Hmmm ... I will have to totally (but respectfully) disagree.
The underlings are not necessarily just delivering a friendly
reminder in this case.
Threats are generally considered not just in poor taste, but
real criminal offenses, when it comes from someone in the
position to cause someone else a lot of trouble. (e.g. your
boss threatens you, the county prosecutor threatens you, the
FBI threatens you, etc ...)
In this case, John is dealing with stuff that pisses off the
FBI. But the FBI is not allowed to make random threats just
to get its way. It is clear that what may be harmed in this
case is more a diplomatic and/or political in nature rather
than some serious security issue. Therefore, the FBI is
clearly in the wrong, unless otherwise proven.
John's move to ignore that threat is certainly within his
rights, by default.
And your baseline point about underlings ... It is really
the underlings that pull the trigger. Larry Potts did not
pull any trigger in Ruby Ridge, for instance. The extent to
which a person on the front line should be held responsible
should take into account the seriousness of the situation,
and in the case of Ruby Ridge, there is at least some reason
to ponder the question. In this case, however, John is not
threatening the agents with shotguns. Yet the agents did
more than just gently advise John.
There is a real difference when the attitude is bad.
Ern
-----Original Message-----
From: T. Bankson Roach [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, July 21, 2000 8:13 AM
To: John Young; Steven Furlong
Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: FBI Requests File Removal
[SNIP]
First, we know about Carnivore, or think we do. What earthly good is it
to put the agent's names in the public domain? Unless you planned to do
something cruel, evil or harmful to people "doing their job" it would
serve no useful purpose. Contrary to the nonsense propounded at
Nuremberg in the flush of victory at the end of WW2, I do not think it
wise to hold underlings responsible for policy decisions made by people
way up the food chain.
[SNIP]
