Doug - Your story is very familiar to me. I've told a bit of my similar experience here. I will say, however, that it happened in 1999, before Bush and before the USPA. Myself and two other journalists were covering an Earth First protest on National Park land. The same NP squads you described were there, in full camo and assault weapons, accompanied by the local sheriff's dept. All journalists were carrying appropriate credentials. In short, I was physically removed from the scene - and I mean physically - while another reporter was arrested for violating a federal closure order. The third, a photographer, managed to escape to the tree line and was able to shoot the scene unencumbered. I served as a witness at the federal hearing for the other journalist. The federal judged threw it out and made a grand speech admonishing the asst. US atty for wasting his time and trampling on the constitution. That was months before the infamous "Battle of Seattle" where other journalists were more famously arrested. I knew at that point, the first amendment etc. was no longer the rule, but the exception. Now, under the USPA, there are no rules except those the federal govt. makes. As a journalist, unless you are willing to bow to status quo, you are immediately suspect and a target for immediate arrest. And think, you were only attending a festival.

sure, you can talk to god, but if you don't listen then what's the use? so, onward through the fog!