BURNS, Ore. — Though there are rumors and reports of greater FBI presence in Harney County, President Obama has called the ongoing standoff here a local law enforcement issue. Local law enforcement has kept its distance from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, where Ammon Bundy and dozens of other armed protesters are holed up.
On Thursday mid-day, there were no signs of police along Oregon Route 205, either on the 20 miles or so from Burns leading to the road that leads to the Refuge or for 10 miles after. And yes, the Washington Examiner missed the turnoff.
One U-turn and a few miles later, it was easy to see why local police were staying at a prudent remove. One reporter remarked that law enforcement was meeting the occupation with “feigned indifference” but there was also the tactical side of things to consider.
The Refuge has a huge observatory tower where you can see everything from miles around and perhaps draw a bead on it with a rifle. The road down to most of the buildings is blocked by a truck during the day and a huge Caterpillar at night. There is a plain on three sides the buildings where you can see anything coming for miles. The buildings themselves would be good cover in the event of a firefight.
There are also the journalists themselves, many of whom would be collateral damage in a raid.
Several indignant commentators have asked why the government would tolerate such lawlessness. But the flip side of not tolerating it, at least for now, would likely be a bloodbath — of occupiers and police and journalists.
Harney County’s less gung-ho approach may also be paying off. As the Examiner reported earlier this morning, Bundy agreed to a meeting with Sheriff David Ward Thursday afternoon. This morning the militia is having a meeting about the offer to stand down and normalize protests by bringing them back into town — all without a single casualty.
