.id AA17293; Tue, 29 Aug 95 11:43:26 CDT
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 1995 11:43:25 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: Conspiracy Nation -- Vol. 5 Num. 93



              Conspiracy Nation -- Vol. 5  Num. 93
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                    ("Quid coniuratio est?")


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FBI LINE ABOUT RANDY WEAVER DOESN'T RING TRUE
By Thomas Shapley
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
[qtd. in *Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette*, 08/27/95]
[The following is an abbreviated version]

[...continued...]

Based on such erroneous information, without first directly 
interviewing the marshals involved, without knowledge of the fact 
that there was a very real possibility that the actions of the 
marshals precipitated the violence, and fueled by what would 
later prove to be exaggerated evaluations of the violent nature 
and risks posed by those within the cabin, an unprecedented order 
was issued, one that would cost Vicki Weaver her life.

Because a federal officer had been shot and killed, the FBI was 
called in. The bureau's operation was spearheaded by its Hostage 
Rescue Team, led by Special Agent Richard Rogers. The operation 
was managed by Eugene Glenn, senior FBI agent on Ruby Ridge 
during the siege.

Glenn and Rogers imposed special "rules of engagement" upon the 
agents at the scene, including the snipers who were to be 
deployed in a 360-degree array around the cabin. As of about 2:30 
on the afternoon of August 22 [1992], agents were told that 
arrangements were being made to deliver a surrender announcement 
to the cabin. There were certain rules to be followed before and 
after the surrender announcement was delivered. These were the 
"special" rules of engagement, and they were different from 
anything most of the agents involved had ever heard of.

Before the surrender announcement was delivered, the rules read, 
"deadly force can and should be employed" against any armed adult 
male "if the shot can be taken without endangering any children." 
Once the surrender announcement was delivered, "deadly force can 
and should be employed if an adult in the compound is observed 
with a weapon." Rogers himself said he had never operated under 
rules of engagement such as those employed at Ruby Ridge.

Rogers and Glenn swear they obtained approval from acting Deputy 
FBI Director Larry Potts and his deputy, Danny Coulson, for these 
special rules of engagement (the FBI's usual rules allow the use 
of deadly force only in defense of one's self or others). Potts 
and Coulson subsequently denied they gave that approval. FBI 
Director Louis Freeh later said it didn't much matter because no 
one was operating under those rules.

The Justice Department report indicates otherwise.

Sniper Dale Monroe told Justice Department investigators that he 
interpreted the rules of engagement as a "green light" to use 
deadly force.

Most importantly, sniper Lon Horiuchi, who fired the shot that 
killed Vicki Weaver, acknowledged during his court testimony 
that, under the rules of engagement, he could and should shoot 
any adult male, if he had an opportunity.

Horiuchi fired two shots at about 5:58 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22, 
not quite four hours after the special rules of engagement had 
been put in place and before a surrender statement had been 
issued to those in the cabin. Horiuchi fired his first shot at 
Randy Weaver, wounding him in the shoulder. He had seen Weaver 
and Harris and one young female leave the cabin. As Weaver, 
Harris and the young woman (16-year-old Sara Weaver) ran back 
into the cabin, and the door was held open for them to come in, 
Horiuchi fired again. He was "leading" his target, the second of 
the running men. Horiuchi's second shot went through the cabin's 
front door, striking Harris and Vicki Weaver.

The Justice Department report concluded that the special rules of 
engagement "contain serious constitutional infirmities... the 
word 'should' (deadly force can and should be employed) strongly 
encourages the use of deadly force. The use of such language in 
the rules was unconstitutional..."

"The rules contributed to Horiuchi's decision to take a second 
shot... The rules in effect were unconstitutional... by fixing 
his cross hairs on the door, when he believed someone was behind 
it, he placed the children and Vicki Weaver at risk, in violation 
of even the special rules of engagement. In our opinion, he 
needlessly and unjustifiably endangered the persons whom he 
thought might be behind the door... the second shot violated the 
Constitution."

The siege went on until Sunday, Aug. 30, when Harris surrendered; 
the next day, Weaver and his children gave it up and left the 
cabin. Harris and Weaver were indicted on 10 counts of assault, 
murder and conspiracy {2}, and the FBI began to write a new 
chapter of deceit and obfuscation in the story of Ruby Ridge {3}.

On July 8, 1993, a jury of their peers acquitted Weaver and 
Harris of all charges associated with the August 1992 shootout 
and subsequent siege. Weaver was convicted on two relatively 
minor charges of failure to appear and committing an offense 
while on bail. Weaver was sentenced to 18 months behind bars. On 
Dec. 18, 1993, he was released from prison.

High-level FBI officials face the prospect of criminal 
prosecution. The government has paid the remaining Weavers $3.1 
million in taxpayers' money to settle civil claims. Harris also 
has filed suit against federal officials. On Sept. 6, hearings 
begin before the Senate Judiciary Committee's terrorism 
subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Arlen Specter.

---------------------------<< Notes >>---------------------------
{2} "Harris and Weaver were indicted on 10 counts of assault, 
murder and conspiracy..." Oh, did you say "conspiracy"? Oh hah, 
hah, you "conspiracy nut"!

{3} "...and the FBI began to write a new chapter of deceit and 
obfuscation in the story of Ruby Ridge." The FBI has been joined 
by the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) who have recently authored 
still another chapter of deceit and obfuscation in the story of 
Ruby Ridge. You may have seen their garbage floating around 
Internet.

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