Enviro-terrorists attack roadbuilders

$500k of damage was inflicted in a Sunday attack Apr 30 by environmentalist terrorists on earthmoving equipment in use on improvements to IN-46 at Ellettsville IN just northwest of Bloomington IN.

Fuel tanks and crankcases were filled with sand, fuel and hydraulic lines were cut, and a tractor-trailer was set on fire. The so-called Earth Liberation Front (ELF) claimed responsibility for the attack in a message faxed to the AP. It said: “The government and developers are mad with greed and there will be no limit to what they destroy until we take away the profit from their schemes.”

Late Jan ‘E-L-F’ was painted on the burned remains of partially built house near Bloomington. The group also claimed responsibility for a 1998 fire that caused $12m in damage to a ski chalet at Vail CO.

Roadbuilders need to be wary of environmentalist terrorists, and to consider beefed up security at worksites, and should work with the industry, police, and local residents to put these destructive thugs behind bars. Most environmentalists work within the political system but often their inflammatory anti-roads rhetoric and extremist arguments can spawn the fanaticism that translates into terrorism.

Criticism of roads should always be answered. The failure of roadbuilders to rebut criticism and to make the argument that they are building important, socially beneficial infrastructure improvements can lead these groups to think that roadbuilders have no argument. Silence in the face of criticism will increase their sense of self-righteousness, and their tendency to become further radicalized.

Industry groups need to use every opportunity to engage their critics more effectively in debate. It is NOT something to be left to politicians.