Oregon Militia Ready To Declare War If Standoff Doesn’t End Peacefully, Groups Says It Will Target Military

Members of the Eastern Oregon Militia say they are prepared to declare war on the U.S. military if the freemen standoff in Montana turns violent.

“There are no civilian targets,” Walt Hassey, who describes himself as legal adviser to the militia, said Wednesday. “The direct targets are going to be military targets.”

The FBI issued a nationwide alert April 23 to law enforcement agencies, warning of a militia “war plan.”

Hassey confirmed the Eastern Oregon Militia has a plan called “Operation Clean Sweep” to defend the freemen and protect their rights.

“If they do another Waco situation, period, it’s a declaration of war,” Hassey said. “If they storm in there in Jordan and slaughter those people, there will be retribution.”

And Hassey said the targets in that case are in places other than Montana. But he said the public has nothing to fear because “the militia has nothing to do with terrorist incidents.”

Eastern Oregon Militia members have paid close attention to the freemen standoff with the FBI since it began March 25 at a Jordan, Mont., ranch.

Several northeast Oregon residents traveled to Montana to offer support at the start of the standoff. The militia also circulated petitions calling for a grand jury investigation.

They call themselves everyday people who want to protect their families from what they believe is a government gone out of control.

“We might be the guy who works on your car or the grocery worker,” said Jeff Smith, a Baker County member of the Eastern Oregon Militia.

No one will say how many people belong to the anti-government group in eastern Oregon, but membership has been estimated at 300.

Hassey talks openly about the group because he wants to clear up what he says are misconceptions about the militia.