i happen to be on the road in tennessee, and read this editorial in the knoxville new-sentinel. i don't remember seeing anything about this when it happened...but since freeh and the fbi seem to be disliked these days, here's some more fodder for the fire. -avi ps - hopefully this isn't a repeat, but being on the road, i'm mail-delayed at least 24 hours. The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Dec 16, 1994, pA16 DISTURBING SILENCE -FBI chief taking his time acting on report about Idaho shootout All eyes are on Louis Freeh, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as he ponders disciplinary action in the infamous shootout at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992. This being the end of 1994, one starts to wonder what is taking the director so long. Excessive use of force by the FBI is no trivial matter. Citizens might gather from the Idaho case that the government claims special license to abuse the rights of loners with extremist views. It is a year and a half already since the government made a fool of itself by trying Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris for murder inthe death of a deputy US marshal. The jury sided with the defendants, and the US district judge said 75 percent of the evidence and testimony presented by the prosecution had aided the defense. But to go back to the beginning, Weaver, a former Green Beret, was a member of the Christian Identity sect and a racial speratist. He had retreated with his wife and children to a remote mountain cabin, where they and their young friend Harris lived. Weaver's first run-in with the law was induced by undercover agents. They offered to buy two shotguns from him if he sawed off the barrels, making the weapons illegal. He did so, and they arrested him. He failed to show up for trial, though the government later was forced to admit that he was given the wrong court date. Then began 20 months' surveillance of the Weaver cabin. On Aug. 21, 1992, the Weavers' dog discovered several agents camouflaged int he woods. The agents shot the dog. In the ensuing exchange of fire, 14-year-old Sam Weaver was killed by a bullet in the back, and Harris shot the deputy -- in self-defense, he said. The next day, the agents returned, reinforced by the 50-member Hostage Rescue Team. The commander of the HRT never attempted to interview the agents who survived the first encounter. Also, the FBI's policy on use of deadly force was relaxed: Instead of firing if lives were in danger, agents were ordered to shoot any armed adult at the scene. Thus was the stage set for final tragedy. An FBI marksman fired at Weaver and Harris outside the cabin. Both men were wounded, and Weaver's wife was killed, standing inside the cabin with her baby in her arms. A 542-page Justice Department report was completed last April. It has not been released. Director Freeh's disturbing silence is compunded by his promotion last week of the agent who had overall responsibility for the Weaver operation. What conclusion would Freeh recommend the public draw, if not that a federal government willing enough to jail overzealous Los Angeles policemen will arrogently circle the wagons to protect it's own?