Patrick Henningsen
21st Century Wire
New images of cattle rancher Cliven Bundy’s tense standoff with the Federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Saturday afternoon reveal how the armed agency’s military operation configured to forcefully engage Bundy cowboys and their supporters who sought to liberate federally confiscated cattle over the weekend.
These exclusive images were taken by an independent photojournalist, positioned right above the action on the Southbound side of Interstate 15 near Bunkerville, Nevada.
Despite the BLM being instructed by Clark County Sheriff to leave the Bundy Ranch and Gold Butte area earlier that morning, the agency still insisted had a legal right to be there and that it would not let go of hundreds of cows it had already taken away from the Bundy Family. Critics are asking if that ‘legal right’ also includes stationing a federal military force in Bunkerville.
Prior to this standoff, the special agent in charge of BLM’s ground operations, Daniel P. Love, had issued a warning that any one who crosses the federal line in order to free the seized cattle – will be arrested.
Agent Love went on boasting his agency’s advantage over Bundy supporters when saying, “I’ve seen your numbers right now, you’d better hope that 10,000 show up.”
It turns out that protesters needed far less numbers to overcome Love’s federal detachment. In the end, a Bundy’s contingent of 150 cowboys on horseback and a few hundred of peaceful supporters – backed by approximately 100 volunteer militia, all together, proceed to march past the BLM’s line of demarcation to the entrance of the government’s makeshift cattle holding area and compound, prompting armed federal tactical teams to stand down, and fall back.
The following is the first collection in a three part series, showing what can only be described as the federal government’s ‘paramilitary’ build-up to Saturday’s climax under U.S. Interstate 15…
(CLICK ON PHOTOS TO SEE HI-RES ENLARGEMENTS)
ARMED RANGERS: Back line of armed agents arrive on the scene.
SWAT TEAMS: Local police TAC teams commandeered by the federal government.
CONVOYS GATHERS: Alphabet soup agencies gather to mount their military operation.
TARGETING MEDIA: Watching us, watching them – BLM Sniper points rifle at GMN photographer.
LAYERS OF FIRE: ‘Paintball’ (pepperball), CS Gas in the front, and bullets from the rear.
EYE IN THE SKY: Ariel surveillance overhead as Cowboys move towards federal line.
AGENT IN CHARGE: Dan Love pulls out before Cowboys move to reclaim their herd.
LOVE LOST: Special Agent Love realizing that BLM have painted themselves into a corner.
PULLING BACK: Federal soldiers begin to pull back.
PACKING UP SHOP: Federal soldiers pack-up after giving the right of way to Bundy Cowboys and their supporters.
LIBERATION: Cowboys and supporters prepare to open the cattle gates.
COWS COMING HOME: First cattle released heading back to the Bundy Ranch.
MOTHERS AND BABIES: Cattle families coming home after release from BLM’s federal penitentiary.
AN AMERICAN MOMENT: Bundy Cowboys flying old glory, driving their herd back to pasture.
21WIRE can also reveal a secret recording made prior the final standoff on Saturday afternoon, between BLM Special Agent Dan Love and a GMN radio host Peter Santilli, where Agent Love can be heard saying, “Constitutions are not decided in the dirt.”
Agent Love adds, “I guarantee you the constitution is on my side – not your side… (…) You (the people) can fight your argument from jail.”
Listen to their full conversation here:
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SEE PART 2: BEHIND THE LINES – BLM Agents Prepare to Shoot Americans?
SEE PART 3: BEHIND THE LINES – More Photos, Video of Bundy Ranch Standoff
READ MORE ON THE BUNDY STORY AT: 21st Century Wire Bundy Ranch Files
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