“As another poster stated, they could have waited them out. “
If I remember correctly, the Branch Davidians were about to run out of water. If you didn’t want them coming out, you had to go in after them.
Nail. Square. Head.
The reason the .govs had to go in and exterminate the witnesses and destroy the compound was to destroy the evidence of their calculated malfeasance. ATF was wanting a gun fight, got their ass handed to them, and when they briefed the FBI of the completely illegal and unconstitutional raid (along with the protests of the Texas Rangers), initiated the genocide of a "religious cult".
I still think there are dozens, if not hundreds of officials that should be hanging from the lightpole from Ft. Hood all the way to Mt. Carmel.