It all seems like a sequence of a bad soap opera.
The Parts:
We have two border patrol agents (Ignancio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean), a prosecutor (U.S. Attorney Johnny Sutton), a drug smuggler ( Aldrete-Davila), the president of the United States (George W Bush) and a determined news anchor (Lou Dobbs).
On February 17, 2005 Aldrete-Davila drove a van containing 743 pounds of marijuana across the Texas border. The border patrol agents Ramos and Compean suspected criminal activity and started pursuing the smuggler. The road ended and the smuggler jumped out of the van and was trapped between the two agents. After an initially physical struggle between the smuggler and the two agents the border patrol agents fired their weapons because they feared for their lives after the smuggler pulled a shiny object which they assumed was a gun. The smuggler seemed fine to them as he got away in an escape car. Compean picked up his shell. Ramos didn't. While they reported the incident to their supervisor they failed to file the necessary paperwork. The prosecutor Johnny Sutton tracks down Aldrete-Davila and promises him immunity if he testifies against the agents. Ramos and Compean are both sentenced to 11 and 12 years in prison.The family of Ramos was asks for the border patrol agents to stay at home while they appeal the court decision. Well, that seemed to be a fair concern as Ramon ended up being beaten by fellow inmates. And the drug smuggler Aldrete-Davila gets treated in the U.S. for his injuries in the buttock. And while he is under treatment he again smuggles drugs over the border for he is not charged today. But the insanity doesn't end here. He even sues the border patrol for $5 million for violating his civil rights. The petition to pardon those two officers seems to fall on deaf ears. And CNN anchor Lou Dobbs is so determined for the president to hear it that he aired a segment of the story every day last weak.
Yes, you heard it right. That is normally the stuff bad movies or soap operas are made off. It is extremely frustrating that sometimes real life writes different stories. Aren't border patrol agents hear to protect us? Shouldn't the U.S. prosecutor rather have promised the border patrol agents immunity to get the truth instead of the smuggler? Why do we take a criminals word over a border patrol officer word? By the way he was nominated to become officer of the year. And why are the cops sitting in prison instead of the criminals?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. GET MAD AMERICA! GET SO DAMNED MAD YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!
Jean at 8:49PM on Apr 1st 2007
2. This ivestigation was started by a complaint filed by the Mexican government to our farst of a Homeland Security Dept. It seems this is a common practice.The Mexican consulates are more involved in our government than their own.From the start of Johnny Sutton pushing for "attempted murder charges"; to immunity to a major drug smuggling Illegal Alien; to suppressed evidence by the judge and Sutton;to juror intimination by the jury foreman.....this case smells like a dead fish lying on a sidewalk on a hot July afternoon!!!Congressional intervention and thousands of signed petitions to free Ramos and Compean sent to the president and to his hingeman Alberto GONEzalis have been to no avail. George Bush is not in touch with the American people and could care less. As for his Attorney General, he claims to be working on keeping internet porn from children,but yet he and Johnny Sutton have failed to act on a major sex scandal at a youth correctional facility in their home state of TEXAS, that's been on going for a couple of years.Also, I was shocked to see the Attorney General in L.A. a week or so ago, referring to MS-13 gang members (many of them ILLEGAL ALIENS) as "just people who've had a little rough time in life". As a ARMY vetern that served during and after the Viet Nam war, under three presidents, I'd just like to know if these three men (Larry,Curley and Moe)from Texas took the same oath that I did to uphold OUR constition. If so, what in the heck happened to Article 4;section 4,that guarantees secure borders from invasions??Apparently this administration only caters to the Mexican government,lobbists and corporate america. I am praying for IMPEACHMENT. It's time for www.loudobbs4president.com!!!
Lew at 4:46AM on Apr 2nd 2007
3. I worked at a detention center where illegal immigrants were held. It is a joke, it was more like a Hotel. It is outrageous how much it costs the taxpayers. There were people there for over 2 years, and Homeland Security pays $ 89.00 per day, per person to keep them there. This is outrageous. Taxpayers should demand an answer from the government. Marolie
Marolie at 12:33PM on Apr 2nd 2007
4. 2008 Elections will be difficult to choose which
crook to vote for Bu$h or Clinton$ ? ? ? ? ? ?
Geraldine A. Lucas at 7:50PM on Apr 21st 2007
5. GET THOSE BORDER PATROL AGENTS OUT OF JAIL!!! TYPICAL...CATER TO THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT AND LEAVE THE AMERICANS IN JAIL. WHERE IS THE SELF-RIGHTIOUS PRESIDENT? TO BUSY TO CARE FOR AMERICA. he got his own agenda....what else is new?
iamchavira at 4:51AM on May 4th 2007
6. It's about Mexican/American relations and MONEY
The Mexican consulate became involved, as they always do because they are a corrupt government which is subsidized to the highest levels by the drug cartels. The cartels are even involved in Mexican banking, which includes relations to more than the international banking community.
When you involve Mexico's Government, you gain the big-money perspective of how they can abuse our system of protections for our citizens. But, since our government won't take a stand on what is lawful in regard to legal -vs- illegal citizens - then 2 officers become the pawns in a bigger game of response to a "situation" as appose to doing what is ethically and morally correct.
When decisions are made due to political, economic and issues between countries (Mexico or any other country) then good people are "sacraficed" for the benefit of governments.
We have forgot about the protection of our "own people" and have given precedence to those that have come to make an illegal profit from an illegal product.
Candidates that take a stand on this and other important issues, will gain not only my vote, but the financial rewards that come as support for the democratic process.
These agents should be allowed to be home for a country they have sworn to protect and have clearly defended.
Where should we go to assist them in this cause?
Mac at 7:30PM on May 16th 2007