Pizza And Assault Rifles: Inside The Occupied Oregon Wildlife Refuge

Tyler Durden's picture




 

When last we checked in on Ammon Bundy and his band of “patriots”, Harney County Sheriff David Ward was getting fed up with the group’s occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

“It is time for you to leave our community, go home to your families, and end this peacefully,” Ward said on Tuesday.

But Ammon Bundy and the handful of armed militiamen holed up at the remote, snowy federal outpost have no such plans. The “Citizens for Constitutional Freedom” (as they now call themselves) are in it for the long haul and have pledged, at various times since “seizing” the office last Saturday, to remain in the building “for years.”

While it’s not entirely clear what Bundy wants, the group’s professed goal is to “"restore the rights to people so they can use the land and resources.” Here’s a bit of helpful color from Terry Andersen, the William A. Dunn Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Property and Environment Research Center and the John and Jean DeNault Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution (from a New York Times op-ed):

Their goal harkens back the “Sagebrush Rebellion” of the 1970s, though their tactics are more draconian. Then the rebels called for more local control of federal lands, if not outright transfer of title to those lands to the states, and such solutions are still worth considering.

 

The impetus for the Oregon occupation is the imprisonment of a father and son for setting fire to federal lands to control invasive species moving to private lands and to help prevent wildfires, a huge land management problem in the West.

 

Living in the mountains south of Bozeman, Mont., I feel their pain because every summer I fight spotted knapweed, an invasive plant spread from my national forest neighbors, and I fear that wildfire will spread from the unmanaged federal land.

 

The second cause is “multiple conflicts over multiple uses.” At the time of the Sagebrush Rebellion the list of multiple uses that federal land agencies were to manage was huge. It is growing exponentially.

 

Western ranchers, loggers, farmers and, yes, even government bureaucrats with their feet on the ground could provide the stewardship sought by the rebels in Oregon. Now that armed confrontation has brought attention to their cause, we need to consider policies that will devolve management to lower levels of government and get the incentives right for encouraging environmental and fiscal responsibility

And here's a bit more from Salon:

The Bundys have been up in arms about where their cattle can and can’t roam, and their father, Cliven, owes more than $1 million in grazing fees. And the Hammonds are being punished for setting fire to public land. If you live in some other part of the country—in, say, a bustling East Coast city—what do ranching restrictions and arson have to do with you? The short answer: The land use regulations that the occupiers of the Malheur Refuge are fighting go far beyond where cattle can roam. How we use our land determines what comes out of it in the form of extracted resources, which then affects so much else, from what kind of air we breathe to how many earthquakes we experience–not to mention our changing climate. It would not be a stretch to say that caring about land use means caring about the fate of our planet.

 

In his “Wilderness Letter,” Wallace Stegner wrote that we need to preserve wilderness “even if we never once in ten years set foot in it.” Wild lands, according to Stegner, are important “simply as an idea.” But land use is about much more than what land we preserve as wilderness, or even what land we set aside for recreation and enjoyment. While wilderness is indeed valuable, there is plenty of non-wilderness public land whose fate matters just as much.

 

The Sagebrush Rebels argue that this federal land should’ve belonged to the states to begin with, according to a clause under the Doctrine of the Equality of States, which says new states enter the union “on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever.” Several Western states were required to disclaim their sovereignty over unappropriated lands when they became states, and the Sagebrush Rebels have never gotten over it. This is why they continue to demand the “return” of federal land to the states—though that would necessitate the land once having belonged to the states, and it never really did.

Ok, so Bundy, like his father, has become something of a folk hero among states' rights advocates and he's essentially hijacked the Hammond brush fire case and transformed it into a justification for the armed occupation of a federal building. 

Of course it's probably occurred to Bundy - if not to every member of the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom - that the US government couldn't legislate its way out of a wet paper bag let alone fruitfully revisit a grand debate on land use and state's rights. That is, Washington is mired in partisan bickering that's created the worst Congressional gridlock in recent memory which means that even if someone cared to address Bundy's concerns, they couldn't. 

But Bundy is apparently ready to wait around in the woods until something happens. "There is a time to go home. We recognize that. We don't feel it's quite time yet," he said on Wednesday. "We feel like we need to make sure that the Hammonds are out of prison, or well on their way. We need to make sure that there is some teeth in these land transfers, and also that those who have committed crimes ... those are exposed as well."

In the meantime, Reuters got an inside look at life inside occupied bird sanctuary. Here are some excerpts from their account:

The doorknob rattled. Two of the men occupying a federal biologist's office in a stand-off over land rights hopped from their chairs and swung rifles toward the locked door.

 

There was no knock - the established procedure for gaining entry to the nerve center of the siege mounted by brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy at this eastern Oregon nature center.

 

The Bundys’ body guard stood in silent alert but heard no voices from the snowy darkness outside.

 

"Should we approach the door or not?" Ryan asked, creeping toward a window.

 

On Tuesday, for the first time, they allowed two reporters to join them inside their refuge for a night marked by long discussions and moments of hair-trigger tension.

 

As the two Reuters’ reporters arrived just after nightfall, the occupiers were moving into a state of high alert. The groups’ head of security, a man known as Buddha, had been out of touch since driving off-site hours earlier. Amid efforts to locate him, the Bundys talked at length about what had brought them into this wilderness--and what it would take for them to leave.

 

"When we can say, 'OK, now we can go home,' would be when the people of Harney County are secure enough and confident enough that they can continue to manage their own land and their own rights and resources without our aid, " Ryan Bundy said. "And we intend to turn this facility into a facility that will aid that process."

 

The brothers have taken over the cozy and cluttered office of Linda Sue Beck, a biologist and civil servant they have come to view as a symbol the federal government. They said they would allow Beck to come to gather her personal belongings. But they don’t want her to return to work.

 

“She’s not here working for the people,” declared Ryan Bundy, the more outspoken of the brothers. “She’s not benefitting America. She’s part of what’s destroying America.”

Yes, Linda is "part of what's destroying America." Behold, the face of government oppression:

And while we doubt that Linda will be stopping by to "gather her personal belongings," Bundy says the group is expecting visitors soon. On Tuesday Bundy said that based on information he received from an unnamed source, the FBI has obtained five arrest warrants, and is "gathering their equipment and their goons" at a local high school. "They were planning on coming in and raiding the refuge," he added. 

As Reuters goes on to note, there are times when the group questions themselves. “When is it enough to put yourself and other people’s lives on the line? Is it justified? Maybe in the end we’ll look at each other and say, ‘What are we doing?’” 

Yes, "maybe." But until then, many of the men suggest that if push comes to shove, they're prepared to die for Bundy and his cause. On that note, we'll close with a quote from Wes Kjar, a 31-year-old oil rig worker who's convinced the FBI is set to storm the building:

“I’m not saying I want to die. I want to surrender. But I want to surrender on the right terms.”

 

 

 

The full clip is below:

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Thu, 01/07/2016 - 20:54 | 7014815 blindman
blindman's picture

they can prosecute several,
but not several thousand; is
it another numbers game?

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 01:14 | 7015708 Citxmech
Citxmech's picture

I'm wondering if they thought a bunch of supporters would show up like last time and change the dynamics.  

Looks like they gambled and lost and their friends have hung them out to dry this time. . . 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:15 | 7014292 Rabbit rancher
Rabbit rancher's picture

I SMELL A HUGE SET UP ,THEY NEED TO STAND DOWN NOW ,THINK ABOUT IT

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:07 | 7014295 Shirley Swanepoel
Shirley Swanepoel's picture

The majority of the idiots commenting here do not even live in the US.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:13 | 7014296 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

Like the German rape crisis center (we're being fucked by Muslim refugees EVERYWHERE and NO ONE CAN STOP THEM) courtesy of the Cologne "Zionist" theater production...  While Israel continues to spray it's defoliants on the largest blockaded open air human pen/ghetto in the World's history courtesy of it's loud red, white and blue mentor that looks the other way going on 67 years!...

This is all such hyperbole stick the "circumcised biggest dick in your face" bullshit for the American mental "midgetry" short-circuited through drug and alcohol abuse!

Keep up the both of them...

Because at this point it's all you got left!

Thank God we still have "Pizza Slut" feeding our hungry COINTELPRO "resisters"

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:08 | 7016458 YHC-FTSE
YHC-FTSE's picture

+10000

 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:08 | 7014298 rsnoble
rsnoble's picture

I wonder if these guys realize they're gonna be going to jail for a long, long time and that they my as well put up a fight?  No one wants to die, but the rest of your life in prison will be worse.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:13 | 7014319 Mad Muppet
Mad Muppet's picture

I just sent Obama an email urging them to pardon the Hammonds. It's an elegant solution where everyone wins something, noone loses terribly and no more Waco bloodbaths. Maybe a few hundred more such notes would have an effect? This certainly isn't worth dying for.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 20:58 | 7014839 restelle
restelle's picture

You can't pardon anyone until AFTER a guilty conviction.  Innocent unless PROVEN gulity.  Remember?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:22 | 7014961 conscious being
conscious being's picture

Hello. Pay attention. The Hammonds were convicted. That's what sparked this whole mess. A presidential pardon of the unjustly convicted Hammonds would defuse the situation.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 01:10 | 7015699 Citxmech
Citxmech's picture

Are you saying they didn't set the fires, or that setting the fires was OK?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:18 | 7014341 sidiji
sidiji's picture

so...big cattle welfare queens wants more gov subsidies....burn them BURN THEM!

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:20 | 7014346 surf@jm
surf@jm's picture

Your probably looking at future political prisoners.....If they allow themselves to be taken alive....

They will be treated like a tax protester who doesn`t "volunteer" to file a tax return......

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:21 | 7014352 Salsipuedes
Salsipuedes's picture

One in eight Americans eats pizza every day... Brain food!

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:32 | 7014423 bankonzhongguo
bankonzhongguo's picture

I'm all for these guys in principal, however I think the idea of seizing federal government property unsupported in winter is not just a bad idea, but one likely created by informants working for the Feds for Obama/Democratic Party agendas.

I think nearly every terrorism case presented by the DOJ has been instigated by CI that were blackmailed into big ops for the Feds and otherwise setup mentally ill, isolated and stupid people to perform acts they did not have an independent capacity or interest in pursuing in the first place.

Phase 2 of the whole "global war on terrorism" requires "domestic terrorists" exist next door to Harriet Housewife. Goldstein!

These guys are being setup for that meme.

When you go to your "Tea Party" meeting understand that 5% of the group has some intelligence collection relationship with the Feds or other law enforcement.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 22:05 | 7015135 flyingcaveman
flyingcaveman's picture

It sure has a made for TV fakeness quality about it, just like how there was all those nice clear photos of all the ISIS head-choppers who didn't cut of the photographer's head.  Look at that guy, he's got 3 brand new shirts and a new hat!  Did he just step out of the wardrobe trailer?  Where is Rita Kats?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 22:57 | 7015344 Dr. Bonzo
Dr. Bonzo's picture

The principle means through which the government sets up and prosecutes opposition groups is through CIs. The CI can be passive and simply relay information, but more often than not are prodded to incite the subjects under surveillance to commit gross criminal acts in the hopes of entrapping them. WTC '93 bombings... Branch Davidians... '99 WTO protests in Seattle... all had active CIs instructed to incite violence.

Don't doubt for a second that social media aren't also full of dumb law enforcement types inciting unsuspecting people to commit criminal acts.

I'm sure this Oregan bunch have at least 1-2 CIs in their ranks.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:50 | 7014502 MASTER OF UNIVERSE
MASTER OF UNIVERSE's picture

In the immortal words of the Great Bugs Bunny... 

 

What a bunch of maroons!

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 19:48 | 7014508 oncefired
oncefired's picture

Pretty nice looking place for being in the middle of no where! I guess the Feds probably just gave it a multi-million makeover so the whale with the carp would be happy!

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 20:22 | 7014633 blindman
blindman's picture

Kingston Trio live 1981 "Early Morning Rain" "Merry Minuet" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYRFQASY6Q

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 20:22 | 7014635 Cthonic
Cthonic's picture

Waiting for a moonless night to see what new/secret crowd-control technology gets tested/deployed. 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 20:53 | 7014810 Vlad the Inhaler
Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:10 | 7014845 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Bundy and his associates .... are patriots and heroes .... the federal government has way too much land in the western states .... and now they want more .... go turn Baltimore and Ferguson and Chicago into wild life preserves .... leave these ranchers alone .... local law enforcement should support the local people .... and not be pimps for the federal pigs .... if these people are mistreated .... Trump's going to intervene .... and the over reaching Dept of Agriculture goons will shit their pants .... like the Iranian punks did .... when Reagan replaced .... little Jimmy Carter .... and Bundy and his band .... will have a ticker tape parade in Manhattan .... and assemble at ground zero .... to sing America the Beautiful .... and Glory, Glory Hallelujah ?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:06 | 7014877 Super Broccoli
Super Broccoli's picture

alright cowboys if you're reading this and if you really want to stand to the last one of you ...

then you'll post some guys with sniper riffles in the mountains around coupled with someone with googles and an AR15 just in case (and not just wait behind the door ... !)

oh and don't forget, drones will spot you unless you hide under at least 2 feet of snow

now i'm just saying that's what i would do if i were you, not saying surrendering and ending up in jail for the next 10 years for "terrorism" wouldn't smarter ;-)

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:14 | 7014920 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Trump should go there .... meet with Bundy et al .... negotiate a truce .... then kick ass on the Dept. of Agriculture .... when he takes office ?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:16 | 7014923 Monetas
Monetas's picture

Ike went to Korea .... Nixon went to Viet Nam .... Trump should go to Oregon ?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:26 | 7014978 luckylogger
luckylogger's picture

Where is the closest liquer store?

Has it been burned down and looted?

That is an obummer sanctioned type of protest.....

 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:26 | 7014983 luckylogger
luckylogger's picture

Half the idiots reading WSJ think BLM means black lives matter......

HAHAHA

Everybody is just so out of touch!

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:32 | 7014994 PrimalScream
PrimalScream's picture

TRUMP  in Oregon?  Donald Trump is a "my way or the highway" kinda guy.  He just wants to win.  I think Bundy would have been dead in 48 hours if Trump was President.

The Federal Government has actually been amazingly calm in this Maltheur situation.  If the reports are correct, the location where the Bundy group is ... is pretty calm and deserted. So long as these guys did not threaten the lives of other people - the FBI seems to have been willing to use time wisely.  That was actually a VERY GOOD strategy, and it might have saved some lives. It looks like the local Sheriff might persuade Bundy to leave.  Bundy will be arrested, but maybe no-one will wind up dead.  the Feds and the Sheriff tried to avoid a bloody outcome.  That's a lot better than anything that Montel Williams was saying.

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 21:47 | 7015063 Stormtrooper
Stormtrooper's picture

I just want to know, if I travel all the way to Oregon to join these guys, can I trade in my semi-auto AR-15 for a real full-auto "assault rifle" or is this just more ignorant mass media reporter blather and bullshit?

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 22:34 | 7015194 duck dodgers
duck dodgers's picture

 

 

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 22:22 | 7015198 PennilessPauper
PennilessPauper's picture

I think the average American is sick and tired of Psyops and false flag attacks!  Why didn't the swat team show up already?  Like they usually do when some fat American calls in that someone may or may not have a gun?

I only clicked on this click bait because I already watched the paint dry.

 

Contemporary definitions for psyops

noun:

psychological operations carried out by the military, esp. to influence the attitudes and perceptions of individuals, organizations, or governments

Thu, 01/07/2016 - 23:00 | 7015356 Crush the cube
Crush the cube's picture

Why don't the states, counties, and cities where said fed properties lay tax the living hell out of them?  Why are they exempt from paying property taxes?  Than rip the mineral rights and such out from under them, just as is done to private land holders.  Eminent domain, out of the way fed lackey.  Ah, nice facility you just put up, tax appraiser will be out shortly.

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 00:11 | 7015552 onmail1
onmail1's picture

Occupy White House

which has become a gay house now

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 05:38 | 7015930 Fireman
Fireman's picture

Armed, white, malcontent, redneck, Mercan male (sick of the Washing town chosen racer bankster aristocracy) is the new redskin. Start the range war already; the rest of the planet is waiting with popcorn and friendly states will supply "humanitarian aid".

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzbhbetwYFU

Fri, 01/08/2016 - 09:21 | 7016515 cordial savage
cordial savage's picture

And they're handsome, too!

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