Heads up--Updated

So, reports of the ATFE deliberately allowing guns to be smuggled from the US to Mexico, knowing that they would wind up in the hands of criminals, and, in at least one case that we know of, ultimately being used to murder a Government Agent, have hit the big time.

CBS and the Sipsey Street Irregulars report that the ATFE is desperately trying to make itself look good.

ATF needs to proactively push positive stories this week, in an effort to preempt some negative reporting, or at minimum, lessen the coverage of such stories in the news cycle by replacing them with good stories about ATF. The more time we spend highlighting the great work of the agents through press releases and various media outreaches in the coming days and weeks, the better off we will be.

Lock up the kittens.

UPDATE:  From Instapundit.

THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR ON THE ATF GUNRUNNING DEBACLE: Before a US border patrol agent was killed in a shootout with Mexican bandits, the agents opened fire with bean bags. Found at the scene: two guns the ATF allowed gun runners to purchase.