sbp

Law catches up to ecoterror

DENVER -- Sure, they burn down homes, firebomb universities and terrorize research labs. Even so, for the better part of a decade, the Earth Liberation Front and Animal Liberation Front were seen not as anti-social thugs but idealistic young kids.

After all, the general public tended to support their broad goals: They were in favor of a clean environment and against cruelty to animals. Religious fundamentalists and militias were dangerous; groups like ELF and ALF were well-meaning, even if they sometimes got carried away and torched a ranger station.

But then came September 11. For ELF and ALF, that was the day they took joint credit for firebombing a McDonald's in Tucson, Ariz. For the rest of the nation, that was the day that terrorism suddenly ceased being cute.

"The general population is becoming a lot less tolerant toward these groups," said Rep. Scott McInnis, Colorado Republican. "The feeling is, if you're going to tolerate this, then why not tolerate the al Qaeda? We need to take away the Robin Hood mystique from these terrorists, which is what they are."

While the nation fights international terrorism overseas, lawmakers like Mr. McInnis have renewed their long-standing campaign to crack down on domestic terrorism, notably ecoterrorism. Prodded by a hearing last month on domestic terrorism, Congress is considering legislation that would, among other things, place ecoterrorists under the racketeering act.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation now ranks both ALF and ELF as the No. 1 domestic terrorism threat, surpassing the Timothy McVeigh-style militia extremists who dominated the terrorism scene during much of the 1990s, according to James Jarboe, FBI domestic terrorism section chief.

"The FBI estimates that the ALF/ELF have committed more than 600 criminal acts in the United States since 1996, resulting in damages in excess of $43 million," said Mr. Jarboe at the Feb. 12 hearing before the House Resources Commitee's subcommittee on forests and forest health.

And the threat is growing. The September 11 tragedy hasn't slowed down these groups; instead, animal and environmental activists have "turned increasingly toward vandalism and terrorist activity in attempts to further their causes," Mr. Jarboe said.

"They're all over the place — they've torched so many things, you can't keep track any more," said Ron Arnold, author of "Ecoterror."

The trend has led to some ominous speculation. "At the rate they're going," said Mike Burita, spokesman for the Center for Consumer Freedom, "someone's going to get killed."

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whitak24

these groups are, in my opinion, a bunch of idiots. they attacked Michigan State twice while i was there, destroying YEARS of research that could help many people.

you have professors who are researching to try to figure out better ways to produce food in third-world countries or how to grow crops while using fewer pesticides. but just because genetic research was being used, they deemed it evil and decided it had to be destroyed.

they aren't god, and they shouldn't be playing that position as they try to force people to do the things they want them to do in the way they want them done

and at the same time, they assume a self-righteous stance that they are so justified in what they are doing because they're just looking out for all of us. i can think for myself, thank you very much.

johnnymk

What about the EPA? - There are radio talk shows around here that call the EPA the Environmental Persecution Agency. They are just as bad!

whitak24

well, i have to disagree with you there, johnny.

the EPA is markedly different than groups like ELF and ALF. as a government agency, it has significantly more power, yet it uses it in ways that are controlled and overseen by other government agencies. while it is not necessarily known for efficient decision-making processes or rational outcomes to those processes, it is controlled and ultimately will be overruled when it gets too far out of its scope or its decisions negatively impact too many people.

ELF and ALF, on the other hand, have no public mandate, do not operate within the context of the law, and seem to think that by blowing things up and buring things down they can accomplish their objectives. they don't hold public hearings before they destroy researchers' work. when they attack, there is no recourse for their victims; no appeals to avert the destruction they cause.

while i belive that reform to the EPA could help the organization become more effective and ultimately help us reach a point of less pollution at a lower cost, i think it is unfair to compare the EPA to these organizations.

jase71

Terrorism is terrorism. The ideology behind it doesn't really matter.

It makes no difference whether you firebomb a university lab, a McDonalds, an abortion clinic, or a business entity. All are equally reprehensible.

Destruction of property is a crime, no matter how justified you might feel in doing it.

Abortion clinic bombers, Ecoterrorists, Al Qaeda... toss 'em all in the same pot.