On a couple of occasions, I have written of the plight of two loyal and upstanding U.S. Border Patrol agents who are now about to begin long prison sentences for doing their job. Several prominent Congressmen including Duncan Hunter and Dana Rohrabacher have stood up for the two officers, Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos, urging President Bush to issue a pardon and right this disgraceful wrong. In addition, hundreds of thousands of Americans have signed petitions asking the President to intervene, yet he remains silent.
In February of 2005, officer Compean confronted Mexican drug smuggler Osbaldo Aldrete-Davila, who was attempting to smuggle 800 pounds of Marijuana into the U.S. in a van. Compean ordered Aldrete-Davila to surrender and Aldrete-Davila responded by assaulting Compean, who then called for backup. When Ramos arrived with other officers, Compean was on the ground, Aldrete-Davila was fleeing, holding what looked like a gun and gunfire was heard. Compean fired his weapon, scoring a bull’s eye on the drug trafficker’s back-side, but Aldrete-Davila escaped, rejoining accomplices on the Mexican side.
Incredibly, the U.S. Justice Department wasted no time in seeking the testimony of Aldrete-Davila against the officers, offering him medical treatment and immunity. Adding insult to injury, Aldrete-Davila has since been apprehended again, this time attempting to smuggle 1000 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. And in addition, he is suing the U.S. government (read: the taxpayers) for the hefty sum of $5 million, presumably for restraint of trade.
Harry Truman’s Presidency is perhaps best remembered for his famous saying, “The Buck Stops Here.” While many if not most Americans believe that President Bush will be remembered as the President who propelled us into a war in Iraq, I’m inclined to believe his legacy will turn out to be the way he is betraying America and his sacred office, trading away our precious national sovereignty by making secret deals with foreign governments. If he wishes to save his legacy and redeem himself with the American people, the President would do well to seriously consider Truman’s words.