Harmon in California’s 36th District, is under fire for new charges that she used her position as a city councilwoman to funnel money to gang members and criminals in an effort to “keep the peace” between warring gangs in her Los Angeles district. This devastating report by the local Fox affiliate in Los Angeles comes just a few days before the special election.

‘Gay’ glorification bill on governor’s desk

 

A California pro-family leader is calling on Governor Jerry Brown to veto a bill that would force public schools to promote the homosexual agenda and impact schools throughout the country.

9th Circuit: Halt ‘gay’ military ban immediately

 

A federal appeals court has ordered the U.S. government to immediately stop enforcing the ban on openly homosexual troops in the military.

Demise of DOMA threatens defense budget

 

The Center for Military Readiness is throwing its support behind a House bill that will ensure defense tax dollars aren’t used to implement policy changes that violate the Defense of Marriage Act.

Charter school hosting Muslim prayer time

 

According to one activist, a Canadian middle school’s decision to allow Muslim prayers during school hours is an Islamic “encroachment” on Western civilization.

‘Signs of Hope’ bill signed into law

 

It’s the first of its kind in the U.S. — a bill requiring abortion clinics to post signs telling women they can’t be forced to have an abortion.

The underage and the unborn

 

Congress has been introduced to a bill that attempts to close loopholes in state parental notification laws that concern underage patients who want to abort their unborn children.

Christians’ endurance in politics

 

As the 2012 presidential election gears up, the ongoing debate over whether Christians should be involved in politics continues to surface. One state senator says the efforts of Christians have changed the political landscape of his state.

 

Senators: Put tax reform timeline in debt deal, end stalemate

Bernie Becker

07/06/11 10:27 PM ET

A bipartisan pair of senators pushing for a broad tax overhaul is calling for a timeline for reform.…
Top antitrust official Varney will leave DOJ

Gautham Nagesh

07/06/11 07:30 PM ET

Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division Christine Varney announced her resignation on Wednesday, effective August 5.…

Board bored with Schuller?

 

The California mega-church Crystal Cathedral, which is on the verge of bankruptcy, denies that it has ousted Rev. Robert Schuller from its board of directors.

School-choice opponents ‘barking up wrong tree’

 

The Institute for Justice is defending Indiana’s new school-choice program, as the law firm believes it could become the nation’s largest school-choice scholarship program.

Lawsuit stops ACLU’s ‘terrorizing’ schools

 

After months of litigation, the ACLU and the Santa Rosa County School District in Florida have rescinded the Consent Decree that had denied school employees and students most of their religious freedoms.

Sexually explicit book sparks warning

 

A recent incident in Michigan is serving as a reminder for parents to be vigilant when it comes to monitoring what their kids read.

U.S. not far behind U.K. abortion stats

 

According to the leader of a public policy women’s organization, abortion figures in Great Britain reflect the recurrence of a “vicious circle” that likely results from “comprehensive sex education.”

Marriage battle ongoing in Rhode Island

 

Civil union legislation for homosexuals and lesbians has passed in Rhode Island, but according to one pro-family activist, that’s not the final salvo from either side of the issue.

Christian compassion emerges from ND floods

 

As flood waters begin to recede in North Dakota, churches are helping those who are knee deep in water.

Getty Images

Obama expected to press for bigger deal on debt with leaders
Ian Swanson - 07/06/11 11:39 PM ET
The move comes after a secret meeting with Speaker Boehner and signs of flexibility on taxes from Republicans.…

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Related: White House mum on meeting with Boehner 

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DeMint would accept ‘serious disruptions’ to economy in debt debate

Alicia M. Cohn - 07/07/11 08:32 AM ET

Sen. DeMint called on Republicans to stand firm in the debate over raising the debt ceiling limit.…
Cantor: GOP willing to talk about closing tax loopholes in debt negotiations

Molly K. Hooper - 07/06/11 08:34 PM ET

“If the president wants to talk loopholes, we’ll talk loopholes,” Rep. Eric Cantor, the GOP leader, said.…

Related: Dems: McConnell ‘out on a limb’ on loopholes

Related: Cantor won’t sign Tea Party budget pledge
Issa: We could have done better

Jordy Yager - 07/07/11 05:35 AM ET

Rep. Issa has been forced to reassess and admit that his committee “didn’t do as well as we could have.”…
OPINION: Obama plays kick the can

A.B. Stoddard - 07/06/11 05:40 PM ET

With enough time squandered, and the pressure mounting, the stage is set for another theatrical “showdown”…
Senate Dems rally around Conrad’s left-leaning budget proposal, tax raises

Alexander Bolton - 07/06/11 08:05 PM ET

Senate Democrats embraced a budget proposal that is significantly to the left of President Obama’s plan. …

Related: Durbin: Conrad budget doesn’t ‘savage’ Medicaid
Letter from business groups: Raise debt limit before stock market ‘disarray’

Kevin Bogardus - 07/06/11 08:17 PM ET

Major business groups are urging lawmakers to reach a deal as soon as possible.…
Dem leader Hoyer says he’ll help GOP on debt-ceiling vote, but at a price

Mike Lillis - 07/06/11 12:56 PM ET

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said he will secure Democratic votes for a debt-ceiling increase if Republicans make concessions.…

Related: Kyl: GOP already agreed to up to $200B in revenue raisers

  • Obama to Push for Wider Deal With G.O.P. on Deficit Cuts (has Boehner made a deal with Obama?)

    Thu Jul 7 19:26:08 2011 · by rabscuttle385 · 14 replies 

    The New York Times ^ | 2011-07-07 | Carl Hulse & Mark Landler
    WASHINGTON — Heading into a crucial negotiating session on a budget deal on Thursday, President Obama has raised his sights and wants to strike a far-reaching agreement on cutting the federal deficit as Speaker John A. Boehner has signaled new willingness to bargain on revenues. (snip) The president’s renewed efforts follow what knowledgeable officials said was an overture from Mr. Boehner, who met secretly with Mr. Obama last weekend, to consider as much as $1 trillion in unspecified new revenues as part of an overhaul of tax laws in exchange for an agreement that made substantial spending cuts, including in…

  • Interview Provides Insight Into Zeta Cartel(Fast & Furious)

    Thu Jul 7 19:25:47 2011 · by SwinneySwitch · 1 replies 

    KRGV ^ | 07/06/2011 | Farrah Fazal
    For the first time, we are hearing from Jesus Rejon, the third most important man in the Zeta Cartel. He’s talking about how the cartel does business. CHANNEL 5 NEWS got on our hands on an audio interview that was released by the Mexican government. On the tape there are two voices. One is the investigator. The other is Rejon, or “El Mamito.” The investigator spends a lot of time asking Rejon about where the Zetas get their guns. Rejon says the weapons are brought to them from the United States. He tells the investigator that they use to cross…

  • Obama Asks Rick Perry to Commute Mexican National’s Death Sentence

    Thu Jul 7 19:20:40 2011 · by Winged Hussar · 41 replies 

    Christian Post Reporter ^ | 7/6/11 | Stephanie Samuel
    President Barack Obama and world agencies are pressuring Texas Governor Rick Perry, a conservative and death penalty supporter, to commute the scheduled Thursday execution of Mexican national Humberto Leal Garcia Jr. in the interest of international relations. …Obama officials are urging Perry to change Garcia’s sentence to life imprisonment rather than execution. The United Nations and Amnesty International have also requested that the sentence be commuted to life. During Garcia’s trial, he was represented by a court-appointed attorney. Through consular assistance, Garcia could have been represented by an attorney provided by the Mexican consulate in the U.S.

  • Three Louisiana Abortion Centers Fail to Report Child Rape

    Thu Jul 7 18:49:30 2011 · by julieee · 4 replies 

    LifeNews.com ^ | July 7, 2011 | Steven Ertelt
    Three Louisiana Abortion Centers Fail to Report Child Rape Three abortion centers in Louisiana, according to state documents, have failed to properly report instance of statutory rape to state officials, as required by state law. http://www.lifenews.com/2011/07/07/three-louisiana-abortion-centers-fail-to-report-child-rape/

  • US House votes to bar military aid to Libyan rebels

    Thu Jul 7 18:43:31 2011 · by george76 · 6 replies 

    AFP ^ | July 07, 2011 | Olivier Knox
    The US House of Representatives voted Thursday to forbid the Pentagon from providing military equipment, training, advice or support to Libya’s rebels. By a 225-201 margin, lawmakers debating an annual Pentagon spending bill adopted an amendment restricting Washington’s ability to help fighters looking to overthrow longtime Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi. The House was expected to vote Friday on approving the underlying bill, but the provision on Libya’s rebels could face stiff opposition in Senate, which must approve the legislation to send it to Obama to sign into law. Republican Representative Tom Cole of Oklahoma introduced the measure at a time…

  • Former Customs and Border Protection Inspector Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Term

    Thu Jul 7 18:35:07 2011 · by Larry381 · 2 replies 

    Dept Of Justice ^ | July 06, 2011 | U.S. Attorney’s Office
    BROWNSVILLE, TX—Former Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspector Luis Enrique Ramirez, 39, has been sentenced to a total of 204 months in federal prison, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. Ramirez, of Brownsville, Texas, was convicted in March 2011, following his guilty plea to conspiring to transport certain aliens within the United States, bringing in a certain aliens into the United States for private financial gain, accepting bribes in his capacity as a government official, and possessing with intent to distribute a quantity exceeding five kilograms of cocaine. Ramirez, 38, of Brownsville, pleaded guilty on March 3, 2011….

  • Rubio: Let’s stop talking about new taxes and start talking about new taxpayers

    Thu Jul 7 18:04:17 2011 · by Lou Budvis · 21 replies 

    Hot Air ^ | 7/7/11 | Tina Korbe
    On his radio program today, Rush Limbaugh flagged this stunning, impassioned and oh-so-encouraging speech by Florida GOP freshman Sen. Marco Rubio, which he recently made on the Senate floor: Let’s stop talking about new taxes and start talking about new taxpayers, which means jobs. This debt is the No. 1 issue on everyone’s minds and rightfully so. It is a major issue, but everywhere else, in the real world, the No. 1 issue on people’s minds is jobs. And I tell you, every other problem facing America — a mortgage crisis, a home foreclosure crisis, this debt problem — all…

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