The name of the failed ATF gun-walking program could also apply to the Teapublican attacks on the US Attorney General and, by association, President Obama.
In case you dont already know, Fast and Furious was a program intended to reach the leaders of the Mexican drug cartels who are using straw buyers to obtain assault weapons from Arizona. This was a program unique to the Phoenix division of the ATF that followed a similar program called Wide Receiver that began in 2006.
Neither program succeeded in achieving its goals. And they likely would have gone unnoticed had not two of the guns been involved in the death of US Border Patrol agent, Brian Terry.
Of course, Teapublicans have never passed up an opportunity to attack President Obama. So Congressman Darrell Issa called for hearings into the matter. That could have been constructive had his committee decided to examine the origins of the program, the reasons for the program and the participation of all involved. Instead, Issa used the opportunity to attack and embarrass Attorney General Eric Holder.
It seems that Holder originally testified that he was unaware of the program, and thats quite likely. In his 8 ensuing appearances before the committee, he apologized and cooperated to the tune of more than 7,600 documents provided. According to Issa that was not enough. Issa demanded transcripts of wiretaps and other documents that Holder could not legally provide in the interest of full disclosure. Thats rich, considering that the committee refused to call for testimony from the previous Attorney General or any of the individuals who orginated the program under the Bush administration.
Some full disclosure.
When Holder agreed to provide more documents under the condition that Issa would agree that the subpeona for documents had been satisfied, Issa refused. Recognizing that Issa was more interested in embarrassing Holder than seeking the truth, President Obama exerted Executive Privilege over the remaning documents. Of course, Issa and the Teapublican media were outraged. The committee responded by voting to find Holder in contempt.
Far more contemptable are Arizonas idiotic gun laws. These laws make it all too easy for straw buyers to provide weapons to the cartels. Even with intense searches of vehicles leaving Arizona for Mexico, guns are crossing the border with great frequency; not all that surprising considering that anyone can walk into one of hundreds of gun shows and buy weapons without having to pass a background check.
The truth is, the Obama administration has been more transparent and done more to secure the border than any administration in recent history. Unfortunately, at the same time, Issa and his colleagues have done more to obstruct the administration than any Congress in history!