Reno, Hillary's AG, should have been fired YEARS AGO!
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Top FBI Expert: Reno Should Have Been Fired
NewsMax.com
Thursday, May 18, 2000
The FBI?s former top hostage negotiator instructor says that the Miami raid to
seize Elian by federal agents was "unwarranted" and should have led to firing
Attorney General Janet Reno.
"The raid was unwarranted. It violated everything that is taught by the FBI in
handling situations like this," explained Robert K. Ressler.
Ressler served with the FBI for 20 years and in law enforcement for more than
four decades. He is a best-selling author and frequent media commentator.
Ressler said he has heard through his "grapevine" of bureau contacts that the
FBI opposed the raid and declined to participate after being invited to do so by
Reno.
Ressler?s work for hostage negotiation training has been the FBI?s model since
the 1970s. He has worked with law enforcement in Britain, France, Germany
and other countries worldwide to develop similar programs. He is also a noted
FBI psychological profiler.
"Reno went in with overkill, with a show of force," Ressler said, believing the
raid was meant more to send a message to the Cuban-American community
than to simply gain custody of the child.
"The Cuban-Americans showed great restraint. Considering what the federal
government did, you could have had a disaster with many people killed."
According to Ressler, in no way could the standoff between the family and the
federal government be considered a hostage situation.
"The federal government and Reno went berserk," he said.
He described how Reno and the Justice Department violated every cardinal
rule in crisis handling:
* Reno didn?t let negotiations run their course.
Negotiations have to be exhausted before the government escalates.
According to impartial mediators, negotiations were continuing. Force is a last
resort. Reno has still not explained what time constraint demanded risking lives
with force.
* Reno?s deception was a dangerous precedent.
Though negotiations were ongoing, Reno deceived the Miami family by
sending in armed agents. Her deceit and failure to negotiate in good faith will
set a dangerous precedent, according to Ressler.
"In the future, if there is a real hostage situation involving Cuban-Americans in
the Miami area, they will not believe the government during negotiations, and
this could lead to disaster. Honesty is the best policy. You only break your word
if there is imminent danger to someone. I?d really like to see the ATF, FBI,
Secret Service handle the next incident down there successfully."
* Reno used excessive force.
Ressler said the use of more than 130 agents to make the raid means only one
thing: The federal government decided to make a statement to the community
by using a "show of force.? The amount of force had no relation to the risks
involved.
Had he been in charge, he would have followed textbook rules for dealing with
such situations. Ressler said he would have first used minimal force.
"I would have sent just two marshals, wearing suits, with briefcases, and maybe
with a social worker to collect the child," Ressler said.
If that effort failed or resistance was met, only then should the government have
escalated.
Ressler argued that Reno?s actions could have led to a loss of life.
Ressler called Justice Department claims that some people in and around the
home may have had guns "ludicrous." In America, he said, there are almost as
many guns as people, so that is not a reason for government officials to abuse
their power.
"Her judgment has proven to be so poor time and time again," Ressler said,
wondering how Reno has held on to her job as the country?s top law
enforcement officer.
He noted Reno?s mishandling at Waco that led to the death of 86 civilians, her
oversight in the government attempt to frame Richard Jewell, and the Justice
Department?s improper investigation of the Ruby Ridge case.
"The photo [of the agent seizing the boy at gunpoint] said everything. It?s
amazing to me that this can happen in America, to have civilian rights trampled
on, and for no one in the media or Congress wanting to hold Reno
accountable. It?s very frightening to me," Ressler said.
Ressler added that he would not be surprised if civilians injured during the
unwarranted raid have successful civil suits against the government.
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