PIML 96050401 / Forwarded to Patriot Information Mailing List: [Note on another subject: There is an article by Chip Berlet of Political Research Associates floating around the net. The purpose of the article is to attempt to paint Bo Gritz as a racist. I know Bo Gritz; he is NOT a racist. Period. I know of Chip Berlet; he is a self-styled "militia expert", known far and wide for spreading disinformation. He seems to be following in Morris Dees' footsteps. Question: Why does a Morris Dees wannabe want to be? You may as well be a Satan wannabe.] PIML [Below Charlie Duke tells it like it is with the Freemen.] PIML ================================================================== Date: Mon, 03 Jun 1996 00:14:16 -0700 From: Liberty or Death Subject: L&J: More from Charles Duke Reply-To: liberty-and-justice@pobox.com By Senator Charles R. Duke Colorado District 9 CLARK RANCH FREEMEN ARE NOT PATRIOTS The recent trip I took to Brusett, Montana, has to be called a mixed blessing. The objectives for my role in the talks were all accomplished. My personal goal of obtaining the release of two small children has not yet been successful. Nevertheless, a great deal was learned that had not been known before and that, too, will be helpful. The objectives for the talks themselves were threefold: 1) The complete de-escalation of the standoff and exit from the property of all residents of the Clark Ranch; 2) Preservation of the Freemen's data and records; 3) A public forum from which the Freemen could present their case. Verbal plans to accomplish each of these were discussed, but the Freemen would not allow the discussion to remain stable long enough to reduce the plans to writing. On every major agreement that was made between the Freemen and the FBI, the Freemen would open the discussions the following day with a new escalation of demands. First of all, who are the people on the Clark Ranch? Of the 21 people believed to be there, 14 have a variety of state and federal charges against them, including bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, possession of a deadly weapon, impersonating an officer of the state, criminal syndicalism and others. The remaining seven of the twenty-one had no criminal charges pending as of the beginning of the standoff. Of the 14 who had charges pending, only six are believed to be truly in the classification of Freemen. The other eight are simply trying to hook their wagon to the Freemen star as a means of avoiding arrest and prosecution. My own personal tasks were officially three-fold in nature also: 1) Initiate discussions between the Freemen and the FBI; 2) "Humanize" the discussions as much as possible; 3) Facilitate the development of a plan whereby the standoff would end. Prior to my appearance at the site, the Freemen refused to talk to the FBI. In their world, the FBI had never been created by statute, and, therefore, did not exist. By talking to the FBI, the Freemen would be granting venue to the agency which would interfere with their purported stand on principle. My presence allowed the Freemen to talk to me in a way that would let the FBI overhear. Similarly, the FBI could talk to me in a way that would let the Freemen overhear. That is how the discussions began. A plan was drawn up for what was believed to be the de- escalation process. As the talks to finalize details began on Monday, however, the Freemen, abruptly and without warning, suspended talks until a letter could be received from Attorney General Janet Reno stating that all elements of the de- escalation plan had been approved. They did this despite being told that the overall plan might take a week or two to be approved. Another plan for the release of the Ward children was drawn up on Monday. Certain details were demanded by the Freemen. They stated that if those details could be provided, the Ward family would be released without delay. With some considerable difficulty, those details were provided as requested. On Tuesday morning, however, as the FBI arrived with escort vehicles for the Ward family, a new demand was presented by the Freemen. This time the Freemen wanted a letter from the President of the United States authorizing the FBI's presence under the "War and Emergency Powers Act." There is no such act, of course. They may have meant to say, "The Emergency Banking and Relief Act of 1933." The Freemen have made a considerable amount of money conducting seminars blasting the use of war and emergency powers by various presidents. Now, they appeared to be willing to allow the use of those powers when it suited them. This showed the Freemen to be, at the very best, disingenuous. Having learned that the two Ward children had strategic value to the FBI, the Freemen then moved the two girls to the house where the main troublemakers, Russ Landers, Dale Jacobi and Rod Skurdal, lived. Not only could the terms of agreement not be kept, but they also appeared to be ready to hide behind children. It became obvious to me we were not dealing with honorable people and that most of these Clark Ranch Freemen were not true partners of the much larger Montana Freemen movement; they were simply trying to commandeer the patriot movement for their own. I could not, therefore, maintain a neutral and impartial position with the Freemen and subsequently left. Throughout our discussions, Edwin Clark, the fourth member of the Freemen negotiating team, was cooperative and willing to compromise. As idea blocks were put together, however, the other three would enter and ideologically kick the blocks over. It has been said the Freemen were patriots attempting to defend the Constitution and are supported by the militia. I do not believe any of this. Most of the residents of the Clark Ranch are neither patriots nor constitutionists. For the most part, they are using a Freemen facade as a means of defying the exercise of civil authority. END ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Don't Tread On Me! <<< ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Psalm 33 * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- "If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. - Samuel Adams ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Unsub info - send to majordomo@pobox.com with "unsubscribe liberty-and-justice" in the body (not the subj) of the msg. 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