Gun-toting “Patriots” Show Up at Wildlife Refuge Occupation – The New Pinkertons Have Arrived

by Scott Creighton

neoliberalism: An approach to economics and social studies in which control of economic factors is shifted from the public sector to the private sector… neoliberalism suggests that governments () privatize state-run businesses…neoliberalism seeks unbridled accumulation of capital through a rollback of the state…

A group of heavily armed “patriots” have shown up at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in order to serve as a “neutral party” to the conflict and provide a “buffer zone” between the Ammon Bundy clan and the forces of the big bad ebil gubmint… that haven’t shown up yet. The Pacific Patriots Network claims they are there to serve as “witnesses” to any potential aggression and to provide the people of the county some security as the standoff continues.

Members of the Pacific Patriots Network, a consortium of several groups from Oregon, Washington and Idaho, arrived mid-morning, carrying rifles and sidearms and clad in military attire and bulletproof vests.

Their leader, Brandon Curtiss, said the group came to “de-escalate” the situation by providing security for those inside and outside the compound. About a half-dozen rifles were visible among the two dozen new arrivals. They aren’t staying in the compound, Curtiss said, but are patrolling the perimeter of the reserve. Oregon Live

It took about 15 minutes to figure out they are a bunch of liars. Liars and probably paid security thugs for Big Mining businesses like the Pinkertons of old.

The press release issued on the 7th of this month by the PPN reads, in part:

“In congruence with the concerns of the citizens of Harney County, The PPN and its affiliated organizations will operate with respect and professionalism so as to not elevate fears within the community. As outsiders, we recognize our responsibility to maintain both peace and civility during our presence. To further demonstrate our non-aggressive posture, military style or tactical clothing will not be authorized for this operation.” PPN press release from their own website

As I have already shown, the concerns of the citizens of Harney County were made perfectly clear the other day when they held a town-hall meeting and voted by a massive majority to show they wanted the standoff ended and the Bundy occupiers of their wildlife refuge to leave immediately. Apparently the PPN missed that memo. You’ll understand why in a few minutes.

With regard to their statement about not “authorizing” military garb to be worn by their members…

So I guess we can toss out that “authorization” thing huh? Because they are damn sure wearing military style outfits and carrying military style weapons and ammo clips.

According to the press release, they have no intention of getting involved in the “standoff” (I put it in “” because as of yet, the only side that has shown up for the fight at the OK Corral has been the occupiers. The feds aren’t really there yet, but the FBI is supposedly on scene at the sheriff’s office.) but they will… if they “have to”

“We understand and respect this is an emotionally charged issue and will stand to bear witness and prevent any escalation or hostile action from either side. In the event of inappropriate action, A-Teams will respond accordingly.” PPN press release from their own website

Inappropriate action as defined by what? Is trying to arrest armed occupiers of federal land considered “inappropriate action”? How about journalism? Is that considered inappropriate?  And just who’s inappropriate action are they going to respond to? The feds? The neoliberal Mormon crazies? The locals trying to move the Mormon crazies off the refuge? Their own? Makes you wonder, doesn’t it.

As to their claim that they are a “neutral party”. Uh.. no, they aren’t neutral at all.

The story goes they have presented both sides with a “Proposal for Resolution of the Peaceful Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge by Citizens for Constitutional Freedom“. Again, this comes directly from the PPN’s own website (PDF):

Third Request

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, publicly owned land, is currently under management by the United States Fish & Wildlife Service, a Federal Government agency. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17 of the United States Constitution clearly states what land the Federal Government may own, with permission of the State. Article 6, Section 2, Clause 2 define the United States Constitution as the supreme law of the land.

Therefore; Citizens for Constitutional Freedom request Harney County Government petition and give notice to the Federal Government for the transfer and unconditional return to local control of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as allowed by Article 4, Section 3, Clause 2 . Harney County Government in equal Partnership with the Burns Paiute Tribe will manage and administer this publicly owned land to the values and vision of the local community.

Ah. They are there supporting the same, neoliberal, state’s rights BS that the Mormon crazies are there for. They want publicly owned land to be handed over to various mining, logging and ranching millionaires so they can extract the natural resources of the property of the American people for their own profits.

How exactly does that make them a “neutral party” to this fascist land-grab effort being perpetrated by the Bundy clan? Doesn’t sound very neutral to me.

You have to understand that the PPN has been basically the armed thug brigade for Big Mining for quite sometime. Of course they always couch their actions as “defending constitutional rights” and such, but basically, they are all about serving as the muscle for big mining interests.

Again, on their own website, they detail another little “constitutional” confrontation they had recently with the ebil gubmint over at the White Hope Mine.

At the request of Intermountain Mining, owners of the White Hope Mine located in Lewis & Clark County Montana, Pacific Patriots Network, Oath Keepers and III%’s mission is to ensure the mining claim owners 4th & 5th Amendment Constitutional Right’s are not violated and to prevent further unlawful action by the United States Forest Service.

This is NOT a standoff with USFS. We are NOT promoting any confrontation with USFS. This is a security operation for the protection of Constitutional Rights. PPN press release from their own website

Basically, a couple mine owners decided they wanted more access to public lands to mine for gold so they blocked access by the public to publicly owned lands by erecting illegal buildings, locking gates that the public used to access public land and chopping down trees to block roads. In order to protect their newly acquired land, they asked the patriots at the PPN to come by with theirs guns and press releases to give them a hand.

Back in Oregon, the Bundy crazies have changed the sign of the refuge to reflect the neoliberal nature of their occupation:

The ornate sign that used to greet visitors with “Welcome To Your National Wildlife Refuge” now advertises the headquarters of the “Harney County Resource Center” in white block letters over a blue background. Oregon Live

Right. The wildlife preserve wasn’t taking advantage of the resources of the land so the neoliberal Bundy bunch decided they would rename it accordingly to their world views. The “resources” are obviously the prize here. Handing over mining rights and logging rights to Big Business and letting the Hammonds have all that land so their cows can eat and shit all over it. That’s the plan. It always was.

And this new armed group, now surrounding the Harney County Courthouse (so they can intimidate them into signing their neoliberal declaration of succession) is clearly there to help them with their plans.

The PPN hasn’t made it clear who funds them. Obviously, the mining interests they serve probably do. That kinda makes them a new form of the old Pinkerton security firm. A bunch of paid mercenary thugs who ran around back in the glory days of the Gilded Age (where neoliberals and neocons and libertarians and New Dems want to take us back to) beating on striking workers and trying to bust up unions of behalf of the constitutional rights of the billionaires who paid them.

All in all, this is a troubling development. It kinda reminds me of the early days of the Ukraine color revolution when George Soros was pumping money into groups of neo-Nazis to get them to show up at protests and beat unarmed policemen. And of course, we saw the snipers not long after that.

I was kinda hoping this whole thing would fizzle out but it looks like they are going to step up the conflict with these new actors on the scene. Whether or not they are mercs serving as crisis actors brought in for the big show seems irrelevant at this point. It seems someone is determined to bust off another piece of the big prize for some Big Business owners somewhere and we’re going to have to sit back and watch the drama unfold, yet again.

But let’s not kid ourselves about any of this. These assholes are paid mercs serving neoliberal ideologies and have nothing to do with constitutional rights. They are clearly liars and in bed with the Mormon crazies 100%.

Could you imagine what would happen if some Muslims took up arms and occupied federal lands or surrounded a county courthouse? How about a group of hip-hop artists?

The fact is, the lack of response has nothing to do with the color of their skin or their religious beliefs (gold plates and seer stones?)

The reason the feds have done nothing so far is either because they are waiting for their big entrance according to the script or…

… because the neoliberal Washington Consensus is completely on board with the objectives of the Mormon crazies and the new Pinkertons.

You can take your pick as to which you believe. Maybe it’s both. Either way, it’s a freak show in the making.