The murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry: One year ago today

Since this blog was founded in 2005 and before that, since the publication of Invasion in 2002, I’ve covered the blood-boiling deaths of law enforcement and border security officials who put their lives on the front lines for us — only to lose them in part because of government negligence, malfeasance, and refusal to do what needs to be done to keep America safe.
We have mourned murdered National Park Service ranger Kris Eggle. And Denver detective Donnie Young. And Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy David March. And Houston police officer Rodney Johnson. And so many more.
All are etched in my consciousness permanently, but none have shaken me more than the death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry one year ago today. The systemic incompetence, callousness, and corruption that created the conditions for his murder are unfathomable. The cover-up that continues today in the White House is unconscionable.
Look back at how Agent Terry’s death was first reported 12 months ago:
A Border Patrol agent was shot and killed Tuesday night near Rio Rico after encountering several suspects, federal authorities said Wednesday.
Agent Brian Terry was killed just 10 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, north of Nogales. Four suspects are in custody and one is being pursued, according to a press release from Customs and Border Protection.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office are investigating.
Now, reflect on the extent of the lies, leaks, deception, and obstruction in the investigations of Agent Terry’s murder.
Now, imagine the suffering of the Terry family a year later — still seeking answers and the truth about Operation Fast and Furious — as they endured the vile, cynical exploitation of the case by Attorney General Eric Holder, who released his Kabuki “apology” letter to the media before they had even received it.
Border security activists, Second Amendment activists, anti-corruption advocates, and all Americans who care about the security and sovereignty of this country owe this family their thoughts, prayers, and gratitude as they continue to fight for the truth.
***
Neil McCabe at Human Events has a moving tribute and retrospective.
Katie Pavlich at Townhall.com remembers.
Vigilant national security/second amendment blogger David Codrea at Sipsey Street Irregulars marks the anniversary:
A year. And still we wait for the FBI to figure out a way to prosecute the one wounded killer they were forced to retain without compromising their cover-up of the involvement of their one-armed paid snitch.
A year. And still we wait for the much ballyhooed Office of Inspector General Report. You know, the one that the administration always uses to justify not telling you anything about the Gunwalker Scandal.
A year. And still we wait for the “mainstream media” to actually engage on the story of the greatest scandal of federal misadventure to date.
Watch this video from the House GOP Oversight and Reform on Brian Terry’s service to our nation:
More calls for Holder’s resignation. And the no-confidence tide swells.
FBI Director Bob Mueller may get Fast and Furious questions today.
Bob Owens spotlights Mother Jones trying to shoot the messenger on F&F.
How long will national media outlets keep up the Fast and Furious blackout? Mary Chastain is keeping tabs.
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Categories: Corruption,Eric Holder,Guns,Immigration



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I don’t know how bho, holder, big sis, hillary, and any others who might have been and are involved with this sleeps at night?
May God have border agent Terry in His arms and grant his family comfort. I pray that if those in dc can’t hold any accountable for his murder and send them to prison, God will deal with them.
L
Not only did Agent Terry and his family suffer immeasureably, but what of all the thousands of Mexicans who never were in Eric Holder’s critical path? Resignation is only the first requisite action, Eric Holder must be prosecuted for negligent homicide at a minimum.
LOL. How funny will it be if a grand jury is constituted and finds Holder and his lieutenants culpable? How will NBC and the rest of the Quisling Media throttle up their coverage without looking like complete tools?
Man, it’s hard out there for a pimp. LOL.
Speaking of one-armed…. with the hyper-politicization of our government by B. Hussein Obama, the Justice Department is looking more and more like a gaggle of incompetent one-armed paper hangers. Rolling from one disaster to another….
I suggest E. Himpton Smooth get himself a good lawyer. He’s going to need one.
I was driving home for Christmas on this day one year ago. As I was in sight of Mexico along I8 in Arizona I saw Border Patrol activity, but thought little of it, except I was glad they were on the job. By the time I reached the BP checkpoint on I10 in Texas outside of El Paso, Agent Terry had been murdered, and the agents questioned my citizenship and travel plans. This was the first time I had to speak to an agent at one of these checkpoints, and at the time I didn’t know why. When I found out the next day what happened it made sense.
At the time I thought it was only a happenstance, such as what sometimes happens to LE officers on the job. When I discovered the weapon’s origin, and the many sordid details that have come out, I cannot help but be dubious of the entire problem with F&F.
Our gov’t has culpability here, even if they’re not directly responsible for the murder itself. In civilian matters, if someone stole my rifle, and later used it to murder someone, I would face civil action, and possibly criminal charges, even though I had nothing to do with the crime. Such is the law in many of our ‘fine’ states.
As our hostess implies, where is the federal charge leveled against the ATF? Oh, right. They are the feds.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a government agency.
That a year has passed is amazing to me. As MM reminds us, “murder” is the top count here. The negligence of so many government officials is astounding and cries out for criminal prosecution. Negligent homicide.
What is that chanting? Oh, now I can just hear a little:
—
Holder lied; lawman died.
—
Rule of law! Rule of law!
—
Hey Holder, hey! How many cops did you kill today?
Moving. The tribute is just moving. May God give Brian and his family comfort.
Holder, Obama, Napolitano, Hilary… the dishonorable list is long. But so is God’s justice. Sooner or later, they’ll have to answer for what they have done to Brian, his family and our country.
Obowtome: A federal agent is dead? Too bad. He’s nothing more than collateral damage. After all, we have a country of yahoos, whackos, religious fanatics, racists bitter clingers to disarm. Carry on, everybody.
Holder: Yes sir!
Napolitano: Yes sir!
Hilary: Yes sir!
Given the WH response, it seems clear that every one knew about this operation. I believe when Terry was killed, they actually celebrated because it meant that they could finally do away with the Second Amendment. Then came the whistle blowers…….
Much thanks to those like Agent Terry who do what they can to protect our country and its citizens. I pray he is with the Lord and that one day justice will be done. May God bless his family and comfort them.
MM: Do you know what special day today is?
Pornstache Holder: Er, Bunker Hill Day?
MM: No, the anniversary of the murder of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, one year ago today.
Pornstache Holder: Who?
Rest in Peace Mr Terry. God Bless
God bless this family, and give them peace and the truth they and Brian deserve.
Bush’s AG Gonzales was tarred and feathered and run out on a rail for what again?? Oh yeah – personnel changes. This HYPOCRISY is just mind bogling.
This bastard needs to be in prison. Preferably in Mexico.
We’re only hoping that Holder’s Operation Guns-to-Gangs is shut down.
Remember the hysterical claim by the left that President Reagan was personally bringing crack into the inner cities? It had the left frothing at the mouth.
Now we have actual evidence of those same liberals transferring automatic weapons to Mexican drug lords.
“Nothing to see here, move along, move along…”
Yeah, that scenario is entirely credible with the subversive bunch in this WH. If it takes a few, or as many as necessary, lives to act as sacrifices for the agenda, so be it.
JHSII:
Thanks for reminding me of an oldie but goodie. I wonder how many inner city folks will die because of F&F firearms?
That and probably much more.
Should be calls for prison! conspiracy to commit murder? Allow extradition to Mexico, let them have a trial for conspiracy to commit mass murder. I would rather see him in a Mexican prison.
We absolutely MUST vote these a$$holes out of office.
***
GOOD MORNING CONSERVATIVE_HISPANIC–#7. My feelings exactly–well stated. And the POS Eric Holder still tries to blame the carnage his failed policies caused on both sides of the border on legal law abiding gun owners in the U.S.
***
It hurts to see Brian Terry’s photo–I think of his family. His death was just a little acceptable “collateral damage” necessary to further the gun grab meme.
***
I also saw the American Flag at half staff at the Border Patrol checkpoint West of El Paso on I-10 a year ago as we went to visit our family in Phoenix, Az. I asked the grim faced inspector what had happened–he said that one of their members had been murdered. Our own government hangs these guys out to die instead of protecting them. And then persecutes them when they screw up–and takes the word of the drug smugglers over their word. They really are expendable–they just stand in the way of the open borders dream.
***
John Bibb
***
hawkeye54:
Hundreds, if not thousands, of Mexicans have died because of F&F firearms. Hundreds, if not thousands more will die before all firearms are recovered (if they are). Americans getting killed because of Holder’s dereliction of duty is a small price to pay, because, by hook or by crook, THE SECOND AMENDMENT MUST BE ABOLISHED!!!
Then, and only then, can the “fundamental transformation of America” get into high gear, without mayor resistance. That’s the endgame.
Hundreds if not thousands, probably. Thousands dead will be more effective as someting the leftists can rally around in contininuing to advance their gun control agenda.
Thanks to all USCBP agents doing your job to protect America. Special heartfelt sympathies for the Terry family. This is suffering they should never have to endure.
I only wish the flaky d-bag politicians that actually control policy and funding had the courage, dedication and genuine altruism that the ordinary Border Patrol agent demonstrates. The vast majority appear to understand what a country is and that it’s worth defending — even at a high cost.
Prez Obama, Sec. Napolitano, Douchebag Holder: It’s time you FINALLY get serious about your job to protect and defend the country and not to put the lives of our Border Patrol agents needlessly in harm’s way. If I were grading today, you’d all get a big fat “FAIL”.
They only mourn dead Progressives, Socialists, and Marxists. Everyone else is expendable.
I want everyone in DOJ and ATF who has ever touched F&F polygraphed. If they refuse they should be fired.
Yup. Every death attributed to firearms is the price leftists are gladly willing to have someone else pay for and for them to cry crocodile tears in their war on the 2nd Amendment.
They probably sleep better than we do, as they have no concience.
rocketman:
You’re 100% correct. Border Patrol is nothing if not expendable. I bet that’s one of the few federal agencies Obowtome would love to eliminate.
BTW, did you checked Wikipedia about EMP? Just curious if you did.
That and they sleep better, becasue they likely are hanging upside down.
You betcha. And the military, as it was intended to be. Soldiers are expendable too. Obama and his cohorts would prefer to transform the military into a humanitarian and experimental social organization, except for a few choice recruits to form his, ahem, “Civilian” Nationial Security Force and his personal Praetorian Guard.
No, they still sleep horizontally, as long as they have their special dirt shipped over from Transylvania.
Hilary & Holder to Napolitano: Yes SIR!
And we’re still hearing lame excuses. God bless the unsung heroes in our world. God bless Brian Terry’s family.
So, sunlight is not just a disinfectent in this case? SWEEEEEEEEET!
***
HI AGAIN CONSERVATIVE_HISPANIC–#28. Yes–I did read the Wikipedia EMP article. My knowledge of EMP was outdated–seems like pretty quirky stuff. Pretty technical article–but the map showing the damage area looks believable. Lightning is imminent when 10 KV. per meter field strength is reached–and the article says that 50 KV. per meter is reached in the most intense EMP areas. We aborted missile checkout and firing operations and cleared out when 3 KV. per meter was reached–the lightning was about 10 miles away at that point.
***
As far as disabling cars on roads–only testing can answer this question. A steel car body and no connections to power systems or phone and wire connections may survive. A plastic hood will let the EMP into the electronics. External wire connections or non metal cases are what allow lightning EMP pulses to smoke most non hardened systems. Most aircraft have well connected (bonded) metal skins and survive lightning hits pretty well. Most military systems are in shielded metal shelters–the better ones use fiber optic (glass) data links between launchers, firing vans, and radars since they are immune to lightning effects.
***
My commercial simulation equipment got blown out twice at White Sands when lightning hit a pole with a lightning rod on it about 400 yards from our system. All line receivers and drivers were blown out by the EMP. And the pole looked like a giant beaver had worked it over–lots of hanging smoked and burned wood on the pole. And we had no connections to anything near it. Weeks of work to fix computers, phones, intercoms, radios, T.V. monitors, etc. The military items survived it pretty well if no added wiring came into their shielded shelters.
***
John Bibb
***
rocketman:
I believe there was an episode of Mythbusters where they disabled a car with an EMP device. If I recall correctly, the electronics were easily shorted out. But don’t take my word for it. All civilian electronics are not shielded, therefore vulnerable. Anyhow, I wouldn’t put it past this bunch to use an EMP device to put the population down as a last resort. What with us being bitter clingers and all that.
spaceycakes:
You’re hysterical!! LOL
Dang! What a great video (surprisingly, NOT blocked at work).
I am so proud of my Congressman, Darrell Issa, for having his office produce this tribute to Brian Terry.
Now, how do we bring down this murderous regime that has a stranglehold on our nation?
SHoward,
What a chilling experience. These days, I find myself pondering just how ‘close’ to the Invisible Hand of Prog-intervention one might be at in any given point in our daily lives?
Will I be in my car when they finally come out of the closet and declare The Constitution… Unconstitutional? Or at the checkout line in Safeway? When I walk past boarded up businesses, what became of the former owners?
Here you are ( in the middle of NOWHERE ) and you slipped right thru it, or more precisely, it slipped right thru YOU.
Our prayers continue to go out to the Terry Family that they might find justice, and thanks to MM for keeping this in the fore.
I also wonder when the ‘Ethic Cleansing’ will be begin, and we are all rounded up to visit the gulags or dig our own graves. (note: I said ethic not ethnic)
I
Given 89 million gun owners in the US, attempting that could be interesting for those who try to.
Rogue Cheddar said:
Noted. From certain perspectives, you could say this has been an Economic Cleansing. Not Prog-connected? ( How long of Lease did you sign? )
Sorry, we are Picking Winners & Losers and..? Your GM Dealership came up a lil’ ‘short’ on the campaign contributions end so… Good high school friend started out as lot boy at a N. IL GM dealer that didn’t make the cut. Rose to Gen. Mgr.
He paid with his career, Brian Terry paid with his LIFE. Guess we’re the lucky ones huh?
Here’s the agenda:
Holder: We must disarm Americans by any means necessary.
DOJ/ATFE: Any means necessary?
Holder: We cannot institute His Greatness Obama’s Marxist programs if they are armed.
DOJ/ATFE: What about the Constitution? What about the law? What about people being murdered, like Brian Terry?
Holder: F ‘em all.
Are Ramos and Campeon still in prison? I don’t condone their covering up what happened but dealing with low lifes daily is a struggle and shuold have been a mitigating circumstance.
One of them, if not both, were beaten in prison. It may have happened more than once. They certainly didn’t deserve that fate on top of their heavy sentence.
This:
They should never have been procesuted let alone sentenced to prison.
Yeah, sentenced to 20 years solitary confinement but we don’t want to send any illegals back home and destroy their “families”.
On December 14th, 2011 at 2:03 pm, Marshall_Will said:
Speaking of undermining our Constitution, check out this new post at the American Thinker…
Shhh….don’t tell anybody, but the “destruction” is quite preventable. The illegals’ families are more than welcome to accompany them back home. More than welcome.
The ENTIRE Constitution? I thought some parts of it are already considered so by our lefist betters in government and the courts.
Its becoming so irrelevant and ignored, bit by bit, by those in power that declaring it unconstitutional may be unnecessary.
well that started waaay before this regime. FDR–>Social Security/Welfare–>smoking bans–>taking off our shoes & throwing away our toothpaste–>willingly paying $5 for a gallon of gas…keep pushing & see how much they’ll take, then TAKE.
So, let me see if I have this straight?
The White House is covering up the death 1 border patrol agent?
Umm…. why?
You people understand that the White House is responsible for a variety of tasks like: terrorism, two wars, the economy, the environment, reducing poverty, international relationships, keeping the dollar afloat, NASA….. and on and on…
And, with all of these tasks, they still find time to cover up the death of 1 border agent?
Where’s the logic?
*I shall continue to lift Brian Terry and his family up in my thoughts and prayers; An inexcusable injustice has taken place, but there is still time for true justice; It will take place after Jan., 2013, when Holder and the others are criminally charged; But first we must remove the enemy within from the White House and put some leadership and backbone in there, and not just a horse trader!
Waaaay beyond you, carp breath.
hey, it got one right.
Damn, ILoveMyLACKOFBRAINS:
if this has to be explained to you, you’re beyond redemption.
Thanks for the reminder Michelle.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
And let Perpetual Light shine upon him.
May his Soul
And the Souls of all the faithful departed
Through the Mercy of God
Rest in Peace.
Amen.
Ilovemycountry: You’re a useful idiot.
And some day his usefulness will no longer be needed and we all know what that is going to leave him as.
I, too, was driving through AZ at the time.
I was on my way to visit my son, a Border Patrol Agent in AZ. When I was a few hours away from his home he called and told me he couldn’t see me as he was heading on horse-back into the desert to man-track, helping look for the murdering scum.
The cover up is the ROE that was placed on BORTAC to NOT use deadly force when initiating the arrest.
Get that?
Nappy-Pants Big Sis didn’t want another (lawful) killing of a mexican, as it was too close to the last shoot-out where a mexican illegal and smuggler rocked Agents and was killed for it.
So. . .Nappy-Pants Big Sis didn’t want that to happen, so, direction from her office (in collusion with the WH) was to prohibit the use of deadly force against the most violent of the violent drug smugglers.
You see, you blind minion, the murderers STOLE from the drug cartels. . .you HAVE to be mean, nasty and violent!! They are the most violent and lethal of them all.
But yet, Nappy-Pants Big Sis didn’t want another violent incident against a mexican.
All to appease mexico.
I used to think Napo was an okay governor. Now she is WAY out of her league.
It was quite a realization, but the activity I saw was too far away from Nogales for it to be that particular activity, and much earlier in the day. It might even have been while I was still in CA before Yuma.
The chilling part for me is in fact finding out the weapons used originated in such a colossally ill-conceived operation as F&F.
To idiots like ILMC, operations designed to track things like weapons or drugs NEVER involve law enforcement selling the contraband into the environment. LE usually sets up ‘buys’ and takes the illegal stuff off the street. Our retarded (yeah, I said it) goobermint did it backwards, and the predictable result is something like this.
The coverup is designed to hide their own idiocy, or is it their huge Idiocracy? At any rate, there is also the chatter about them letting weapons of this nature flow into Mexico so as to blame the American “gun culture” and bring about political pressure for eliminating gun rights. They wouldn’t want that intention broadcast, either.
Yeah, some chilling stuff, indeed…..
Hello, Hulka @#59: I will add you and your son to my prayer list…really. Those agents on the border get so little appreciation for what they do. They are fighting drug dealers and criminals with extremely limited resources. God grant them safety.
When I posted earlier, I was thinking of AG Holder, and was mad. I hope I did not offend you all – your input means a lot to me.
ILMC not banned yet?
I see from his post his reading comprehension remains well below a special ed class.
ILMC not banned yet?
I see from his post his reading comprehension remains well below a special ed class.
conservativehispanic
How true that is!
The problem with on-going border disputes historically is that its the residents along the border who suffer the most.
How many beheadings of Mexicans have we had? How about border agents on both sides killed? How about American citizens getting kidnapped and ranchers getting harassed?
And how about Hezbollah and rumors of Chinese intelligence taking an interest an open border?
I really hope that Hispanics in this country and other minority groups come out and show support for the TEA PARTY and GOP in 2012. I’m not 100% white, and I’ll be voting for Bachmann.
Thank you for your prayers for my son and all the other men of the Border Patrol.
No worries, I understood your post very well and appreciate (and share) your anger and frustration at the one’s truly responsible for this unnecessary death.
There is a war going on at the border and Big Sis Nappy-Pants is either too ignorant to see it or too partisan in her politics to do anything about it. . .or both.
Always pushing the envelope. At first they’re just like rude people butting in line. Then they ask for a favor. Then they want your ticket. Then they try to take it…
Then you have to shoot them in the chest. It gets ugly.
Here is an up-date of border agent Diaz in prison for handcuffing an illegal alien drug carrying kid. This is holders baby also. This poor family is going through things no American citizen should have to go through! There just has to be more to this than we are seeing?
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=377437
L
Gee, not trying to feed any trolls or anything like that, but it seems that just yesterday this issue came up in discussion right here.
Things that make you go Hmmm.