Thursday, Sept. 9, 1999 | 9:48 a.m.
In a statement to the press, the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) took credit for the $12 million in damage, saying, "Putting profits ahead of Colorado wildlife will not be tolerated." (ELF is an arm of the radical Earth First.)
This was not an isolated incident. As a matter of fact, there have been over 1,500 recorded cases of eco-terrorism in the last 10 years.
Environmental terrorists declared Oct. 29, 1996 "International day of Action," published in an Earth First journal. Eco-terrorists were encouraged to let "... the world feel our united rage."
That night 9,000 acres of Willamette National Forest in Oregon were burned, one ranger vehicle destroyed, and an undetonated incendiary device was found on the roof of the Detroit ranger station (ELF took credit).
While Attorney General Janet Reno has ordered the FBI to beef up its surveillance of right-wing conservative groups, the leadership of the Fish and Wildlife Service and Forest Service have not been informing the FBI of violent activities in their jurisdictions. Eco-terrorists are promising more attacks, but very little is being done.
DOUG LOCKE
archive
