The Freemen are one of numerous groups that refuse to recognize government authority, instead hewing to their own "laws" and "common law courts" based on their interpretation of the Bible and the Constitution. Critics contend that law enforcement has been far too slow and reluctant to take on such groups. Others wonder whether the new softer approach merely appeases outlaws. In a recent cartoon from Mike Luckovich of the Atlanta Constitution, entitled "Trying to Avoid Another Waco," an FBI agent barks through a bullhorn at the Montana Freemen compound: "You're surrounded. If it'll make you happy, we'll mow your lawn! OK, who wants pepperoni on their pizza?"

Why has the militia movement come so far? Are the new methods of handling them any better than the old? We spoke to three experts on the American militia movement and far right nativist groups.

Kenneth S. Stern is the American Jewish Committee's expert on hate groups. He is the author of the recently-released "The Force Upon the Plain: The American Militia Movement and the Politics of Hate" (Simon & Schuster, 1996).

Dick J. Reavis is a Texas-based journalist and author of "The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation" (Simon & Schuster, 1995).

David H. Bennett is a professor of history in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, and author of "The Party of Fear: The American Far Right Movement from Nativism to the Militia Movement" (Vintage, 1995).

The Freemen have been wanted for financial scams and threatening local officials for at least two years. Why did it take the FBI so long to move against them?

Reavis: They finally did something because the local posse, sick of all the harassment, were fixing to move in. But the Feds don't want anybody moving in on their turf. In light of Waco and Ruby Ridge, they were probably a lot more hesitant about moving in earlier.

Stern: I agree there was reluctance on their part to go in after Waco and Ruby Ridge. But the longer they waited, the worse it became. In fact, it became critical two years ago. It wasn't just all this bank fraud stuff. These folks, with their common law courts, started issuing liens against local officials. Then they started issuing bounties for the county attorney and the sheriff, and taking over local courthouses. The Garfield County Attorney was told they weren't going to bother to build a gallows after they tried and convicted him. They were just going to let him swing from the bridge.

Meanwhile, these folks were strengthening their position. In September, they all moved into their compound, consolidating their firepower and their feeling that this was their white supremacist fort. That made it very difficult for the Feds, who left the local community at bay, but allowed a situation to develop which is going to make a final resolution that much harder.

Bennett: I can't understand why the FBI didn't act sooner. It seems they were just reluctant to get involved given the embarrassments they've suffered in the past couple of years. But Garfield County wasn't the only place where these types of people were intimidating local officials. There were other cases, in Michigan and Montana. The FBI hasn't done much about those cases either.