Documents point to ATF "gun running" since 2008

A controversial operation in which U.S. agents were allegedly ordered not to intervene as American guns flowed to Mexican gangs may have been going on for many years, reports CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

Gunrunning scandal at the ATF

A photograph obtained by CBS News shows an astonishing display of high-powered weapons put up for suspected Mexican drug cartel gun buyers. It's a rare glimpse into ATF's controversial undercover operations.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives allegedly let gun runners walk off with weapons - thousands of them - to see if they'd end up in the hands of the cartels. The Justice Department and ATF have denied it ever happened.

Special Agent John Dodson works in ATF's Phoenix office and has blown the whistle on the controversial strategy, known as letting guns "walk."

Agent: I was ordered to let U.S. guns into Mexico

Dodson  believes there are other ATF operations going on that have done the same thing.

Multiple sources now tell CBS News the questionable tactics were used in more than one operation, and date back as far as 2008 in the Tucson area. One case was called "Wide Receiver."

AK47s vs. bean bags in border drug war

Sources tell CBS News licensed gun dealers often wanted no part of selling to suspicious characters who could be supplying the cartels.

But, sources say, ATF enlisted the gun dealers as paid Confidential Informants and encouraged them to sell even more.

"ATF has asked me to assist in an official investigation," reads one agreement.

Gun salesmen closed the deals, and ATF watched and listened with recording devices.

"ATF Special Agents conducted surveillance...and identified the dates and times that the conspirators... crossed the international border," says one court document.

Dodson argues that something that should never be done. "A lot people are going to get hurt with those firearms between the time we let them go and the time they're recovered again in a crime."

Sources tell CBS News these ATF operations involved about 450 weapons. Despite the risk, two years later the same strategy was expanded to include thousands of guns.

Sen. Grassley asks for investigation

DOJ responds to Sen. Grassley

[crescentrose]

Last one...or as another poster suggested, that this is the propaganda cover story the real story.

I vote for that one.

[crescentrose]

Follow up to my prior comment...

What amazes me even more is that this made it onto the CBS News. Somebody was asleep at the switch...or they just know that not enough of us can either figure it out or even care anymore with all of the information firehose aimed at us all these days...

[crescentrose]

This is the biggest DUH ever. One only needs to look back as far as Oliver North and Ronald Reagan to find out why the US government engages in the running of guns and drugs...it it to fund the illegal Black Ops operations that they don't have the budget for or cannot get approved from the very few in Congress who have oversight anymore.

Basically it is the mafia wing of the US Government, and it exists in every agency. There are people in CIA, FBI, ATF, and in the intelligence gathering agencies that participate in this...because they think it is the right thing to do...no matter how illegal and unconstitional. Indeed, Ollie North on national television said he knew it was illegal, and he'd do it again to assist his President, just because he thought it was the right thing to do.

So here you have zealous individuals circumventing the law to do what they think is right...and that they think they know "better" than the rest of the nation. Only they can't tell us because we just wouldn't understand.

Disgusting. What amuses me is how quickly we as a nation forget. It's hidden in plain sight!!!!

[Boo-ATF]

Everyone knows that ATF is made up into two goups. Complaince agents and Law Enforcement agents. We meed the Complaince agents, we do not need the Law Enforcement agents. Our local law officers can handle crime and gun's just fine. ATF is John Doe #2. Waco started in Pensacola, Fl. with the Resident Agent in Charge"RAC" Hofer and his paid informant McCaa. Look it up on the internet. McCaa testified in a Florida courtroom to that fact. Just ask Karen Kilpatrick what ATF did to her while the seige at Waco was going on. She has been Booing ATF for 18 years and the 11th circuit court says that it is alright for ATF to do what they do. The court stated, you can't have anti-government writings on your vehicle on certain days and not expect to get pulled over and held for over an hour just because ATF does not like what you are saying. It's called Freedom of Speech. Why did the government stop looking for John Doe #2? Because ATF and their informants are John Doe # 2. We have all heard of the abusive actions of ATF just think of what we do not hear. Boo-ATF
Remember the Children of Waco Shame on you ATF

[cayrick]

Remember that nobody in ATF showed up at work in the Murrah bldg. the day of the OKC bombing. Coincidence!

[Boo-ATF]

Why did the government stop looking for John Doe #2? Could it be that ATF and their paid informants are John Doe #2?
Remember the Children of the Murrah Building. Boo-ATF
Shame on you ATF.

[DLC312]

It is very interesting that the ATF has been over seeing the sales of guns to the Drug Cartels in Mexico. Then and turn around and denies that they are involved with it. But It seems the the United States Government do what they want weather it is legal or illegal. When they do illegal things, then they they will always deny any involvement. We really don't have a truthfully government. Or is the people that work in the U S Government. No matter how we look at it, It is wrong.

[Sidewi]

Obama & Hillary often repeat the lie that 90% of guns in Mexico come from U.S., which has been proven to be a false statement - even the FBI acknowledged that the report they issued did not indicate this. But now they can probably "truthfully" say that 90% of the guns from the U.S. found in Mexico come from the U.S. ATF...

[Sidewi]

Obama & Hillary often repeat the lie that 90% of guns in Mexico come from U.S., which has been proven to be a false statement - even the FBI acknowledged that the report they issued did not indicate this. But now they can probably "truthfully" say that 90% of the guns from the U.S. found in Mexico come from the U.S. ATF...

[Sidewi]

Obama & Hillary often repeat the lie that 90% of guns in Mexico come from U.S., which has been proven to be a false statement - even the FBI acknowledged that the report they issued did not indicate this. But now they can probably "truthfully" say that 90% of the guns from the U.S. found in Mexico come from the U.S. ATF...

[jd2408]

The ATF denied this was going on. How can any citizen trust anything the government says ? How do we even know if Senator Grassley wasn't aware of it and will take part in a cover up ? Remember back reading all the articles telling how the cartels were beginning to use more and more "sophisticated" weapons. Something must be going on because CBS is the only one brave enough to cover this important story. I am becoming very afraid of our government to the point it even bothers me to give this comment.

[Sidewi]

Obama & Ms. Clinton repeatedly repeat the lie thAT 90% of guns used in Mexico come from US which has been proven to be false. But now they can probably truthfully say that 90% of guns from US found in Mexico come from US ATF agency...