On Tuesday, the Senate grilled Attorney General Eric Holder on his knowledge of the ATF’s botched gun trafficking sting that resulted in upwards of 1,800 weapons making their way across the border to Mexico.

Earlier this year, Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich sent a letter to Senator Charles Grassley and his staff that stated the ATF had not willingly allowed guns to be trafficked into Mexico, which turned out to be wrong.

Holder said in his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, as reported by ABC News:

“There was information in that letter that was inaccurate. The letter could have been better crafted, we were relying on … information provided to them by people who were, we thought, in the best position to know what was accurate,”

Holder continued, saying:

“People in the U.S. Attorneys’ Office, people at ATF, people who themselves have now indicated in their Congressional testimony before the House that they were not aware of the tactics that were employed. As a result of that, the information that is contained in the February 4th letter to you was not in fact accurate…. I regret that,”

The operation, internally dubbed Operation Fast and Furious, began in 2009. It was originally the ATF’s intent to keep distribute and keep track of guns across the border in Mexico, but ATF agents were unable to keep track of many of the weapons. Afterwards, roughly 200 of the weapons were later spotted at crime scenes throughout Mexico, and two were spotted near the body of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, who was killed in December of 2010.

Source: ABC News

[Image credit: Associated Press]

Fast and Furious scandal: Eric Holder admits to errors in ATF report is a post from: The Inquisitr

The anti-gunrunning Fast and Furious operation didn’t go as planned. The House Committee has already sent a subpoena to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and now congressional investigators intend to send a subpoena to Attorney General Eric Holder as the Fast and Furious scandal continues.

The Washington Post reports that the goal of the Fast and Furious operation was to trace thousands of weapons as they were illegally transported to Mexican drug cartels. But the ATF wasn’t able to keep track of all the guns and some were found at crime scenes in both the US and Mexico. Authorities believe that a gun from the failed operation was used to kill Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry last December.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican Darrell Issa, could send the subpoena to Holder as early as this afternoon, according to CBS, and will demand that the Attorney General turn over documents showing when he was made aware of the Fast and Furious operation.

Holder testified in May that he had only recently been made aware of the operation, but the House Oversight Committee believes that Holder had talked to more than a dozen officials about the operation as early as September 2010. The subpoena will demand that Holder show all correspondence he has had about the operation.

Last week Holder acknowledged that memos were sent to and from his office, but said that he never read them. Holder says that the memos were read by others, who decided not to tell him about the Fast and Furious operation. Holder insists that he did not know about the controversial tactic of “letting guns walk” until it was too late.

Do you believe Eric Holder? Or is the Attorney General just trying to keep his hands clean in the Fast and Furious scandal?

Fast and Furious Scandal: House Committee to Subpoena Eric Holder is a post from: The Inquisitr

Susan Rice Bio

Susan Rice, perhaps the least known of the nominees, will be a full-fledged Cabinet member in her role — a shift from past administrations. Rice, 44, will be the second-youngest person to ever hold the U.N. adviser post.

Susan Rice entered government life in 1993 as a member of President Bill Clinton’s National Security Council staff. She eventually became assistant secretary of state for African affairs. Rice created a small stir when she decided to join Obama’s campaign rather than Hillary Clinton’s because of this past association. Now, she will be working closely with Ms. Clinton as part of the new administration.

Rice is known for her criticism of the Bush administration’s response to the Darfur killings. The Save Darfur Coalition has already expressed excitement about her appointment and how it could help reshape the region.

Susan Rice’s bio also includes a stint as senior fellow in foreign policy at independent research firm the Brookings Institution — the job she currently holds — as well as a role as senior adviser for national security affairs on the John Kerry 2004 presidential campaign. She previously worked as a management consultant for McKinsey and Company.

Susan Rice graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in history. She received a doctorate in international relations from Oxford.

The Other Nominees

As expected, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will become secretary of state. Current Bush administration defense secretary Robert Gates will remain in that role within Obama’s team. Other appointments include retired Marine General James Jones as White House national security adviser, former Justice Department official Eric Holder as attorney general, and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano as secretary of homeland security. You can read bios of all of the new team members here.

The president-elect promised he and his staff would work to develop a new military mission, “responsibly ending the war in Iraq through a successful transition to Iraqi control.”

Obama’s inauguration takes place January 20.

Speech and Remarks

The nominees’ remarks are below in video form, followed by the full text of Barack Obama’s speech from Monday’s national security appointments announcement.

Good morning. Last week, we announced our economic team, which is working as we speak to craft an Economic Recovery Program to create jobs and grow our struggling economy. Today, Vice President-elect Biden and I are pleased to announce our national security team.

The national security challenges we face are just as grave — and just as urgent — as our economic crisis. We are fighting two wars. Old conflicts remain unresolved, and newly assertive powers have put strains on the international system. The spread of nuclear weapons raises the peril that the world’s deadliest technology could fall into dangerous hands. Our dependence on foreign oil empowers authoritarian governments and endangers our planet.

America must also be strong at home to be strong abroad. We need to provide education and opportunity for our citizens, so every American can compete with anyone, anywhere. And our economic power must sustain our military strength, our diplomatic leverage, and our global leadership.

The common thread linking these challenges is the fundamental reality that in the 21st century, our destiny is shared with the world’s. From our markets to our security; from our public health to our climate — we must act with the understanding that, now more than ever, we have a stake in what happens across the globe. And as we learned so painfully on 9/11, terror cannot be contained by borders, nor safety provided by oceans alone.

Last week, we were reminded of this threat once again when terrorists took the lives of six American among nearly 200 victims in Mumbai. In the world we seek, there is no place for those who kill innocent civilians to advance hateful extremism. This weekend, I told Prime Minister Singh that Americans stand with the people of India in this dark time. And I am confident that India’s great democracy is more resilient than killers who would tear it down.

And so, in this uncertain world, the time has come for a new beginning — a new dawn of American leadership to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, and to seize the opportunities embedded in those challenges. We will strengthen our capacity to defeat our enemies and support our friends. We will renew old alliances and forge new and enduring partnerships. We will show the world once more that America is relentless in defense of our people, steady in advancing our interests, and committed to the ideals that shine as a beacon to the world: democracy and justice; opportunity and unyielding hope — because American values are America’s greatest export to the world.

To succeed, we must pursue a new strategy that skillfully uses, balances, and integrates all elements of American power: our military and diplomacy; our intelligence and law enforcement; our economy and the power of our moral example. The team that we have assembled here today is uniquely suited to do just that.

In their past service and plans for the future, these men and women represent all of those elements of American power, and the very best of the American example. They have served in uniform and as diplomats; they have worked as legislators, law enforcement officials, and executives. They share my pragmatism about the use of power, and my sense of purpose about America’s role as a leader in the world.

I have known Hillary Clinton as a friend, a colleague, a source of counsel, and as a campaign opponent. She possesses an extraordinary intelligence and toughness, and a remarkable work ethic. I am proud that she will be our next Secretary of State. She is an American of tremendous stature who will have my complete confidence; who knows many of the world’s leaders; who will command respect in every capitol; and who will clearly have the ability to advance our interests around the world.

Hillary’s appointment is a sign to friend and foe of the seriousness of my commitment to renew American diplomacy and restore our alliances. There is much to do — from preventing the spread of nuclear weapons to Iran and North Korea, to seeking a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, to strengthening international institutions. I have no doubt that Hillary Clinton is the right person to lead our State Department, and to work with me in tackling this ambitious foreign policy agenda.

At a time when we face an unprecedented transition amidst two wars, I have asked Robert Gates to continue as Secretary of Defense, and I’m pleased that he’s accepted. Two years ago, he took over the Pentagon at a difficult time. He restored accountability. He won the confidence of military commanders, and the trust of our brave men and women in uniform, and their families. He earned the respect of members of Congress on both sides of the aisle for his pragmatism and competence. He knows that we need a sustainable national security strategy — and that includes a bipartisan consensus at home.

As I said throughout the campaign, I will be giving Secretary Gates and our military a new mission as soon as I take office: responsibly ending the war in Iraq through a successful transition to Iraqi control. We will also ensure that we have the strategy — and resources — to succeed against al Qaeda and the Taliban. As Bob said not too long ago, Afghanistan is where the war on terror began, and it is where it must end. And going forward, we will continue to make the investments necessary to strengthen our military and increase our ground forces to defeat the threats of the 21st century.

Eric Holder has the talent and commitment to succeed as Attorney General from his first day on the job, which is even more important in a transition that demands vigilance. He has distinguished himself as a prosecutor, a Judge, and a senior official, and he is deeply familiar with the law enforcement challenges we face– from terrorism to counter-intelligence; from white collar crime to public corruption.

Eric also has the combination of toughness and independence that we need at the Justice Department. Let me be clear: the Attorney General serves the American people. And I have every expectation that Eric will protect our people, uphold the public trust, and adhere to our Constitution.

Janet Napolitano offers the experience and executive skill that we need in the next Secretary of Homeland Security. She has spent her career protecting people — as a US Attorney, an Attorney General, and as Governor of Arizona. She understands the need for a Department of Homeland Security that has the capacity to help prevent terrorist attacks and respond to catastrophe — be it manmade or natural.

Janet assumes this critical role having learned the lessons — some of them painful — of the last several years, from 9/11 to Katrina. She insists on competence and accountability. She knows firsthand the need to have a partner in Washington that works well with state and local governments. She understands as well as anyone the danger of an unsecure border. And she will be a leader who can reform a sprawling Department while safeguarding our homeland.

Susan Rice will take on the crucial task of serving as Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations. Susan has been a close and trusted advisor. As in previous Administrations, the UN Ambassador will serve as a member of my cabinet and integral member of my team. Her background as a scholar, on the National Security Council, and Assistant Secretary of State will serve our nation well at the United Nations.

Susan knows that the global challenges we face demand global institutions that work. She shares my belief that the UN is an indispensable — and imperfect — forum. She will carry the message that our commitment to multilateral action must be coupled with a commitment to reform. We need the UN to be more effective as a venue for collective action — against terror and proliferation; climate change and genocide; poverty and disease.

Finally, I am convinced that General James Jones is uniquely suited to be a strong and skilled National Security Advisor. Generations of Joneses have served heroically on the battlefield — from the beaches of Tarawa in World War II, to Foxtrot Ridge in Vietnam. Jim’s Silver Star is a proud part of that legacy. He will bring to the job the dual experience of serving in uniform and as a diplomat. He has commanded a platoon in battle, served as Supreme Allied Commander in a time of war, and worked on behalf of peace in the Middle East.

Jim is focused on the threats of today and the future. He understands the connection between energy and national security, and has worked on the frontlines of global instability – from Kosovo to northern Iraq to Afghanistan. He will advise me and work effectively to integrate our efforts across the government, so that we are effectively using all elements of American power to defeat unconventional threats and promote our values.

I am confident that this is the team that we need to make a new beginning for American national security. This morning, we met to discuss the situation in Mumbai and some of the challenges that we face in the months and years ahead. In the coming weeks, I will be in close contact with these advisors, who will be working with their counterparts in the Bush Administration to make sure that we are ready to hit the ground running on January 20. Given the range of threats that we face — and the vulnerability that can be a part of every presidential transition — I hope that we can proceed swiftly for those national security officials who demand confirmation.

We move forward with the humility that comes with knowing that there are brave men and women protecting us on the front lines. Troops serving their second, third, or fourth tours. Diplomats and intelligence officers in dangerous corners of the world. FBI agents in the field, cops on the beat, prosecutors in our courts, and cargo inspectors at our ports. These selfless Americans whose names are unknown to most of us will form the backbone of our effort. If we serve as well as they do, we will protect our country and promote our values.

And we move forward with respect for America’s tradition of a bipartisan national security policy, and a commitment to national unity. When it comes to keeping our nation and our people safe, we are not Republicans and we are not Democrats: we are Americans. There is no monopoly of power or wisdom in either party. Together, as one nation, as one people, we can shape our times instead of being shaped by them. Together, we will meet the challenges of the 21st century not with fear, but with hope.

Now, before I take questions, I’d like to invite my team to say a few words, starting with my friend Hillary Clinton. Thank you.

Obama’s Security Team: Who’s Susan Rice? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Former Deputy Attorney General under the Clinton Administration Eric Holder is said to have accepted an offer to be Attorney General under Barack Obama.

According to Newsweek, Holder still has to undergo a formal “vetting” review by the Obama transition team before the selection is final and is publicly announced, however Obama has offered Holder the job and he’s accepted it.

Holder graduated from the Columbia Law School then worked for the U.S. Justice Department as a trial attorney in the Public Integrity section from 1976 to 1988. He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, then later U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia by President Bill Clinton.

Holder is anti-death penalty, an issue that was raised during his confirmation as Deputy Attorney General in 1997.

(with assistance from Wikipedia)

Eric Holder gets Attorney General nod is a post from: The Inquisitr