June 6, 2011 10:26 AM
'Gunwalker' guns linked to helicopter shooting http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20069270-10391695.html CBS News has learned that the recent case of a Mexican military helicopter forced to land after it was fired upon is linked to the ATF Fast and Furious "gunwalker" operation. Drug cartel suspects on the ground shot at Mexican government helicopters two weeks ago in western Mexico, forcing one chopper to land. Authorities seized more than 70 assault rifles and other weapons from the suspects. Among the seized weapons are guns sold to suspects as part of the ATF sting operation, sources say. That information came from traces of serial numbers. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/23/eveningnews/main20035609.shtml> Gunrunning scandal uncovered at the ATF "Shooting at an aircraft is a terrorist act," says one U.S. law enforcement source. "What does that say if we're helping Mexican drug cartels engage in acts of terror? That's appalling if we could have stopped those guns." The Department of Justice provided no information or comment when asked about the incident by CBS News. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20063716-10391695.html> Major ATF shakeup after "gunwalker" In "Fast and Furious" and other southwest border anti-trafficking operations, sources say ATF allowed more than 2500 weapons to be sold to suspects. Instead of interdicting them, sources tell CBS News, ATF let the guns "walk" or hit the streets. The idea was to gain intelligence to possibly take down an entire cartel. But many of the allegedly walked weapons have shown up at crimes such as the Mexican helicopter incident, and the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry; most have never been recovered. In the case of the Mexican helicopter, sources say some of the weapons were purchased and moved by defendants who have already been arrested and indicted for their alleged roles in helping supply drug cartels. The link between the helicopter downing and the ATF alleged gunwalking is likely to test the already-strained US-Mexico relationship. In recent weeks, Congressional investigators and the Inspector General have been interviewing witnesses behind closed doors in preparation for multiple hearings which could begin as early as next week. The first hearing will likely feature the ATF whistleblower who first spoke to CBS News: Special Agent John Dodson. <http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/03/eveningnews/main20039031.shtml> ATF Agent: I was ordered to let guns go into Mexico Attorney General Eric Holder has asked the Inspector General to investigate the gunwalking allegations. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, discuss-os...@yahoogroups.com. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor biso...@intellnet.org http://www.intellnet.org Post message: osint@yahoogroups.com Subscribe: osint-subscr...@yahoogroups.com Unsubscribe: osint-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: osint-dig...@yahoogroups.com osint-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: osint-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
