BATF Attack at Waco - February 28, 1993

Frontline - PBS ^ | 1995 | WGBH

[AllThrustNoVector]

Chronology February 28, 1993 - At about 9:30 a.m. agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempt to execute arrest and search warrants against David KORESH and the Branch Davidian compound. Gunfire erupts. Four ATF agents are killed and 16 are wounded. An undetermined number of Davidians are killed and injured. Within a few hours, the FBI becomes the lead agency for resolving the standoff. Jeff JAMAR is named the on-site commander. By the afternoon, advance units of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) arrive, and telephone conversations are under way between KORESH, Steve SCHNEIDER, and Wayne MARTIN on one side and the ATF's Jim CAVANAUGH and Waco Police Lt. Larry LYNCH on the other. KORESH discloses that he has been wounded in the hip and left wrist. KORESH is allowed to broadcast his religious teachings on Dallas radio KRLD and does a CNN telephone interview. Michael SCHROEDER, a Branch Davidian, is killed while he tries to return to the main building. Texas Rangers begin an investigation but are barred by the FBI from continuing. At about 5:30 p.m., JAMAR arrives at Waco and chooses Byron SAGE of the FBI as chief negotiator. President CLINTON follows events closely throughout the day.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

I don't think so. In Koresh's case, the only threat from the government was one that HE created.

Riiiight. He made them do it.

[Wallace T.]

Koresh's role as a cult leader was no justification for the military style assault on the Branch Davidian facility, nor the multiweek siege, nor the killing of innocent men, women, and children. It was an atrocity on the order of Wounded Knee or My Lai. The Federal government acted in an un-Constitutional and immoral manner. If there is justice in this world, the day will come when the Branch Davidian survivors and their heirs will receive a formal apology and compensation from the Federal government and when those responsible for the siege and the killings will face the bar of justice.

[Larry Lucido]

Thanks. The Davidians may have had some wack-o ideas, but they reminded us that a few people with rifles can hold off a storm trooper attack by bumbling feds.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

He was leading his followers towards some kind of confrontation.

As far as I can tell, they never left their private property. They had been there in peace for decades. Meanwhile, the BATF had to travel many miles to assault them. Who led them? The reason the guy had all the guns is because he was an arms dealer. If he was paranoid wouldn't it be fair to say it was for good reason considering the government attacked them illegally with military weapons and killed them all for no reason? Your idea that "sooner or later Koresh and his kooks would have become terrorists" is outrageous speculation. Tell me, does that include all the young children that were shot, burned alive and run over by tanks? I suppose you think that the agents who murdered everyone are sane. If you want to see a nutcase, you might try looking in the mirror.

[38special]

Interesting point. It seems they were more afraid of the NRA and militia types than the Islamofascists themselves.

[SUSSA]

His followers had enough crap to arm a small insurgency. Why was that?

####

The Branch Davidians had 4 guns per person. That’s fewer guns per person than the average Texas home.


http://www.alamo-girl.com/03602.htm

[SUSSA]

Pastor Koresh and his congregation were at home on a Sunday morning preparing to go to religious services. Thugs attacked them with automatic weapons killing some of the congregation. They did their best to defend themselves from the attack.

51 Days later, other thugs murdered the congregation, burned their home and church, and bulldozed the evidence of the murders. To date, none of their murders have been brought to justice.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

Great link.

[Larry Lucido]

I'm not a member of a cult

With all due respect, the hell you're not. Every man's religion is someone else's cult. No exceptions.

[SUSSA]

Alamo Girl did one heck of a job on many subject. Plus she is a gem of a lady.

[HaveGunWillTravel]

DEATHS - TRAGEDY - WACO (86 TOTAL)

Michael Dean Schroeder.

Katherin Andrade, 24
Jennifer Andrade, 19
Aldrick Bennett, 35
Susan Benta, 31
Mary Jean Borst, 49
Pablo Cohen, 38
Yvette Fagan, 34
Doris Fagan, 60
Lisa Marie Farris, 26
Ray Friesen, 76
Dayland Gent, 3
Diana Henry, 28
Paulina Henry, 24
Phillip Henry, 22
Stephen Henry, 26
Vanessa Henry, 19
Zilla Henry, 55
Novellette Hipsman, 36
Peter Hipsman, 27
Floyd Houtman, 61
Cyrus Howell, 8
Rachel Howell, 23
Star Howell, 6
Sherri Lynn Jewell, 43
David Michael Jones, 38
Michelle Jones, 18
Serenity Sea Jones, 4
Bobbie Lane Koresh, 16 months
David Koresh, 33
Jeffery Little, 31
Nicole Elizabeth Gent Little, 24
Livingston Malcolm, 26
Douglas Wayne Martin, 42
Lisa Martin, 13
Sheila Martin, 15
Abigail Martinez, 11
Audrey Martinez, 13
Juliete Santoyo Martinez, 30
Crystal Martinez, 3
Isiah Martinez, 4
Joseph Martinez, 30
Jillane Matthews
Alison Bernadette Monbelly, 31
Melissa Morrison, 6
Rosemary Morrison, 29
Sonia Murray, 29
Theresa Noberega, 48
James Riddle, 32
Rebecca Saipaia, 24
Judy Schneider, 41
Mayanah Schneider, 2
Steve Schneider, 48
Laraine B. Silva, 40
Floracita Sonobe, 34
Scott Kojiro Sonobe, 35
Aisha Gyarfas Summers, 17
Gregory Allen Summers, 28
Startle Summers, 1
Hollywood Sylvia
Lorraine Sylvia, 40
Rachel Sylvia, 13
Doris Vaega
Joanne Vaega, 4
Margarida Joanna Vaega, 47
Neal Vaega, 37
Martin Wayne, 20
Mark H. Wendell

[RavenATB]

I believe you are incorrect. The initial BATF attack at the compound occurred on Feb 28th, which was about a month after Clinton took over the White House.

The compound was burned down in April of that year, again, under the "leadership" of Clinton, Reno, and retired Army general and former Democrat Presidential candidate, Wesley Clark.

[Dashing Dasher]

Mrs. Sit Rep ROCKS!

Tell her to join in the fun sometime!

[quietolong]

>>> If this thread gets zotted <<<

Looks like the poster did.

BATF note

From the book:

Broken
The Troubled Past and Uncertain Future of the FBI
Richard Gid Powers
2004

In 1933 when it was decided to merge several bureaus. Hover did not want the 1200 “Dry Agents” from the Prohibition Bureau. Because they were hopelessly corrupt. And Hover did not want them corrupting or tarnishing his special agents.
So Hover setup a new Alcoholic Beverage Unit. To keep the Dry Agents from contaminating his men.

[Ban Draoi Marbh Draoi]

Where did you get the cool picture?

[Abundy]

BMFLR

[Paul_Denton]

Welcome. I lurked here since 2002 and joined in December of 2004. Rightfully so that the BATF is despised.

[Paul_Denton]

Agree 100%

[Sybeck1]

I think they added the "E" at the end of BATFE to give them an attempt of credibility. Everything else of course is free and legal under the Constitution, and come under the 10th amendment for the states to decide by themselves anyway.

[Yasotay]

Looks like the poster did

WoW....Maybe the dark side is winning... Thanks for the additional information. I'll take a look.