The ELF: Ecoterrorists or Right-Wing Myth?

They say these are polarized times and boy, ain’t that the truth. Here’s a perfect example: the Earth Liberation Front. Is it a menace to the nation, or a right-wing boogieman?

On the right side of the political dial, notable blogger Professor Bainbridge opines that he has "no problem" with the FBI tracking "such groups," including PETA, the Catholic Workers, and a vegan group in Cincinnati, as long as they get a warrant first. After all, we’re talking about "ecoterrorists," and Bainbridge points out:

Because actual ecoterrorist cells "are very difficult to infiltrate and stop," surveillance of their "mainstream" influences seems like a logical place to start, as long as somebody checked the Constitution first to see if they needed a warrant.

On the left hand side of the dial, reporter Judith Lewis looks at FBI documents on surveillance of environmental groups, including statements from FBI agents that PETA funneled money to the Earth Liberation Front, and finds little evidence that the group actually exists. (Could that be why such their cells are so difficult to infiltrate?)

The ELF appears, in fact, to be largely the creation of a property-rights advocate named Ron Arnold, who coined the phrase "ecoterror" in a l992 book, and has been actively promoting the concept ever since.

In an interview with Fox News, Arnold gave his definition [of ecoterror]: “The first thing you look out for is, is there some protection-of-nature motive behind it? In other words, if there’s a wild area or a scenic area or something that’s not far from it, that gives you the first clue.”

Lewis goes on to track some of the most notable examples of ELF "ecoterror" acts investigated by the FBI:

In August 2003, FBI agents harassed Pomona resident Joshua Connole in connection with the vandalism of a West Covina Hummer dealership on no evidence at all, and against Justice Department orders; last month, he was awarded $100,000 in damages. The man who was later convicted of the crime, William Cottrell, denied any association with the ELF, although media roundups of “ELF attacks” still include him.

There is an ELF website, but it features as many ads as it does stories, for the likes of 0% credit cards, and it’s put up by a marketer. Lewis calls it "a blatant front for advertising."

Nice irony, isn’t it? The one real aspect of the ELF that people can point to turns out to be not a left-wing menace, nor a right-wing boogieman, but just another platform for advertising.

Is there anything in this country that’s not for sale? Sometimes I wonder…