Wednesday
I have always considered the US Drug Enforcement Agency a bunch of anti-liberty and dangerously out of control houligans (out done only by members of BATF), but this ICE activity just leaves me slack jawed.
I think some ICE and perhaps DEA officers are due for prosecution as accessories to murders. Twelve of them, in fact.
PS: While you are over at Reason.... the second half of the Counter Debate video is now available.
I am surprised an informant could get away with all this. But I am not surprised that DEA and other agencies will act illegally.
History tells us that when the police themselves or the state's power are threatened the rules vanish.
Small smuggling operators have little power to strike at the police. But when billions are at stake the cartels will be able to go directly after the police through bribery and murder. And after selected politicians too.
Posted by K at October 1, 2008 12:56 AM
I wrote a little about this in December of '06. Given the state of federal police authority in the US it's no surprise nothing's been done since then.
Posted by Walter at October 1, 2008 04:40 AM
It's not just federal police in the states these days. Both the LA and New York police departments maintain a staff to fix doors their SWAT officers have smashed raiding the wrong houses.
In response to an article critical of this incident:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073003299.html
... Milwaukee police officer said this in a letter to the National Review:
"Sorry if Calvo and his mother-in-law were "restrained." Would you rather have them uncomfortable for those two hours, and risk officers' lives and safety? ... This incident should not be considered overkill ... but sound police tactics. "
Unbelievable.
Posted by Texpatriate at October 1, 2008 03:14 PM
