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I'd said the same thing during the Bundy Ranch threads, that neither his supporters or detractors understood the larger picture of BLM/Forestry Service stewardship and the Balkanized five-way battle going on between Federal agencies, local and Federal governments, private advocacy groups and private landholders over Western US public spaces.

This issue -- now turned into a fight -- isn't merely over whether Bundy is a tax deadbeat, or the Western Desert Tortoise needs protection, or wild horses, or free rangeland, or 100+ year old treaties, or water rights (flowing or welled), or designated public land and preserves.

It is about capricious and scatter-brained government bureaucracies trying to follow their charter without a clear directive often conflicting with their own established policies and mandates, while at the same time pitted against other government agencies that operate under a counter-mandate -- or even conflicting mandates within their own agency. It's layers and layers of bewildering absurdity: BLM and US Forestry in one place may be one of the best friends a private rancher or eco-group ever had, and just a few miles away the same Federal outfits may be completely berserk in enforcing their incomprehensible policies.

Northern Nevada's PBS affiliate -- of all damned outfits -- managed to put a fairly coherent television report on the issues concerned in this battle. It's very good and is available to watch for free over the web:

Watch the PBS video: (57 mins)

KNPB Reno/Sparks PBS affiliate: 'Rangeland Under Fire: Stewards of the Rangeland'

Anyone who wants to at least start getting a grasp on the open rangeland issues in the Western US would do themselves a favor starting with the PBS video above. Be aware that just because it's PBS doesn't mean there's any sentimentality or schmaltz for the liberal point of view -- even if the 'wild horse' and ecological advocates paint a emotionally weepy picture of their side of the story. It's very important to know who is saying what, and know the names of the people on opposing sides at the top of the debate.

In fact, the wild horse/ecological activists decried the way they came off in the PBS video above as a bunch of out of state SF Bay Area hippies whose policies are actually hurting the wildlife they seek to protect.