Lack Of Disclosure Fuels Paranoia

In the anti-government cauldron of armed militia groups, code words “Waco” and “Ruby Ridge” brew a powerful ferment of hate.

On right-wing radio talkfests and in militia literature, those two violent events - the Waco, Texas, flaming end of a cult and the Ruby Ridge, Idaho, shootout with Randy Weaver’s family - drum up fear and loathing of government lawmen.

Nobody knows yet, but that simmering anger may have festered into the Oklahoma City bombing timed to the April 19 anniversary of Waco’s disaster. Prime suspect Timothy McVeigh, a pilgrim to the Waco site, was obsessed with the Texas immolation.

Could full, honest disclosure by the U.S. government about Waco and Ruby Ridge fiascos have lanced the militias’ paranoia?

Maybe even prevented the Oklahoma City bombing?

Again, nobody knows.

You don’t have to sympathize with gun-toting militia kooks, though, to share two suspicions about Waco (85 cult members, four agents dead) and Ruby Ridge (Weaver’s wife, 13-year-old son and a marshal killed):

Each was mishandled by federal agents. In both cases there seems to have been a coverup - certainly no public airing of facts.

Why has Congress been silent?

Oh, there was a critical Treasury Department report and a ho-hum Justice inquiry on Waco. Both were stuck on a dusty shelf.

Nobody was punished. In aftermaths of Waco and Rudy Ridge, not one government agent was fired. Questions linger about Attorney Janet Reno’s “go” decision before the Waco fire. Defiantly, the FBI has promoted to its No. 2 post Larry Potts, who oversaw both bungled raids.

Big-league stonewalling.

Sure, Oklahoma City was an irrational massacre. The madmen who blew up the babies in that federal building should be executed.

But you still wonder if blunders by government honchos and muffled silence hasn’t fanned paranoid flames.

Why a two-year lid on Waco and Ruby Ridge?

More precisely, why has there never been a hearing by the Senate Judiciary Committee, overseer of the FBI and other law agencies, to question those who screwed up the fatal climaxes?

One reason is Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, ranking Republican when the Waco/Ruby Ridge events occurred and now Judiciary chairman.

Hatch may be the Senate’s most aggressive interrogator. His withering style can make witnesses squirm. He was a gung-ho defender of Robert Bork, and a rough opponent of Anita Hill.

Although a Westerner caught in the Waco and Ruby Ridge controversies, Hatch has been queasy about digging publicly into the events. He’s a law-and-order guy with no enthusiasm for grilling the feds, from Reno to FBI and BATF agents.

Wait for emotions to cool, then get the facts, cautioned Hatch.

Translation: He punted.

Now, with Oklahoma City’s blast echoing in his ears, Hatch still wants to wait - maybe forever.

When Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., tried to push a Senate resolution calling Waco/Ruby Ridge hearings by June 30, Hatch huffily pulled rank.

“Let the chips fall where they may,” said Specter, reminding that he’d asked for Waco hearings in 1993. “I don’t want to make self-fulfilling prophecies. But if we sit idly by, we may be accountable for what happens in the interim.”

You rarely hear a public spat between tough-on-crime Republicans allies such as Hatch and Specter. But Hatch clearly saw Specter’s investigation as trodding on his turf.

Hatch’s alibi: Bringing Potts and other FBI witnesses to a Capitol Hill grilling might slow their pursuit of Oklahoma City bombers.

“Wait until those responsible for the Oklahoma bombing are caught, even punished,” said Hatch. “Then we’ll make a quiet determination about wrong-doing at Waco and Ruby Ridge. Let the House hold hearings. We need patience.”

Specter bridled. “Patience? If we don’t set a date, these rumors and hatreds will fester. We should air the incredible rumor that the FBI did the bombing at Oklahoma City. We can’t afford patience.”

Flustered, Hatch recalled his Mormon ancestors had been the target of a government crackdown. He too suspected blunders. But he loftily reminded Specter that he alone had the clout as Judiciary chairman.

“It’s my prerogative to call hearings,” Hatch said icily. “I say the circumstances are not right - unless the Senate orders me.”

Specter stared coldly at his GOP buddy. “Let’s have no talk of prerogatives,” said Specter, threatening to air Waco/Ruby Ridge in his own terrorism subcommittee. “If there’s a coverup, we should be accountable to the American people. Now.”

As Specter’s jaw muscles twitched, the Senate again punted on Waco/Ruby Ridge. Too hot, too dangerous to those at the top?

So the U.S. Senate sulks, afraid to strip bare government’s deadly mistakes.

No wonder radio loudmouths and militia kooks run wild with fantasy.

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