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Operation Fast and Furious (view source)

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'''Operation Fast and Furious''' was an [[Obama administration]] program, approved at the highest levels of the [[White House]],<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121706598.html White House delayed rule meant to stop gun flow to Mexico], Sari Horwitz and James V. Grimaldi, ''[[Washington Post]]'', December 17, 2010</ref> authorizing the illegal sale in the [[United States]] of high powered assault rifles and other firearms, to purchasers and intermediaries of Mexican [[drug cartels]].

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A joint strike force of the [[United States Treasury Department]] [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms]], and the [[U.S. Justice Department]] was organized and funded to sell the [[guns used by Mexican drug gangs]] in the hopes criminal violence would spawn public support for the Obama ~~administrations~~ [[gun control]] policies.<ref>[http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2012-07-11.html#read_more]</ref> Thousands were killed - and continue to be killed - mostly in Mexico, by these weapons.

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A joint strike force of the [[United States Treasury Department]] [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms]], and the [[U.S. Justice Department]] was organized and funded to sell the [[guns used by Mexican drug gangs]] in the hopes criminal violence would spawn public support for the Obama administration's [[gun control]] policies.<ref>[http://www.anncoulter.com/columns/2012-07-11.html#read_more]</ref> Thousands were killed – and continue to be killed – mostly in Mexico, by these weapons.

Operation Fast and Furious developed into an enormous scandal and failure for the [[Obama administration]]. At least two U.S. border guards were killed by weapons allowed to "walk" in Operation Fast and Furious and thousands of deaths in Mexico's drug war.

==Scale of the operation and violence==

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The ATF named their operation Fast and Furious. Congressional Democrats claimed it was an [[Obama administration]] recreation of a defunct Bush-era program known as "Gunwalker,"<ref>[http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-definitive-scandal-gunwalker-much-worse-than-iran-contra/ The Definitive Scandal: ‘Gunwalker’ Much Worse Than ‘Iran-Contra’], ''Pajamas Media'', July 8, 2011.</ref> ~~however~~ the Bush administration's program allowed a few sales in a reverse sting operation and nothing on the scale of an inter-agency, cross-border joint strike force with additional funding. There is evidence the Obama administration operated the program in several border states, however Congressional investigators were unable to pierce the Obama ~~administrations~~ layers of secrecy outside Arizona.

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The ATF named their operation Fast and Furious. Congressional Democrats claimed it was an [[Obama administration]] recreation of a defunct Bush-era program known as "Gunwalker."<ref>[http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/the-definitive-scandal-gunwalker-much-worse-than-iran-contra/ The Definitive Scandal: ‘Gunwalker’ Much Worse Than ‘Iran-Contra’], ''Pajamas Media'', July 8, 2011.</ref> However, the Bush administration's program allowed a few sales in a reverse sting operation and nothing on the scale of an inter-agency, cross-border joint strike force with additional funding. There is evidence the Obama administration operated the program in several border states, however Congressional investigators were unable to pierce the Obama administration's layers of secrecy outside Arizona.

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On January 31, 2010 in '''Villas de Salvárcar massacre''', Juárez, Mexico,<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2211289/Operation-Fast-Furious-Guns-failed-gun-program-used-2010-Mexico-massacre.html</ref> a birthday party attended by high school students was intruded upon by a group of 20 La Línea drug cartel hitmen. 15 teenage boys and girls were killed and 12 received injuries.<ref>Reyes, Gerardo and Santiago Wills. "[http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/fast-furious-scandal-details-emerge-us-government-armed/story?id=17352694#.UGmiKqpfr4- Fast and Furious Scandal: New Details Emerge on How the U.S. Government Armed Mexican Drug Cartels]." ''[[ABC News]]''. September 30, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref><ref>"[http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/835001.2010-ocurre-en-juarez-la-masacre-de-salvarcar-15-jovenes-fueron-asesinados.html 2010: Ocurre en Juárez la 'Masacre de Salvárcar'; 15 jóvenes fueron asesinados]." ''El Siglo de Torreón''. Thursday January 31, 2013. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The brutality of the crime outraged people both in and outside Mexico.<ref>Martínez-Cabrera, Alejandro. "[http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20185715/villas-de-salvarcar-massacre-suspect-tortured-by-mexican-army Official: Villas de Salvarcar massacre suspect tortured by Mexican army]." ''El Paso Times''. March 16, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The weapons used came from President Obama's Fast and Furious program.

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On January 31, 2010, in '''Villas de Salvárcar massacre''', Juárez, Mexico,<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2211289/Operation-Fast-Furious-Guns-failed-gun-program-used-2010-Mexico-massacre.html</ref> a birthday party attended by high school students was intruded upon by a group of 20 La Línea drug cartel hitmen. 15 teenage boys and girls were killed and 12 received injuries.<ref>Reyes, Gerardo and Santiago Wills. "[http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/fast-furious-scandal-details-emerge-us-government-armed/story?id=17352694#.UGmiKqpfr4- Fast and Furious Scandal: New Details Emerge on How the U.S. Government Armed Mexican Drug Cartels]." ''[[ABC News]]''. September 30, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref><ref>"[http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/835001.2010-ocurre-en-juarez-la-masacre-de-salvarcar-15-jovenes-fueron-asesinados.html 2010: Ocurre en Juárez la 'Masacre de Salvárcar'; 15 jóvenes fueron asesinados]." ''El Siglo de Torreón''. Thursday January 31, 2013. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The brutality of the crime outraged people both in and outside Mexico.<ref>Martínez-Cabrera, Alejandro. "[http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20185715/villas-de-salvarcar-massacre-suspect-tortured-by-mexican-army Official: Villas de Salvarcar massacre suspect tortured by Mexican army]." ''El Paso Times''. March 16, 2012. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.</ref> The weapons used came from President Obama's Fast and Furious program.

:{| class="wikitable"

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! Year !! Mexican drug related gun murders skyrocket <br>during Obama's Fast and Furious campaign<ref>http://www.telesurtv.net/english/multimedia/Timeline-Mexicos-Failed-War-on-Drugs-Deaths-and-Disappearances-20150324-0033.html</ref>

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! Year !! Mexican drug-related gun murders skyrocket <br>during Obama's Fast and Furious campaign<ref>http://www.telesurtv.net/english/multimedia/Timeline-Mexicos-Failed-War-on-Drugs-Deaths-and-Disappearances-20150324-0033.html</ref>

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| 2006 || 62

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| 2013 || 23,640 killed in 2013 (through to March 2014)

|}

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By June of 2010 Operation Fast and Furious suspects purchased 1,608 firearms at a cost of over $1 million at [[Phoenix]]-area gun shops. ATF was aware of 179 of those weapons found at crime scenes in [[Mexico]], and 130 in the United States.<ref>CBS</ref> As guns traced to Fast and Furious began turning up at violent crime scenes in Mexico, ATF agents stationed in Mexico voiced opposition to the program.<ref name="Washington Post">Washington Post</ref>

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By June of 2010, Operation Fast and Furious suspects purchased 1,608 firearms at a cost of over $1 million at [[Phoenix]]-area gun shops. ATF was aware of 179 of those weapons found at crime scenes in [[Mexico]], and 130 in the United States.<ref>CBS</ref> As guns traced to Fast and Furious began turning up at violent crime scenes in Mexico, ATF agents stationed in Mexico voiced opposition to the program.<ref name="Washington Post">Washington Post</ref>

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One weapon found at the scene of the [[Islamic]] terrorist attack in [[France]] on November 13, 2015 that left 129 people dead was traced back to Operation Fast and Furious.<ref>[http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2016/06/law-enforcement-sources-gun-used-paris-terrorist-attacks-came-phoenix/ Law Enforcement Sources: Gun Used in Paris Terrorist Attacks Came from Phoenix, Judicial Watch, June 29, 2016]</ref>

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One weapon found at the scene of the [[Islamic]] terrorist attack in [[France]] on November 13, 2015, that left 129 people dead was traced back to Operation Fast and Furious.<ref>[http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2016/06/law-enforcement-sources-gun-used-paris-terrorist-attacks-came-phoenix/ Law Enforcement Sources: Gun Used in Paris Terrorist Attacks Came from Phoenix, Judicial Watch, June 29, 2016]</ref>

One of the nineteen guns Mexican authorities said they found at the hideout of Joaquin Guzman aka El Chapo, after his January 2016 capture, was associated with the Fast and Furious operation. The Justice Department confirmed that the .50-caliber rifle was bought in July 2010 in a straw purchase by someone not known to the ATF at the time.<ref>[http://time.com/4261176/el-chapo-hideout-gun-fast-furious/?xid=homepage Gun From El Chapo’s Hideout Linked to Fast and Furious Operation]; ''Time''; Eric Tucker & Alicia A. Caldwell; March 16, 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/01/20/rifle-capable-taking-down-helicopter-found-at-el-chapo-hideout-purchased-through-fast-and-furious-program.html ‘Fast & Furious’ rifle capable of taking down helicopter found in 'El Chapo' cache], Fox News, January 20, 2016.</ref>

==US Border Patrol agents killed==

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December 14, 2010 US Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and others were patrolling Peck Canyon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona 11 miles from the Mexican border. The group came across five suspected [[illegal]] [[immigrant]]s. When they fired non-lethal beanbag guns, the suspects responded with live fire. Agent Terry was killed. Four of the suspects were apprehended and two AK-47 type weapons.<ref name="Washington Post"/> [[Eric Holder]]'s office was immediately notified of the shooting incident by email.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/01/27/146010135/emails-show-how-fast-and-furious-ambush-news-unfolded-at-justice-dept Carrie Johnson, "Emails Show How 'Fast And Furious' Ambush News Unfolded At Justice Dept"]. NPR, January 27, 2012.</ref> The weapons were traced within hours to a purchase involved in the Fast and Furious operation.<ref name="Washington Post"/>

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December 14, 2010, US Border Patrol agent Brian Terry and others were patrolling Peck Canyon, Santa Cruz County, Arizona 11 miles from the Mexican border. The group came across five suspected [[illegal]] [[immigrant]]s. When they fired non-lethal beanbag guns, the suspects responded with live fire. Agent Terry was killed. Four of the suspects were apprehended and two AK-47 type weapons.<ref name="Washington Post"/> [[Eric Holder]]'s office was immediately notified of the shooting incident by email.<ref>[http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/01/27/146010135/emails-show-how-fast-and-furious-ambush-news-unfolded-at-justice-dept Carrie Johnson, "Emails Show How 'Fast And Furious' Ambush News Unfolded At Justice Dept"]. NPR, January 27, 2012.</ref> The weapons were traced within hours to a purchase involved in the Fast and Furious operation.<ref name="Washington Post"/>

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After Agent Terry's killing the first public disclosures about Operation Fast and Furious occurred on January 25, 2011 . Obama and Holder's Justice Dept. denied that guns had been deliberately allowed to walk into Mexico.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-on-gunwalking-serious-mistake-may-have-been-made/</ref> Altogether, about 2,000 firearms were bought by straw purchasers during Fast and Furious.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>Department of Justice report</ref> These included AK-47 variants, Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifles, .38 caliber revolvers, and FN Five-sevens.<ref name=staffrep072611>{{cite web |title=The Department of Justice’s Operation Fast and Furious: Fueling Cartel Violence |url=http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Reports/FINAL_FINAL.pdf |publisher=United States Congress |accessdate=|format=PDF}}</ref> 389 had been recovered in the US and 276 had been recovered in Mexico. The rest remained on the streets, unaccounted for.<ref name=miher1>{{cite web |last=Yost |first=Pete |title=2007 Justice memo mentioned gun-walking probe |url=https://news.yahoo.com/2007-justice-memo-mentioned-gun-walking-probe-194543784.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref> The total number of recovered firearms was 710.<ref>Department of Justicebreport</ref> Most of the guns went to the Sinaloa drug cartel, while others made their way to El Teo and La Familia Michoacana crime organizations.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref name="Christian Science Monitor">Christian Science Monitor</ref>

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After Agent Terry's killing the first public disclosures about Operation Fast and Furious occurred on January 25, 2011. Obama and Holder's Justice Dept. denied that guns had been deliberately allowed to walk into Mexico.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/obama-on-gunwalking-serious-mistake-may-have-been-made/</ref> Altogether, about 2,000 firearms were bought by straw purchasers during Fast and Furious.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref>Department of Justice report</ref> These included AK-47 variants, Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifles, .38 caliber revolvers, and FN Five-sevens.<ref name=staffrep072611>{{cite web |title=The Department of Justice’s Operation Fast and Furious: Fueling Cartel Violence |url=http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Reports/FINAL_FINAL.pdf |publisher=United States Congress |accessdate=|format=PDF}}</ref> 389 had been recovered in the US and 276 had been recovered in Mexico. The rest remained on the streets, unaccounted for.<ref name=miher1>{{cite web |last=Yost |first=Pete |title=2007 Justice memo mentioned gun-walking probe |url=https://news.yahoo.com/2007-justice-memo-mentioned-gun-walking-probe-194543784.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |accessdate=June 20, 2012}}</ref> The total number of recovered firearms was 710.<ref>Department of Justicebreport</ref> Most of the guns went to the Sinaloa drug cartel, while others made their way to El Teo and La Familia Michoacana crime organizations.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref name="Christian Science Monitor">Christian Science Monitor</ref>

==Efforts to scuttle Congressional oversight==

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