UNTIL 1993 THE EXTREMISTS of the far right were fragmented and disorganized. Most belonged to organizations that advocated violence; often, however, they had little else in common. Their anger was rooted in various issues. Some, like the Klan, targeted blacks. Others were incited more by what they perceived as the strong control Jews had over the federal government. Some, like the believers in Christian Identity, had a political agenda based on their interpretation of the Bible. Other agendas focused on what was considered a corrupt economic system, opposing the income tax and banking practices.

"In simple terms, it was a disagreement over who should be shot," says one sociologist. "Should it be the Latinos and the blacks, or the gays and the race mixers? Or should they just declare war on the federal government and be done with it...