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by Stewart Truelsen

After the horrific events of Sept. 11, some thought that ecoterrorism might fade away. After all, President Bush made it plain that the government would hunt down terrorists and bring them to justice. It didn’t seem like a good time to be vandalizing university labs and government buildings, trespassing on farms to release animals and setting fire to new housing construction.

Animal rights and environmental extremists themselves anticipated a lull as they rethought their tactics, determined how the unconscionable act of Sept. 11 would change public opinion and waited to see if more legal pressure would be brought to bear on them. If anyone expected them to just crawl in a hole and hide, however, it hasn’t happened.

Only a month after Sept. 11, the Earth Liberation Front turned wild horses loose from a Bureau of Land Management facility in Susanville, Calif. They also torched barns, a building and vehicles.

To Craig Rosebraugh, author of "Burning Rage of a Dying Planet," the attack was a relief. It meant the war against mainstream America would continue. Rosebraugh was a spokesperson for both ELF and the Animal Liberation Front. He would receive communiqués from them after a terrorist act and relay the information to the media.

Rosebraugh has been a mentor to the ecoterrorist movement without actually taking part in anything more than protests, or so he claims. It is obvious in his book that the movement thrives on media attention. But the events of Sept. 11 have pushed many of its illegal activities, including arson, to the back pages.

The response from ecoterrorists may be to attack with more frequency or ratchet up the level of violence. In England, there was a rash of fire bombings encouraged by a jailed ALF leader who said, "If attracting attention is part of the intent of an action … then how better than in flames."

Rosebraugh himself seems to think it is necessary to increase the level of economic sabotage. In his book, he suggested ELF consider larger targets, including a biotechnology company and the U.S. Agency for International Development. He took issue with ecoterrorists who were vandalizing SUVs at automobile dealerships, saying it would be better to attack the manufacturers.

Certainly ecoterrorism is not unstoppable. Law enforcement is catching up with some of those responsible for arson and vandalism. Peter Daniel Young, 27, is in jail in Madison, Wis., accused of releasing mink at farms in Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin in 1997. His capture resulted from a shoplifting arrest in March in California. Young is believed to be an ALF member.

Animal rights and environmental extremists seem to be getting restive because their causes are not resonating with the public, especially not at this time of international terrorism. They also aren’t gaining the media attention that is so important to them. The downside to this is they could seek new ways to get it.