Saturday, January 9, 2016

Occupiers evince a belated preference for public relations and de-escalation.

"More armed men visit site of Oregon wildlife refuge standoff."

 A group of armed men from around the Pacific Northwest who arrived at a wildlife refuge on Saturday morning left several hours later after people leading an occupation of the refuge told them they weren't needed.

Todd MacFarlane, a Utah lawyer acting as a mediator, said occupation leader Ammon Bundy and others were concerned about the perception the armed visitors conveyed.  "This was the last thing in the world they wanted to see happen," MacFarlane told The Oregonian.

Bundy didn't request the presence of the Pacific Patriot Network, he said, and has "tried to put out the word: 'We don't need you.'"  The network, a consortium of groups from Oregon, Washington and Idaho, arrived at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge midmorning in a convoy of about 18 vehicles, carrying rifles and handguns and dressed in military attire and bulletproof vests.

Some of the men told journalists they were there to help with security for the group that has occupied the headquarters of the refuge since Jan. 2.  Their leader, Brandon Curtiss, said the group came to "de-escalate" the situation by providing security for those inside and outside the compound.

One of the original occupiers of the refuge, LaVoy Finicum, said earlier on Saturday that the network's help is appreciated, but "we want the long guns put away."

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd like to know why anyone from the EPA wasn't charged with terrorism and whatever other BS charges prosecutors like to throw against the wall when they poisoned and polluted an entire river system? Funny how these rules only apply to us mundanes.

Anonymous said...

And, look it up on youtube. I'm going to paraphrase here. When a reporter asked Bundy if he felt more comfortable with the new "perimeter" established, he said yes.
The reporter then asked if he thought it would help prevent a "Waco" style event, Bundy smiled a bit and said yes.

Way too many mixed messages here, and as it is said, "making it up as they go" seems to apply.

Anonymous said...

I want to know not only why no one in EPA was charge but why the 'environmental activists' have given a 100% complete pass to the EPA over handling the toxic water discharge up in Colorado. Had this been an "evil" corporation, the eco-terrorists would have been all over it.

Millwright said...

A lot of things are happening in Harney CT,Y OR but here's some intel from people I trust.

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2016/01/10/another-unbelievable-update-why-does-harney-county-sheriff-david-ward-want-hammond-family-story-hidden/#more-110824

Seems the sheriff has more irons in this fire than he will admit to ! And he is in the "nexus" to defuse the looming confrontation, so why isn't he acting to resolve it without conflict ? As the "pivot point" why isn't Sheriff Ward being moe pro-active in its resolution ?

Anonymous said...

Interestingly, a BLM range specialist named Dave Ward assisted in prosecution of the Hammonds after helping them develop a burn plan to present to the BLM. He testified in 2012 that they went ahead with the plan without telling him or others. There is now a SHERIFF Dave Ward handling negotiations there.