On March 15, 2002, Craig Rosebraugh submitted written replies to questions given to him by Rep. Scott McInnis as part of McInnis’ ongoing investigation into ecoterrorism. The answer speak volumes about the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front.
Right off the bat, Rosebraugh says what has been obvious all along except to the animal rights true believers:
[QUESTION] 1) Do you view violence against individuals, organizations and other enterprises that work and play on the national forests as a legitimate means of seeking public policy change, specifically with respect to management of the nation’s forests?
[ANSWER] Yes.
Violence against individuals is “a legitimate means of seeking public policy” change in Rosebraugh’s eyes. That is a textbook definition of terrorism, and Rosebraugh an advocate of such a philosophy.
Rosebraugh hits this same theme a few questions later when given the opportunity to address a quotation attributed to him regarding the dangers to people posed by ALF/ELF actions,
5) Do you still agree with this statement attributed to you in The Bear Deluxe Magazine? “If you are talking about fires, and the use of incendiary devices, there is the danger of people being near or inside that building, or the fire could spread to another building. There are always dangers.”
I do not adopt any factual assumptions made in your question. Yes.
And, again, when asked if he is worried that someone might die from an ALF/ELF attack,
8) Are you personally concerned that one day an ELF or ALF perpetrated attack will wind up killing or wounding someone?
No, I am more concerned with massive numbers of people dying at the hands of greedy capitalists if such actions are not taken.
In fact, in a bizarre twist given what happened on Sept. 11, Rosebraugh goes on to advocate the destruction of American monuments as a legitimate way to strike against capitalism,
30) In the “Frequently Asked Questions” piece [on the ELF web site] the authors listed Mt. Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty and Wall Street on a short list of “forms and symbols of capitalism [that] can be targeted successfully to greatly influence the impact the capitalist state has on life.” Remember, in your video and in other places you have frequently said that fire bombing is the best tactic to use in a direct action. Taken together, aren’t you encouraging ELF’s cronies to go out and firebomb the Statue of Liberty? Since ELF has shown no signs of slowing down since 9-11, do you still think that, on an abstract level, it would be a good or desirable thing for the ELF to attack other symbols of capitalism in New York City, like Wall Street offices?
a) I don’t know.
b) Yes.
When the questions turn to whether or not Rosebraugh is directly involved in ALF/ELF attacks, suddenly Rosebraugh starts invoking the Fifth Amendment (as his right),
17) Do you know who Michael Conn is?
Michael Conn is a researcher at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center in Beaverton, Oregon. Conn wastes hundreds of thousands of federal tax dollars torturing and killing monkeys, a practice which has in no way benefited human health.
18) Were you ever arrested for trespassing on the Oregon Regional Primate Center where Mr. Conn works?
See all objections, rights, and privileges asserted above.
19) Why was there an index card with Mr. Conn’s name and home address in your residence? Was either ELF or ALF planning to take “direct action” against Mr. Conn or his property? If not, why was Mr. Conn’s name and address in your possession?
See all objections, rights, and privileges asserted above.
Michael Conn has faced repeated harassment and threats from animal rights activists (see http://www.animalrights.net/articles/2002/000038.html).
The whole thing gets surreal with the answer to a couple questions which are completely contradictory,
43) When the ELF called for “direct action” to protest this hearing, and included the photos, names, and addresses of Members of Congress on the same website (www.protectcivilliberties.com), what was its purpose? Were they seeking to intimidate the Members of this Subcommittee and the witnesses?
A) I was not aware that the ELF “called for ‘direct action’ to protest this
hearing.”B) I do not know.
44) Did you play any role in the construction of the aforementioned website calling for “direct action” in conjunction with this hearing? Did you ever have a conversation with anyone regarding the construction of www.protectcivilliberties.com?
A) yes.
B) I don’t recall.
So Rosebraugh expects us to believe that he played a role in the construction of the web site, but cannot recall ever having a conservation with somebody about the construction of that web site?
Yeah, that’s believable. Just like everything else Rosebraugh claims.
Source:
Responses to Additional Questions. Craig Rosebraugh, March 15, 2002.