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.