When you learn just how horrible these ranchers are...

[SHRED]

...It's harder to laugh at them.

Shame on our Federal Government for not nipping this in the bud.

Showdown in the Malheur Marshes: the Origins of Rancher Terrorism in Burns, Oregon

On one occasion Hammond told the manager of the federal refuge that “he was going to tear his head off and shit down his neck.”

According to the affidavit, Hammond threated to kill refuge manager Forrest Cameron and assistant manager Dan Walsworth and claimed he was ready to die over a fence line that the refuge wanted to construct to keep his cows out of a marsh and wetland.

Hammond’s son Steve showed up and began calling the government men “worthless cocksuckers” and “assholes.”

...including one call threatening to wrap the Camerons’ 12-year-old boy in a shroud of barbed wire and stuff him down a well. Other callers warned Mrs. Cameron that if she couldn’t get along in the cow town, she ought to move out before something “bad” happened to her family.

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/01/05/showdown-in-the-malheur-marshes-the-origins-of-the-armed-occupation-in-burns-oregon/

[underthematrix]

1. I believe the FBI took over the situation today.

Before they had said it was a local matter but whatever intelligence was gathered by the FBI and Homeland Security changed that dynamic to a federal matter. Now how did that happen. Well we have an intelligent thoughtful who gathers information, data and other intelligence, pulls his team together and listen to their analysis. Then he ask questions, explores different scenarios and their potential outcomes, and he looks at how each of those scenarios could impact other collateral issues.

I'm guessing they have been monitoring their communications and the situation probably has great potential for escalation. I consider these terrorists a special kind of trash. I don't want the feds to fire one shot. I want them to turn off the water, heat, electricity and close all access roads so they cannot receive any supplies. If they die, I want them to be the cause of their own death.

[2naSalit]

2. I agree. nt

[SHRED]

3. I agree now however...

...my angst is (as the article points out) from the fact that this has been going on since the 1990's.

And letting old man Bundy slide is a travesty that encourages this.

[Javaman]

13. actually since the '70's with the sagebrush rebellion. morons then, morons now. nt

[hopemountain]

4. and, i hope the fbi warns and does not just slap

the hands of those who bring food and water and "snacks" and anything else to aid and abet the terrorists.

[underthematrix]

5. the roads are closed

[hopemountain]

6. according to npr and opb, the local rv park is providing and selling them food.

[SHRED]

11. Link?

[SHRED]

14. Incorrect

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/militiamen-able-to-get-food-on-their-own

[underthematrix]

17. Thank you for the info. It appears oregon state police are

still in control. The article i read said FBI had assumed leadership.

[Wounded Bear]

7. I can't imagine it was ever really going to be a local matter...

It's fed property. It just took a few days to get assets out there to that remote site.

Part of me wants them to go all Apocalypse Now on their asses, but my rational side wants a peaceful ending. But I do want some folks doing perp walks this time.

[JDPriestly]

8. There is probably clean water in the area, springs, etc. and they

can fine wood for a fire. Do they need electricity? I don't know. They may have a generator of some sort and may have brought fuel. It isn't as simple as that. But it has been cold in Oregon the past few days.

They will get tired of cold showers before long. That is if they are showering at all.

[Vincardog]

16. If they didn't bring warm socks and snacks why would they bring a genaerator and fuel?

[Bluenorthwest]

12. The local law enforcement is a Sheriff, two deputies and I think 3 Burns city cops, FBI said it was

for those few guys to deal with, the gang of criminals from Nevada that the FBI has allowed to go free and invade Oregon. How did they imagine that 5 or 6 guys were going to solve the mess they helped make in 2014? What the actual fuck? A local problem? Interstate gangs? Really?
I'm still trying to digest the fact that they tried to pawn this off on the Sheriff.

[Jim Beard]

9. I'm sure there is plenty of diesel and gasoline in storage tanks at the site.

The normal government operations require diesel for the heavy equipment and gasoline for a fleet of light trucks.

I am surprised none of the posters have mentioned this but everyone keeps thinking the will run out of fuel but they are not.

[SHRED]

10. They need to order them out of there

I haven't read that they've even done that yet.

[annabanana]

18. So they're stealing our gasoline too?. . . .n/t

[csziggy]

15. After reading about the town's sentiments I expect they are helping

These terrorist hold the refuge headquarters.

My husband and I often take trips for birding. If we ever visit Oregon I might want to visit Malheur but I won't spend a dime in the town of Burn. I mentioned in another thread that I have some cards I leave in businesses in locations we visit indicating that we are there for the birds and are spending money because of the birds.

If I go to Malheur I will make special cards indicating that I am NOT spending money in the local area because they don't value the wildlife refuge. And I will make sure to stop in some of the businesses just to drop off those cards, especially if the businesses have signs up antagonistic to federal employees or the government.

[annabanana]

19. Reporters have been covering Burn looking for "militia" supporters

and not finding many. . .


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-oregon-militia-idUSKBN0UI1DC20160106

[Nevernose]

20. Hammond burned 140 acres to cover up a crime

The crime being poaching (responsible hunters? Apparently not in "Cow Town&quot . A child was forced to participate; when the fire got out of control, he had to shelter in a creek to save his own life. Five years later he decided that he was smarter than the government, what with their fancy-pants "firefighters" and "professionals" and decided to set his own firebreak fire in the height of both wildfire season and an actual wildfire, in which he nearly burned alive some of those aforementioned "firefighters."

Some of this is common knowledge, but I hadn't realized the extent of the illegality. 140 acres isn't an "oopsie" moment, and neither is burning 140 acres to cover up a crime of greed.

I have to give them credit, though: they turned themselves in peacefully, and asked the Talibundys to do the same.