And Janet Reno sending in government machine gunners to forcibly rip a child from its care-givers at the threat of sudden death, is definitely not an acceptable option in a child custody case -- regardless of who or where the father or mother is.
The safety and well being of the child and other citizens involved has to be the primary concern.
Once you understand and accept that, then maybe we can talk about freedom and liberty and other constitutional issues. But if you cannot accept that as a given fact, then we will never be able to come to any understanding about freedom.
Janet Reno's DoJ told us that there had been sufficient, credible information received by the them (from Castro no less), that there were arms in and around the house, and that the situation could be volatile, and deadly even.
The hearing in Atlanta was mere days away, and they all knew that Elian couldn't go anywhere until the Court said so, they couldn't leave for Cuba.
Elian was in no danger, and was the plaintiff in an ongoing case before a Federal Court.
Juan Miguel was consulted, and gave his "blessing" to the raid.
It was more important for the Clinton administration, and to Castro, to put Elian's life at risk--at MORTAL risk according to their own "information"--than to allow a bunch of right-wing belligerent immigrants to to say "NO" to the Executive Branch of the US government, without any help, or signs of any "cojones", from either Congress, or the Courts.
Juan Miguel was/is a poor sap, who would have gone about his life, according to some making his own plans for a raft ride to Miami, as if nothing had happened.
The Feds lied to obtain a warrant, they "arrested" an individual without Miranda. They held him and allowed him no contact with counsel, this all, to a plaintiff in a ongoing Federal case.
Most people's attitude about the Miami Gonzalez family (at least those who use terminology like "kidnapped" to describe them), is that they "had it coming", and they should have been arrested for their actions.
What is funny to me, is the fact that those are the very words used by the left when Waco is argued with them...that they had it coming.