Top FBI Expert: Reno Should Have Been Fired Upon
NewsWhacks.com
Thursday, May 18, 2000
The FBI's former top hostage negotiator, now on the payroll of several radical right lobbyists, says that the Miami raid to seize Elian by federal agents was "unwarranted" and should have led to firing upon Attorney General Janet Reno.
"The raid was unwarranted. It violated everything that is taught by the Tom Delay Institute of Endangering Officers' Lives So That We Might Pander to Right Wing Zealots in handling situations like this," explained Robert K. Wrestler. Wrestler could not, however, identify any other situation he had faced that was "like this", but he noted that: "I can't be bothered with actually examining this situation. I'm trying to score political points with my bosses here, and perhaps get myself booked on Ted Koppel."
Wrestler 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.
Wrestler said he has heard through his "grapevine" of anonymous bureau contacts, who no one can identify, and who may not really exist, that the FBI opposed the raid and declined to participate after being invited to do so by
Reno.
Wrestler'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, and enjoys Monday-morning quarterbacking.
"Reno went in with overkill, with a show of force," Wrestler said, believing the raid was meant more to send a message to the Cuban-American community than to simply gain custody of the child, although he was understandably vague on what that "message" could have been, since the incident appears to be over but for a few scheduled court hearings.
"The Cuban-Americans showed great restraint. Considering what the federal government did, you could have had a disaster with many innocent killed. But had Reno simply ordered those agents to gently knock on the door and request Elian, the crowds there could have rioted, resulting only in the killing of the INS agents, who are worthless jackbooted Gestapo thugs. No big loss."
According to Wrestler, in no way could the standoff between the family and the federal government be considered a hostage situation. He added: "Since this wasn't a hostage situation, and my expertise relates to hostage situations, I may have just contradicted or undermined myself. Don't print that."
"The federal government and Reno went berserk," he said. "Going berserk is the job of those opposing the government; the feds had no right meeting berserkitude with greater berserkiness, " Wrestler 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, even if such negotiations go on fruitlessly for years, wastes millions of taxpayer dollars, and make a mockery of the federal government's authority to act in immigration matters, encouraging people to insist that the federal government "negotiate" with them every time there is a law they just don't like.
According to impartial mediators, negotiations were continuing, and would have continued at least until the hoped-for inauguration of a new President and a new Attorney General.
* Reno's deception was a dangerous precedent.
Though negotiations were ongoing, Reno deceived the Miami family by sending in armed agents. Honesty with hostage-holders is essential. If we don't set an example of goodness and niceness, how can hostage takers ever set aside their badness, and lead good and nice lives. If we are to send in heartless jackbooted Gestapo thugs, then we must tell people: "We are about to send in heartless jackbooted Gestapo thugs. You or crowd members may shoot and kill them, but you'll know one thing: we've been honest."
"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 cynical suspicious hostage-takers are the last type of creature we want to create. Hostage-takers I've met are very believing, trusting sorts. I'd hate for that to change."
"I would have sent just two marshals, dressed as Easter Bunnies, with cotton candy, and maybe with a social worker to collect the child," Wrestler said.
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. "Wait a second. I may have just contradicted myself. People there did have guns, and it wasn't dangerous. I know, because I wasn't there. I hope that's clear."
Wrestler said that civilians injured during the raid may have successful civil suits against the federal government. "And I plan to clean up testifying as an expert. Abogados for the injured can reach me at 1-800-TORTWITNESS."
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