posted on July 7, 2005 05:44:08 PM new
VANCOUVER, British Columbia July 7, 2005
A court on Thursday ordered the extradition of suspected eco-terrorist Tre Arrow, one of the FBI's most-wanted fugitives, to face firebombing charges in the United States.
Arrow, born Michael Scarpitti, is accused of participating in the 2001 firebombing of logging and cement trucks in Oregon. The FBI claims he is associated with the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), a group that has claimed responsibility for dozens of acts of destruction over the past few years.
British Columbia Supreme Court Judge Kristi Gill ruled that there was enough evidence against Arrow to have him extradited to face federal charges. His lawyer said he would appeal, a process that could take months.
The former U.S. Green Party candidate for Congress in 2000 who says the trees told him to change his name last week told the court that he was innocent of the charges and a target of a government conspiracy.
"I am innocent of the charges the U.S. government is trying to pin on me," Arrow said. "Just as many other activists have experienced, I am being targeted by the U.S. government and the FBI, not because I am guilty but because I have chosen to challenge the status quo."
In extradition cases, Canadian prosecutors represent the extraditing state, in this case the United States. For an extradition to be ordered, the B.C. Supreme Court had to find there was sufficient evidence to convict Arrow on the same charges in Canada.
Prosecutor Rosellina Patillo said evidence from the United States Attorney in Oregon indicated Arrow was among four conspirators involved in the bombings of a gravel company and a logging company between April and June of 2001. The evidence comes from statements of Arrow's three coconspirators who have pleaded guilty to the bombings at a Mount Hood logging company.
The suspects intended to firebomb a U.S. Forest Service office, but abandoned the idea after they found the security system was too tight, Patillo said.
She said the Ross Island Gravel Company was targeted "because it was guilty of stealing soil from the earth." In that attack, three trucks were blown up and the damage was $200,000. The second attack, on June 1, 2001, was against a Mount Hood logging company. They placed incendiary devices under seven vehicles, damaging three at a cost of $50,000.
She said that in each case, the incendiary device was a plastic container filled with gas; the fuse was a stick of incense with matches attached to it.
Arrow's lawyer, Tim Russell, contends the evidence against him from his coconspirators is hearsay and inadmissible in a Canadian court.
Arrow is seeking refugee status in Canada, but that process has been suspended pending the outcome of the extradition hearings, his lawyer said.
The 30-year-old Arrow contends he won't get a fair trial in the United States because of the FBI's assertion that his alleged crimes are acts of terrorism. He faces federal charges in Oregon of using fire to commit a felony, destroying vehicles used in interstate commerce and using incendiary devices in a crime of violence. The charges carry up to a combined 80 years in prison.
posted on July 7, 2005 06:01:59 PM new
I posted this, because I know Tre, or at the very least, knew Tre on a personal level.
We both attended Florida State in Tallahassee, where I was the Chairman and on the State Board of Directors for Florida PIRG, a public interest organization that focused on environmental and social issues.
I first met Tre during his first or second semester at FSU. I was educating students about Proctor and Gamble and their Buckeye Paper Mill. The mill created an obscene amount of toxic waste that poisoned the water supply and mutated fish, reptiles, pigs, and cattle. Perry had the highest cancer rate in the state because of it.
When I knew him, he went by Michael Scarpitti. He was a smart, caring, and curious individual. He drove a purple Ford Ranger, played drums in a band called "Soya Bean Fields", and worked out at Gold's Gym. He was a vegetarian, and most importantly, he was a peaceful person. That was 1994-95. He left FSU before graduating, and I got further involved in politics becoming a Student Senator after two years with the PIRGS. I graduated in 1996 and moved to Portland a year later.
Mike was such an afterthought that I honestly would have forgotten about him, with the possible exception of seeing an old photograph. But, that didn't last too long. In July, 2000 I was working for a non-profit agency recruiting volunteers to help children read in public schools. One of my co-workers and I were talking about the nutcase who made national news by climbing and camping out on the ledge of the Federal Forest Service Building in downtown Portland. The next day, she came up to me and said, "Do you know someone by the name of Michael Scarpitti?" which of course I replied yes. She then threw down the newspaper with the front page of Mike waving to the crowd. I laughed so damn hard, I remember tears pouring down my eyes. First, it was strange to see an old friend Mike as front page headlines. Second, my next reaction was to find him after things settled to catch up.
About a month or two later, I ran into Mike by complete coincidence at a park. He saw me, but couldn't quite put a finger on who I was until we approached each other. He gave me the scoop of what he was doing, which was working with the Cascadia Forest Alliance, and preparing for his run at Congress. I volunteered to help out with Nader's campaign in 2000, and again ran into Mike there. Mike had tried to get me involved with the Cascadia Forest Alliance since I have always been an environmental activist, but something deep down kept telling me to avoid it.
I have been following this story ever since the initial fires took place, and even frequent the area it happened on our way to the hot springs. It is odd to know someone from college, and to see where their path led them along the way. I've never promoted violence as a means, and don't believe Mike ever did as well. I really believe he doesn't look at it as an act of terrorism because humans were not targeted. In once sense, I can understand that because it was an act against a tool/machine of destruction, not against humans. You have to understand the mind of a monkey wrencher to understand why he feels this way. He justifies his actions against those machines as we justify breaking a bully's stick.
I sincerely hope he was not part of this, and if he stands trial here, I hope he does get a fair trial.
[ edited by rustygumbo on Jul 7, 2005 06:04 PM ]
posted on July 7, 2005 06:29:02 PM new
Rusty you should not have said you knew Tre.
If you use the method of association that the Right likes to use, you will be labeled a terrorist as well.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
----------------------------------
President George Bush: "Over time the truth will come out."
President George Bush: "Our people are going to find out the truth, and the truth will say that this intelligence was good intelligence. There's no doubt in my mind."
Bush was right. The truth did come out and the facts are he misled Congress and the American people about the reasons we should go to war in Iraq.
posted on July 7, 2005 06:56:37 PM new
Wonderful....so he goes from being a childcare giver and housekeeper to an arsonist. That's the way to succeed and 'make positive change' he felt necessary.
---
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Martin County High School Diploma; Associates of Arts Degree at Florida State University
PRIOR GOVERNMENTAL EXPERIENCE: None
I stand as a true voice for positive, just change. We can no longer let many of our elected officials and corporations overrun our basic rights, health and freedom while disregarding the sacredness of this planet. It's time to take back the power from the powers that be and put it back where it belongs; into the hands of the people.
Many of our elected officials remain elusive, intangible and unapproachable. Hiding behind clever wording and empty promises, when it comes time to listen to the constituents they are generally unresponsive. This country was set up by the people for the people. Yet today this country is run by corporate money and greed with the very people who are supposed to be representing the voice of the public turning their backs and allowing corporate dominance over every dimension of our lives.
The final 3% of our native forests remain. We have one of the worst education records of any industrial nation. Our prisons, landfills, and hospitals are filling up without any permanent solutions, only construction of more. Our water, air and land is latent with poisons and contaminates. Many corporations pay lower tax rates than private individuals.
We have to realize we are all an intricate part of the circle of life and we must work together to bring about positive change for this planet. Put the power back into your hands. Let your voice be heard by those who will listen. Register to vote and vote pacific green.
503-223-1399 pacificgreens.org planetabc.com
111 SW Naito Parkway Portland, OR 97204
(This information furnished by Tre Arrow.)
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on July 7, 2005 08:46:39 PM new
logansdad- i knew exactly what i was doing. i also knew linda would the first neocon to jump. was i right or what??? lol.
truth be known, i have a hard time with the title "Eco-terrorist" when they refer to this particular case. I think they will have a difficult time to prosecute him for terrorism if they try. Terrorism is not torching trucks. That is called arson or vandalism, which are both used to make political statements among other things. The feds will have a tough time convincing a judge or jury that you can terrorize an inanimate object like a truck. By no means do I take away anything from the legalities of such actions. If Trey or any other person commits a crime such as this, then they should face fair justice.
The Mike Scarpitti I knew at FSU is not the same person that I met again here in Portland. I suppose too many nights sleeping in a tree can change a person, whether they are an army of soldiers or an army of environmentalists. I also knew his previous attorney, Greg Kafourey who was a friend of the attorney I worked for.
posted on July 8, 2005 12:48:49 AM new
Rusty - I disagree with your assessment. Here is California ELF has been active as well, perhaps best known for buring down a number of custom homes being built. They did not kill anyone when they did but their effects were none the less dramatic and tramatic and their intention was to terrorise. They did not simple want to burn down a structure just as your friend did not simple want to blow up a building. Their intention was to create an atmosphere of fear that would cause people affected or connected to change their intended paths. I do not understand how that is different from the act of a terrorist. I think the only difference between an islamic terrorist and people such as your friend and the ones that set the fires in California is that the islamics have such a deeply felt belief in their action that they proudly claim responsibility for their action (no matter how twisted they are) whereas the vast majority of "eco terrorists" run hide and deny.
Time for Tre to be a man. If he is not willing to take responsibility for his actions and their intended ramification then he should have stuck to passing out leaflets and sitting on building ledges.
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
posted on July 8, 2005 06:31:28 AM new
I believe that the destruction of the trucks is a criminal act and cannot be prosecuted as "terrorism".
From Wikipedia
Whether the primary "intention" of an attack was to harm civilians or not may seem difficult to ascertain, but in reality, many actions can define a criminal act as non-terrorism: If the attackers make at least some attempt to reduce civilian casualties, such as by using precision-guided munitions rather than weapons designed to cause maximum area damage; if civilians in the target zone are forcefully removed prior to the attack, or warned and allowed reasonable time to evacuate; if the attackers target the "system" rather than its civilian inhabitants. These actions show some concern of the attackers to civilian casualties, while attacks that lack them are more easily defined as terrorism.
posted on July 8, 2005 08:44:07 AM new
There are a few things that I would clarify. I never claimed Tre as a friend. I knew him, I traveled with him around Florida, he was a student activist in an organization that I led. He basically worked with me, and we had many conversations about activism. We protested Al Gore when he came to FSU because of Al's lack of environmental focus during his Vice Presidency. I believe we deemed the protest, "Hey Al-Read Your Book" in reference to Al's "Earth In the Balance".
I would consider Tre an acquaintance, not a friend. You are not going to see me running down to the jail to visit, etc.
I think the difference between the the examples from fenix and helen are quite clear.
I don't know what Mike's intent was if he was responsible for this. I am quite familiar with the tactics used by Monkey Wrenchers and Earth Firsters, not of ELF. My experience with ELF is that they are not an organized group, but rather a front (or title) for these types of actions. My personal experience with this is that they are "stopping the machine" and have absolutely no intention of harming people. Now, obviously there are direct and indirect impacts from these actions. Using extreme measures like setting trucks on fire can easily cause harm to people if say, the fire ended up scorching a neighborhood, etc. Or if a fire fighter was injured while putting it out. I have a hard time believing that the intentions of these people involved with this was to harm people.
If you are ever curious about the mindset of people like this, I suggest reading The Monkey Wrench Gang by Ed Abbey and Confessions of an Eco Warrior by Dave Foreman (founder of Earth First). It will give alot of insight to their views and agenda. What I found interesting about Dave's book was that he tended to be a Conservative when it came to politics, though his agenda was environmental. MWG is a fantastic fiction novel that easily sums up this movement as well. Also, Ed Abbey's Desert Solitaire is a fantastic book that chronicals Eds time working at Arches National Park outside of Moab Utah.
posted on July 8, 2005 09:15:15 AM new
Linda- The problem with this world are people like you. You never offer anything valid or useful. Just spew your hatred and misconceptions. Go back to the trough and eat some more neocon sludge because talking to you is like clapping with one hand. You live a dilusional lonely life.
posted on July 8, 2005 09:40:33 AM new
Gee...rusty....how mean you can be.
The problem with this world are people like you. You never offer anything valid or useful.
OH....my statements as opposed to these terrorists activities? Guess you, helen and others like you think THEIR actions are valid and useful.
Just spew your hatred and misconceptions.
I don't hate these extremists....these environmental NUT CASES....I think they're very sad and I feel sorry for them because they're out of touch with REALITY. No 'misconceptions' about their actions.....we read about their actions all the time.
And personally I think I hold the higher moral ground when it comes to appropriate behavior than YOU and those of your ilk do. To you....this friend's behavior has a 'reason'.....to most normal thinking people....these are TOTALLY inappropriate actions....and certainly NOT ones that are going to benefit your 'cause' in any way, shape or form.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on July 8, 2005 10:01:42 AM new
Who are the ones who are screaming the loudest about the environment. They are the ones who are defending this person.
_________________
posted on July 8, 2005 10:33:47 AM new
Linda's just a slanderous bittch...She is so mired in lies that the truth is a threat to her mental equilibrium.
posted on July 8, 2005 10:53:14 AM new
"Terrorism is not torching trucks. That is called arson or vandalism, which are both used to make political statements among other things. The feds will have a tough time convincing a judge or jury that you can terrorize an inanimate object like a truck."
Tell that to the passengers of the bus and tubes in London.
"But Your Honor, I was just torching an inanimate object".
[ edited by etexbill on Jul 8, 2005 10:55 AM ]
[ edited by etexbill on Jul 8, 2005 10:56 AM ]
posted on July 8, 2005 10:59:18 AM new
"Linda's just a slanderous bittch...She is so mired in lies that the truth is a threat to her mental equilibrium."
Helen, I see your mental equilibrium hasn't changed since I've been gone.
posted on July 8, 2005 11:36:10 AM new
Rusty - please know that I do know and acknowledge the difference between someone you used to know and someone whose actions you are in support of.
As far as the actions being against inanimate objects as opposed to people...They firebombed companies, burned down construction sites... do you really believe that those associated with these companies were not affected? In the case of the California builder, custom home builders are generally not big companies so when you burn down five projects it suddenly becomes very difficult for them to get insurance on ongoing projects which limits funding ability which in turn limits the number of projects they can launch which vastly decreases the number of PEOPLE with families and bills who they are able to employ. The people may not intend to blow up people but what about the ramifications their actions have on the LIVES of people?
BTW - Could someone please explain the concept of an organization that protests logging burning down residential building sites. Aren't they just creating MORE demand for wood?
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
No, I'm saying -- I'm merely -- I'm saying what I'm saying. I don't know why I'm always having people say, are you trying to say -- you know what you can do if you want to know what I'm saying is listen to what I'm saying. What I'm saying is what I said ...
- Ann Coulter
[ edited by fenix03 on Jul 8, 2005 11:37 AM ]
posted on July 8, 2005 11:37:22 AM new
Lots of people here have the goods on Linda_K's mindset. I believe her few supporters are people that don't have the mental ability to understand what a wicked sick person Linda is. Linda_K has gone far past what is my opinion or your opinion debates. With wackos like Linda_K its more like its my way or no way. We are the only people that know the right way or God's way. Like George Bush said, "You are either with us or against us, you are either good or bad".
She also has a couple phony religious wackos here that support her twisted views. These people hide behind people like Linda_K and the Bible to disguise their own hate filled twisted minds.
We all need to remember that people like the Tali-ban also consider themselves to be highly religious people. Whacked out religion and mixing religion with government is very dangerous to a free people.
posted on July 8, 2005 11:53:57 AM new
There is story after story after story of these nutcases and the damage they've caused....it's not ONLY this one fire. They are a group of out-of-control arsonists.
Here's but one example of them THINKING they're making some kind of a 'point' to others. Yea...."let's burn everything up"....then these wacko's think they'll be heard. sick....downright sick people.
---
US eco-arsonist jailed for eight years for SUV attacks
By Mike Jackson-Daily Herald
?What a talent you have wasted,? U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner told William Jensen Cottrell as the 24-year-old grad student was sentenced to eight years in federal prison and $3.5 million in restitution for his November conviction of conspiracy and arson charges.
The charges came as the result of an August 2003 vandalism spree that destroyed some 125 SUVs at dealerships and homes in the San Gabriel Valley, east of Los Angeles. During the trial, prosecutors successfully portrayed Cottrell as ?arrogant? and possessing a ?towering superiority? toward people who didn?t share his ecological views. Cottrell, doing himself no favors, had testified that SUV dealers were ?evil.?
Cottrell and his two alleged accomplices, Tyler Johnson and Michie Oe (both former Caltech students who supposedly fled the country), tossed Molotov cocktails in the violent spree.
They also spray-painted slogans such as ?Fat, Lazy Americans,? ?polluter,? and ?ELF? (Earth Liberation Front) on the vehicles. During the investigation, Cottrell had claimed membership in ELF, a radical environmental group. Defense lawyers argued that Cottrell had agreed with two friends to spray-paint vehicles, but was surprised when they began to hurl Molotov cocktails.
----
And more cases of these radical, extremists terroristic behavior:
posted on July 8, 2005 12:07:25 PM new
oh boy....MORE blubbering from peepa. how fun.
Guess he's saying he sees Christians like cheryl some how differenly than those who don't hold his views.....
....and Christians appear to be as threatening to him as the Taliban are, maybe MORE so.
But in reality peepa is more like the taliban than we are. He's the one that's against free speech.....against opposing views/opinion. Against civil communication...civil disageement. He's the one that can't handle diversity of opinion......
so he blubbers on and on and on and on an on.....saying absolutely nothing.
how sad for you peepa....you're like an OLD broken record.....and your needle is stuck in it's groove.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on July 8, 2005 12:10:33 PM new
Bigpeepa the only person that I have seen here in the past week talking bible/prayers is Cheryl. Not that I am taking anything away from her as I know she is going through a stressing time, but you have to realize bigpeepa that people aren't "wacko's" if they pray or read the bible. Maybe if you would pick up a bible and read it you will find that people you think are wackos aren't.
Remember this is a discussion board, well at least I think it is and that is what Vendio intended it to be, and people have strong feelings but I think it is horrible the way you have insinuated linda and myself need help. If that is the case you do also with your screaming and posting of those stupid AOL posts. I will bet you think the post Helen made is right on. You are a grown man, at least that is what you said, and you never post anything substantial to go along with a thread. The only word you use and use it frequently is "wacko". Hey KD how come you don't say anything to him. How come bigpeepa you didn't say anything to mingotree about how many posts he/she has made? Now go sell your antiques. I bet you are having a really hard time doing that, well at least I hope so.
_________________
posted on July 8, 2005 12:16:31 PM new "I will bet you think the post Helen made is right on."
Libra, don't drag me into your disagreement with bigpeepa. My remark that you refer to was made IN RESPONSE to Linda's slanderous lie accusing me of supporting law breakers and terrorists.
posted on July 8, 2005 12:17:29 PM new
You're not fooling anyone, helen.
It's quite clear that you and people like rusty make excuses for the behavior of extremists. YOU do it on a constant basis....for everyone, even our enemies. You can't say you don't 'support' them when your words are clearly meant to 'lessen' the horrendous actions they do themselves.
It's also called 'aiding and abetting'.
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
posted on July 8, 2005 12:24:25 PM new
linda, No one has "made excuses for the behavior of extremists". That reckless statement, like so many that you make here is simply not true and cannot be supported by any words stated here.
posted on July 8, 2005 12:25:12 PM new
Also from the site helen used, but didn't provide a link to:
There is no universally accepted definition of "terrorism". According to Walter Laqueur of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, "[b]the only general characteristic generally agreed upon is that terrorism involves violence and the threat of violence[b]." Even this may not be necessary; see for example cyber-terrorism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Whenever the nation is under attack, from within or without, liberals side with the enemy. This is their essence." --Ann Coulter
And why the American Voters chose to RE-elect President Bush to four more years. YES!!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Jul 8, 2005 12:29 PM ]
