14 replies to this topic

[Snake bite]

Ladies and Gentleman of CUATF:

Because of your participation and you courage, change IS coming and you do HAVE a voice. People ARE paying attention. We at CUATF feel your frustration and will never ignore or dismiss you thoughts as ATF has. BUT please keep your postings professional and on task. Our goal has never been to trash the agency or the GOOD people who DO care. If the agency suffers as a result of Senior managements abuses of the system, then so be it. But we would prefer to take the high ground and post information NOT for the sole purpose of embarrassing the SES'(they do that to themselves) but to change the corrupt practices of an agency OUT OF CONTROL. IMPORTANT people are paying attention and do care about ATF and DO want it Cleaned Up. In the weeks and months to come you will realize you HAVE BEEN HEARD.

Doc,

I hope that you have good information. This agency needs some real change in order to survive the next decade.

If you can, throw us a bone and let us know what changes you understand are going to take place.

[Concernedsup]

Speaking of Flavor of the Month -- how about ATF being assigned to "running" law enforcement operations at any natural/man-made disaster? Ooooooo, it probably looks good to the bosses that ATF is perceived as the lead LE agency, running the CMIRT with the finest of the finest GS-15's huddled around computers and plasma TV's, running the show at the next Katrina or 9/11. How are we supposed to do that when half the field agents are either in Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico or some other detail?

And really, who believes that ATF is going to be top dog at any scene? What's closer to the truth is that FEMA will have ATF run security at a mobile home park set up for displaced persons.

Abteilung,

I agree that the agents are spread thin doing more with the same amount of agents we had 10-15 years ago but as to ATF's participation in ESF-13 it's not like we mobilize every ATF agent to do security for a disaster. ATF's role is to be the Federal coordinator for all federal LEO assets that may be needed at any given time during the disaster. Are we equipped for this? I don't know but all we do is man one part of the ESF response and coordinate. Not disagreeing with you just clarifying a point on this.

[Doc Holiday]

Ladies and Gentleman of CUATF: Because of your participation and you courage, change IS coming and you do HAVE a voice. People ARE paying attention. We at CUATF feel your frustration and will never ignore or dismiss you thoughts as ATF has. BUT please keep your postings professional and on task. Our goal has never been to trash the agency or the GOOD people who DO care. If the agency suffers as a result of Senior managements abuses of the system, then so be it. But we would prefer to take the high ground and post information NOT for the sole purpose of embarrassing the SES'(they do that to themselves) but to change the corrupt practices of an agency OUT OF CONTROL. IMPORTANT people are paying attention and do care about ATF and DO want it Cleaned Up. In the weeks and months to come you will realize you HAVE BEEN HEARD.

[abteilung]

Speaking of Flavor of the Month -- how about ATF being assigned to "running" law enforcement operations at any natural/man-made disaster? Ooooooo, it probably looks good to the bosses that ATF is perceived as the lead LE agency, running the CMIRT with the finest of the finest GS-15's huddled around computers and plasma TV's, running the show at the next Katrina or 9/11. How are we supposed to do that when half the field agents are either in Afghanistan, Iraq, Mexico or some other detail? And really, who believes that ATF is going to be top dog at any scene? What's closer to the truth is that FEMA will have ATF run security at a mobile home park set up for displaced persons.

[ProConfesso]

Our senior leadership was recently in Mexico, at which time Our DD or Acting Director Melson admitted he was completely unaware of the dismal state of affairs in our Mexico Offices in terms of guidance and resources. It was so bad that he came back and lit up Mr. Chait and Mcmahon for not making him aware. What was their response? "It must be the people we have down in Mexico". News flash HQ, OUR PEOPLE in Mexico are the best we have. They are dedicated and committed to helping make Mexico and the United States safer. But they cant do it without focus, support and resources. It takes more that sound bites and press conferences guys.

It's a poor carpenter that blames his tools. I remember McMahon blaming his Agents in Sacramento, whining, "they don't want to work for me." Never realizing that his leadership skills were lacking and that his inability to inspire morale was his fault. Of course the Agents read into him right away, they were being used for his ambitious climb. Soon afterward he became Domenech's lickspittle in the NYFD.

[Concernedsup]

The old phrase within ATF was we do more with less. Now it's we do more with less and less and less. We are spread to thin to accomplish our mission, let alone do LearnAtf, HR Connect, E-request, etc, etc. I agree we don't have the manpower to tackle every flavor of the month mission that is thrown out there. As to going armed to Mexico,it's a little more complicated than just arming our agents that go down there for one or two weeks to teach firearms/explosives or whatever. Mexico is a sovereign country and has it's own rules and regulations as to who gets to go in with a gun. Maybe that's why there is so much violence but it's there rule. I know for a fact that FBI/DEA/ICE/Marshals/Secret Service agents have gone down to teach and their agency, and the Mexican government, do not allow them to carry/bring a gun to Mexico. I agree that if you are going to a detail, particularly to Juarez/Tijuana, an arraignment need to be made to allow those agents to carry but that's between the agency/government and Mexico. Off the topic a bit here, but one thing we as users of this website need to do is let's not rant and throw things out just for the sake of ranting or gossip. We need to make sure that what we say we can it backup if need be or if forced to. Why? Because not only do we give the notion of fed up employees but we also give the sense we don't know what we are talking about. This gives ammunition not only to those who you are trying to expose but also to fringe groups just hate us because we are ATF and just because we are part of the government. There was one topic here that included an article. That article was written, or at least commented on, by a group of individuals that would love nothing more than to see ATF just vanish because we enforce the gun laws. That's not the type of support we really want at least in my opinion. Just saying.

[Valkyrie]

There is no way that we can effectively deal with all of the missions with which ATF is tasked on a day to day basis. We do not have the personnel or resources to deal with border violence, firearms trafficking, armed gangs, arsons, explosives and explosive devices, tobacco diversion, alcohol diversion and untaxed distillates, armed drug trafficking organizations (especially since our managers tell us we don't work drugs), and every task force and multi-agency workgroup that rears its head at the drop of a politically motivated dime. Focus? What focus? Let us do what we know how to do, and stop trying to plug every hole that you think has opened up, and that only for the sakes of what you perceive as being important to your career advancement. "We had terrorism envy for a while..." What douche sang that tune to a reporter? Stop flailing around in the political breeze like some soiled wind sock. Get with DOJ and either settle this inane arguing and competition with the FBI, or start shedding public light on it so someone somewhere may show competence and ability to get it fixed. Sending unarmed agents to Mexico to train and assist Mexican officials? Have you not heard what's going on in Mexico? Hey, they are not only killing but dissecting people down there. You don't think U.S. Federal agents going down there are instantly identified as soft targets? Will you really wait until one of our own is killed before you throw up your hands and shout, "I'm shocked and appalled," a la Capt. Renault? Couple our problems with self-serving, self-absorbed toadies filling the ranks or our management, and you may be sure that nothing will be done from inside. It will take external intervention if anything here is to change and we are ever to again have focus as an agency.

The "terrorism envy" leaker is a guy assigned to the director's office as the strategy expert - Chris Pellettiere, who is well known from his beltway supervisor time when he had the balls to claim a rock chip on his windshield was actually because of gunfire from a car he was following, even though no gun was ever found, seen, or any shots seen or heard by other agents. For this he got a medal. Funny thing is Mr. Leaker certainly didn't act alone. You can bet that Wilfred Larry Ford and his PGA cronies are the ones who set that interview up. The only decent thing is at least Pellettiere fessed up that he was the leak.

Us sending people to Mexico without a gun borders on criminal, and one day it will catch up to us. Maybe if we had a director who spent even ONE DAY doing our job or carrying a badge, he would fight for this. Do you think the FBI or DEA sends agents into these places unarmed? I dont know for sure but I doubt it.

[V01ce0fR3as0n]

There is no way that we can effectively deal with all of the missions with which ATF is tasked on a day to day basis. We do not have the personnel or resources to deal with border violence, firearms trafficking, armed gangs, arsons, explosives and explosive devices, tobacco diversion, alcohol diversion and untaxed distillates, armed drug trafficking organizations (especially since our managers tell us we don't work drugs), and every task force and multi-agency workgroup that rears its head at the drop of a politically motivated dime. Focus? What focus? Let us do what we know how to do, and stop trying to plug every hole that you think has opened up, and that only for the sakes of what you perceive as being important to your career advancement. "We had terrorism envy for a while..." What douche sang that tune to a reporter? Stop flailing around in the political breeze like some soiled wind sock. Get with DOJ and either settle this inane arguing and competition with the FBI, or start shedding public light on it so someone somewhere may show competence and ability to get it fixed. Sending unarmed agents to Mexico to train and assist Mexican officials? Have you not heard what's going on in Mexico? Hey, they are not only killing but dissecting people down there. You don't think U.S. Federal agents going down there are instantly identified as soft targets? Will you really wait until one of our own is killed before you throw up your hands and shout, "I'm shocked and appalled," a la Capt. Renault? Couple our problems with self-serving, self-absorbed toadies filling the ranks or our management, and you may be sure that nothing will be done from inside. It will take external intervention if anything here is to change and we are ever to again have focus as an agency.

[Thor God of Thunder]

This is one example of many where the top eschelon make 100% decisions with 25% of the facts. The information filter for upward information so distorts real situations that those makeing the decisions have nearly no chance of getting it right.

I am sorry to disagree. The problem is that the people surrounding the Deputy Director are a bunch of liars!!! Yes, the first lesson that some of these SESs (and I will not paint them all with a broad brush) learn is to fix any issue with a lie. If that lie does not work, try another lie it might cover your ash for a little while. Even when the situation is dire like in Mexico, people like Chait (pinky ring)and McMahon (69)take one out of the ATF Defense 101 playbook and that is to blame the employees that brought the issue to the Deputy Director's attention to protect their ashes. They were not going to nor had plans to tell the Deputy Director that there were needs in the Mexico office. Is it just me or is there something wrong, unethical and lacking integrity with lying to the Deputy Director of the agency that we all love so much?

[Retired and loving it]

Administrator, can you please delete this? I wanted the text under Doc's post and I moved it there but then I oculd only delete the repetitive text here; not the box itself. I don't want to clutter up your site!

[Retired and loving it]

Our senior leadership was recently in Mexico, at which time Our DD or Acting Director Melson admitted he was completely unaware of the dismal state of affairs in our Mexico Offices in terms of guidance and resources. It was so bad that he came back and lit up Mr. Chait and Mcmahon for not making him aware. What was their response? "It must be the people we have down in Mexico". News flash HQ, OUR PEOPLE in Mexico are the best we have. They are dedicated and committed to helping make Mexico and the United States safer. But they cant do it without focus, support and resources. It takes more that sound bites and press conferences guys.

Doesn't it make you wonder why the DD/Acting Director has to go to Mexico himself to learn this? That says a lot about the people "reporting" to him. It speaks not only to what they are reporting/not reporting to him but also to what they themselves are doing in the way of guidance and oversight. Isn't that one of the primary purposes of the "head"quarters?

For a long, long time I have felt that ATF has built up and overstaffed its HQ operations so much that the body of the organization (the Field) can no longer support the weight of the oversized head of the organization (Headquarters).

[Doc Holiday]

Our senior leadership was recently in Mexico, at which time Our DD or Acting Director Melson admitted he was completely unaware of the dismal state of affairs in our Mexico Offices in terms of guidance and resources. It was so bad that he came back and lit up Mr. Chait and Mcmahon for not making him aware. What was their response? "It must be the people we have down in Mexico". News flash HQ, OUR PEOPLE in Mexico are the best we have. They are dedicated and committed to helping make Mexico and the United States safer. But they cant do it without focus, support and resources. It takes more that sound bites and press conferences guys.

[Thor God of Thunder]

Just like our efforts on the Southwest Border.....Check it out! http://www.markfiore...ngo-guns?page=2