Like the advocates, the bureaucrats use deceptive language to mislead the public about their true intentions and loyalties.
In 1971, Congress declared that wild horses and burros were to be protected from capture, branding, harassment and death.
Areas where they were found were to be managed principally for them.
Today, the wild horse and burro program operates as a grazing program ancillary, supporting three tenets of rangeland management.
This process is sold to the American people as
- Achieving and maintaining AMLs,
- Healthy horses on healthy rangelands, and
- Restoring a thriving ecological balance and multiple-use relationship,
Meaning that livestock operators receive most of the authorized forage in the lawful homes of wild horses.
But inverting the priorities is not enough.
Congress is unlikely to repeal in the statute so the bureaucrats have opted for long-term nullification through the planning process, one HMA at a time.
The Caliente Complex is a perfect example.
The advocates condone the effort through their darting programs.
RELATED: Codewords for Nonmotorized Removal (of Wild Horses).
Western Horse Watchers Association 