From: Black Unicorn <unicorn@polaris.mindport.net>
Date: Mon, 18 Sep 95 09:47:11 PDT
To: Duncan Frissell <frissell@panix.com>
Subject: Re: Linking = Showing = Transferring?
In-Reply-To: <199509181421.KAA01808@panix.com>
Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91.950918124125.1825D-100000@polaris.mindport.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


On Mon, 18 Sep 1995, Duncan Frissell wrote:

> At 08:33 AM 9/15/95 -0700, Charles Lewton wrote:
> 
> >Not quite squashed, Duncan.  Bullet placement (poor by some standards)
> >is all that prevented Mr. Weaver from croaking like his unfortunate wife.
> >She is said to have "pissed off" the feds but was not charged with a
> >single actionable item yet she remains quite dead.
> >
> >Unless I have missed something somewhere, no TLA is concerned in the slightest
> >with individual liberty.  That notion should keep a rational person awake
> >nights.
> >
> >Chuck
> >
> 
> In response to Chuck and Lucky, I can only say that the Weavers suffered 57%
> casualties (4/7) and 28% KIA (2/7).  The Feds suffered .25% KIA (1/400).  I
> don't think any Feds were merely wounded.
> 
> They brought murder charges against two members of the group and lost.

Careful here, they lost because the FBI refused to cooperate with the 
prosecutor.  It was looking like a open and shut case before this.

>  They settled wrongful death suits for $3.1 million.  They also lost 
> the publicity war.  They had to change their procedures because of Ruby 
> Ridge and Waco.

Actually, they just reenforced the old policy, which had been degrading 
in practice for quite a long while in the case of Ruby Ridge.

> They energized the opposition.
> 
> The casualties were unfortunate but when facing force ratios of 57/1 or
> better, the outcome has to be considered a major victory for Randy Weaver.

Considering the limited rules of engagement (i.e. low intensity sniper 
conflict only) I don't think you can really take 57/1 as a force ratio of 
meaningful impact.

> The case is a demonstration of modern conflicts in which litigation and
> publicity count as much as guns.  On that field, the Feds don't hold all the
> cards.

On this I agree with you.

> 
> DCF
> 
> "The libertarian and conservative coalition of the 'Right' is a
> low-maintenance coalition because its members mostly want to be left alone
> while the special interest group coalition of the 'Left' is a
> high-maintenance coalition because all of its members need to be given a
> vast dose of government cash daily."   
> 
> 
> 

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