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2001: Timothy McVeigh,
Oklahoma City bomber
At 7:14 a.m. on this date in 2001, Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was executed at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind.
More ink has been spilled about the 33-year-old Gulf War veteran and his infamous crime than this space can possibly hope to summarize. Books can be — and have been — written debating whence McVeigh sprang and whether he was rightly convicted. McVeigh tended to keep coy about his version of his activities on April 19, 1995,* but he was never less than frank about his philosophy. Though his avowed motive, the Waco slaughter that occurred two years to the day before Oklahoma City, has never exactly been secret, the way he’s connected those events has also never been particularly welcome. And McVeigh would say that the fact that he suffered execution while the only parties punished in the Waco siege were thesurvivors makes his point. For all its moral monstrosity, the Gulf War veteran’s critique of his violent actions vis-a-vis those the state claims legitimacy for makes discomfiting reading, and is not always so easy to answer. From our distance of time, knowing that three months after McVeigh’s execution another terrorist act to beggar Oklahoma City would propel the United States back into Iraq, it strikes eerily prescient notes.
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New Revelations Hillary Clinton involvement allegation Part 11 of 12 parts
     
2001: Timothy McVeigh,
Oklahoma City bomber
At 7:14 a.m. on this date in 2001, Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh was executed at the federal penitentiary in Terre Haute, Ind.
More ink has been spilled about the 33-year-old Gulf War veteran and his infamous crime than this space can possibly hope to summarize. Books can be — and have been — written debating whence McVeigh sprang and whether he was rightly convicted. McVeigh tended to keep coy about his version of his activities on April 19, 1995,* but he was never less than frank about his philosophy. Though his avowed motive, the Waco slaughter that occurred two years to the day before Oklahoma City, has never exactly been secret, the way he’s connected those events has also never been particularly welcome. And McVeigh would say that the fact that he suffered execution while the only parties punished in the Waco siege were thesurvivors makes his point. For all its moral monstrosity, the Gulf War veteran’s critique of his violent actions vis-a-vis those the state claims legitimacy for makes discomfiting reading, and is not always so easy to answer. From our distance of time, knowing that three months after McVeigh’s execution another terrorist act to beggar Oklahoma City would propel the United States back into Iraq, it strikes eerily prescient notes. In a 1998 essay, McVeigh savaged the government for its hypocritical posture towards the country he had once fought, Iraq:
The administration has said that Iraq has no right to stockpile chemical or biological weapons (”weapons of mass destruction”) — mainly because they have used them in the past.
Well, if that’s the standard by which these matters are decided, then the U.S. is the nation that set the precedent. The U.S. has stockpiled these same weapons (and more) for over 40 years. The U.S. claims that this was done for deterrent purposes during the “Cold War” with the Soviet Union. Why, then is it invalid for Iraq to claim the same reason (deterrence) — with respect to Iraq’s (real) war with, and the continued threat of, its neighbor Iran?
If Saddam is such a demon, and people are calling for war crimes charges and trials against him and his nation, why do we not hear the same cry for blood directed at those responsible for even greater amounts of “mass destruction” — like those responsible and involved in dropping bombs on [Dresden, Hanoi, Tripoli, Baghdad, Hiroshima and Nagasaki]?
The truth is, the use of a truck, a plane, or a missile for the delivery of a weapon of mass destruction does not alter the nature of the act itself.
These are weapons of mass destruction — and the method of delivery matters little to those on the receiving end of such weapons.Whether you wish to admit it or not, when you approve, morally, of the bombing of foreign targets by the U.S. military, you are approving of acts morally equivalent to the bombing in Oklahoma City. The only difference is that this nation is not going to see any foreign casualties appear on the cover of Newsweek magazine.It seems ironic and hypocritical that an act viciously condemned in Oklahoma City is now a “justified” response to a problem in a foreign land.
Another note sent shortly before his execution to author Gore Vidal travestied government warmaking talking points
[T]his bombing was also meant as a pre-emptive (or pro-active) strike against those forces and their command and control centers within the federal building. When an aggressor force continually launches attacks from a particular base of operations, it is sound military strategy to take the flight to the enemy. Additionally, borrowing a page from U.S. foreign policy, I decided to send a message to a government that was becoming increasingly hostile, by bombing a government building and the government employees within that building who represent that government. Bombing the Murrah Federal Building was morally and strategically equivalent to the U.S. hitting a government building in Serbia, Iraq, or other nations. Based on observations of the policies of my own government, I viewed this action as an acceptable option. From this perspective what occurred in Oklahoma City was no different than what Americans rain on the heads of others all the time, and, subsequently, my mindset was and is one of clinical detachment.
He broadcast clinical detachment in the execution itself — the first conducted by the federal government since 1963, technically imposed for the eight federal employees among his 168 victims — from his waiver of appeals to his unnervingly unblinking death mask to the 19th century poem “Invictus” that formed his written (and only) final statement.
* Also — coincidentally or not — the execution date of Richard Snell in Arkansas, a militia man (and white supremacist, which McVeigh was not) who had once tried to blow up the Murrah building himself.
Also On This Date
Possibly Related Executions
Entry Filed under: 21st Century, Activists, Capital Punishment, Cycle of Violence, Death Penalty, Execution, History, Indiana, Infamous, Lethal Injection, Martyrs, Milestones, Murder,Oklahoma, Popular Culture, Ripped from the Headlines, Soldiers, U.S. Federal, USA,Volunteers
Tags: militia movement, oklahoma city bombing, terrorism, timothy mcveigh, waco siege
Below is the Frontline Report of the Waco Seige from:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/waco/tapes.html
Dear FRONTLINE,
The Waco incident was one of the most repugnant events in American history. It might help some people sleep at night to think that the tactics of the ATF and FBI were warranted, even justified, but I remain unconvinced.
Frontline hardly did anything to shed light on the real story at Waco. Why didn't Frontline interview some of the independent journalists and reporters who were there at the time of the standoff, whose opinions differ greatly from the sanitized viewpoint your program attempted to proffer. The bottom line is that David Koresh and his followers, however misguided you perceive them to be, never did harm to anybody, and got wasted in an act of gestapo-like proportions. The blood of the Waco genocide rests solely on the shoulders of those principals involved in the harrassment and ultimate annihilation of the Branch Davidian compound.
That such fascism has not sparked a nationwide outrage proves just how somnambulant the American citizenry has become. When will we get it that when one American's freedom is so diabolically usurped, our own enslavement can't be far behind?
David G»rard boston, ma
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/waco/tapes.html
Here are selections from the FBI's hundreds of hours of taped negotiations with David Koresh during the Waco standoff. These audiotapes are RealAudio files. For a copy of the RealAudio player, go toProgressive Networks.)
Book of Revelation Discussion (4 min. 10 sec.) (David Koresh and FBI Negotiator)Transcript
Getting Milk to the Children (2 min. 55 sec.) (David Koresh and Sheriff Jack Harwell) Transcript
Is David Koresh Jesus Christ? (28 min. 39 sec.) (David Koresh and Byron Sage) Transcript
The Book of Daniel (4 min. 7 sec.) written and sung by David Koresh
This audiotape along with other information on books, tapes, and videos is available from:
Mt. Carmel Survivors Memorial Fund P.O. Box 120 Axtell, TX 76624
Burning building with woman outside. undefined
ATF agents retreat.
Sage in front of the fire.
FBI agent on tank.
Tanks lined up at fire.
Burnt legal text.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why did the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms raid the Branch Davidian compound on February 28, 1993?
Who fired first on that day, the Branch Davidians or the ATF?
Had the Branch Davidian leader, David Koresh, been abusing children in the compound?
Why did Attorney General Janet Reno approve the FBI's CS gas plan to end the standoff at the compound after 51 days?
What role did President Clinton play in overseeing the handling of the crisis and in authorizing the tear-gas plan?
Did the CS gas harm any of the people, especially the twenty-two children, inside the compound?
Why did the tear gas fail to roust the Branch Davidians out of the compound?
Who started the fire that erupted a little more than six hours after the FBI began inserting the tear gas on April 19?
What caused the death of more than 80 Branch Davidians inside the compound on April 19?
Have any federal agents been disciplined for wrongdoing in the Waco affair? And were any of the surviving Davidians convicted of federal charges?
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why did the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms raid the Branch Davidian compound on February 28, 1993?
The ATF raided the Branch Davidian compound to serve arrest and search warrants as part of an investigation into illegal posession of firearms and explosives there. (Treasury Department press memorandum, July 13, 1995)
Who fired first on that day, the Branch Davidians or the ATF?
The question of who fired first is in dispute. ATF agents who participated in the raid have testified in court and at a congressional hearing that the Branch Davidians fired the first shots. Right after the raid, however, one ATF agent told an investigator that a fellow agent may have shot first, when he killed a dog outside the compound. The agent later retracted the statement, saying that the Branch Davidians had initiated the gunfire. Surviving Branch Davidians have maintained that they did not shoot their guns until they were fired upon by federal authorities.
Had the Branch Davidian leader, David Koresh, been abusing children in the compound?
The issue of whether David Koresh sexually and physically abused children in the compound is also not entirely resolved. Koresh acknowledged on a videotape sent out of the compound during the standoff that he had fathered more than 12 children by several "wives" who were as young as 12 or 13 when they became pregnant. ("Why Waco?," by James D. Tabor and Eugene V. Gallagher.) A review of Waco events published by the Justice Department in October 1993 concludes, "Evidence suggested that Koresh had 'wives' who were in their mid-teens, that Koresh told detailed and inappropriate sexual stories in front of the children during his Bible study sessions, and that Koresh taught the young girls that it was a privilege for them to become old enough (i.e., reach puberty) to have sex with him." (Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas February 28 to April 19, 1993.)
There is considerable evidence as well that Koresh harshly disciplined the children in the compound. According to affidavits obtained by the FBI from several former Branch Davidians and from Dr. Bruce Perry, a psychiatrist who examined several Branch Davidian children, Koresh beat young children with a wooden spoon or withheld food for as much as a day to punish them. (op cit pp. 224-226)
Assu
TAPES
Original Air Date: October 17, 1995
Videocassettes of this FRONTLINE program are available for purchase by schools, libraries, and other educational institutions through PBS Video online, by calling 1-877-PBS-SHOP, by faxing your order to 866-274-9043 (include item title and number and credit card information), or by mailing your order to:
PBS Video PO Box 609 Melbourne, FL 32902-0609 (include check, money order, or credit card information with your order)
TAPES Original Air Date: October 17, 1995
Videocassettes of this FRONTLINming that Koresh had been abusing children before Feb. 28, 1993, a related question is whether the abuse continued during the 51-day siege of the compound. At first Reno explained that a paramount reason for approving the tear-gas assault on April 19 was that "babies were being beaten." ("Reno Says, I Made the Decision," WPost, Apr. 20, 1993.) FBI Director Sessions, however, said the next day there was "no contemporary evidence" of child abuse. ( Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas, February 28 to April 19, 1993.) And Reno revised her statement several months later, agreeing there was no evidence of ongoing child abuse by Koresh, who was wounded in the shootout on Feb. 28, at Mt. Carmel, as the Branch Davidians' residence was known. ("Waco Siege Prompts Crisis Training for Top Justice Department Officials," WPost, Dec. 9, 1993.)
Why did Attorney General Janet Reno approve the FBI's CS gas plan to end the standoff at the compound after 51 days?
Reno has cited a number of factors to explain why she endorsed the tear-gas plan. She has said that she had concluded that negotiations with the Branch Davidians were indefinitely stalemated, that the FBI's hostage rescue team on duty at Waco was becoming fatigued, that the security perimeter established by the FBI around the compound was endangered and that the children inside the compound were at risk because of deteriorating sanitary conditions and the potential for sexual and physical abuse. According to Justice Department reports and congressional testimony, Reno gave only a cursory reading of the three-inch thick operations plan and back-up documentation about CS gas provided by the FBI two days before the assault on the compound. (Joint Hearing of the Crime Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee and National Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the House Government Reform and The Oversight Committee, July 1995; Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas February 28 to April 19, 1993.)
[Janet Reno's opening statement before the Congressional Hearings on August 1, 1995.]
What role did President Clinton play in overseeing the handling of the crisis and in authorizing the tear-gas plan?
In the early days of the crisis Clinton endorsed a "wait-and-see" strategy, asking to be consulted before a change in strategy. On April 18, in a conversation with Reno, the President endorsed the gas plan. Although Clinton distanced himself from the matter after April 19, saying it has been Reno's call, FRONTLINE has learned that Clinton apparently followed developments at Waco closely through some of his closest White House aides.
Did the CS gas harm any of the people, especially the twenty-two children, inside the compound?
According to medical examiners who performed the autopsies, CS gas did not directly kill any of the more than 80 Branch Davidians, including 22 children, who died in the fire on April 19. Nor did anyone perish from inhalation of CS gas--or its byproduct from a fire, cyanide--the medical examiners told FRONTLINE. Other experts have told FRONTLINE that CS gas may have totally incapacitated the children and others so that when the fire occurred, it would have rendered them incapable of escape. It should be noted that Mount Carmel had not been gassed preceding the last hour of the fire. Experts also noted that CS gas only has a persistence factor of about ten minutes.
Why did the tear gas fail to roust the Branch Davidians out of the compound?
FBI agents and various experts who are familiar with the events at Waco have suggested several reasons why the CS gas did not roust the Branch Davidians out of their compound. For one thing, the adult Branch Davidians had gas masks. Holes that the FBI's armored vehicles punched in the walls of the compound to insert the gas also allowed the high winds on that day to disperse it. And, for many of Koresh's followers inside the compound, fleeing the compound and deserting him would have amounted to renouncing their religious faith; many apparently chose to stay. Furthermore, the thirty-mile winds gusting to 31 miles per hour caused the gas to quickly dissipate and FBI listening devices showed that the gas seemed to have little effect on the adult occupants during the six hour assault. All the adults had gas masks with filters, which the FBI believed would last up to 48 hours. FRONTLINE has learned that is why the FBI's initial plan called for incremental gassing over a 48 hour period.
Who started the fire that erupted a little more than six hours after the FBI began inserting the tear gas on April 19?
Although several of the surviving Branch Davidians insist that they did not start the fire, a panel of arson investigators concluded that the Davidians were responsible for igniting it, simultaneously, in at least three different areas of the compound. Unless they were deliberatley set, the probability of the three fires starting almost simultaneously was highly unlikely, according to fire experts. Furthermore, the videotapes show the use of accelerants that strongly increased the spread of the fire. Although one Branch Davidian stated that a FBI tank had tipped over a lantern, videotapes show that the tank had struck the building a minute and a half before the fire began. Also some of the surviving Davidians' clothing showed evidence of lighter fluid and other accelerants. In addition, FBI listening devices seemed to establish that the Davidians were overheard making statements such as, "Spread the fuel," some six hours before the fires began. (Joint Hearing of the Crime Subcommittee July 1995.)
What caused the death of more than 80 Branch Davidians inside the compound on April 19?
Medical examiners, Dr. Nizam Peerwani and Dr. Rodney Crow, have told FRONTLINE that many of them died from asphyxiation when the intense fire raced through the compound. Others, particularly women and children who huddled under wet blankets in a concrete chamber, were fatally injured when debris collapsed on them during the fire, the officials said. Still others were shot to death, suicide or homicide victims in apparent mercy killings, they said. Both the coroners and some FBI sources have told FRONTLINE that the pattern of most of the bodies was not consistent with a theory of mass suicide.
Have any federal agents been disciplined for wrongdoing in the Waco affair? And were any of the surviving Davidians convicted of federal charges?
Two ATF supervisors, Chuck Sarabyn and Phillip Chojinacki, were fired, although they were later reinstated at a lower rank. No FBI agents have been officially disciplined. Eight of the surviving Branch Davidians were convicted on charges ranging from voluntary manslaughter to weapons violations. Seven got 40-year prison terms, and the eighth got five years. A ninth, Kathy Schroeder, got three years in prison after testifying for the government.
[Ed. Note: This chronology was published in 1995 with the initial broadcast of "Waco: the Inside Story." In August, 1999, documents were uncovered which indicated that during the raid on the Branch Davidian compound, the FBI used a limited number of flammable tear gas canisters. This revelation contradicted assertions of the FBI and the Department of Justice that the government had done nothing that could have contributed to the start or spread of the fire. In response, Attorney General Janet Reno appointed a special counsel, former Republican senator John C. Danforth, to reexamine the assault to determine how the fire started and whether there was a cover-up of information implicating law enforcement officials or the Justice Department.
On July 21, 2000, after a 10 month investigation, Danforth issued a preliminary report exonerating the government and its agents. His report concluded that federal agents did not start the fire, direct gunfire at the complex, or improperly employ US armed forces. Danforth assigned responsibility for the tragedy to the Branch Davidians and David Koresh. According to the report, they contributed to the tragedy by refusing to exit the compound during the 51 day standoff, directing gunfire at FBI agents, shooting members of the compound, and ultimately setting the fire that burned the compound down.
Danforth did find, however, that an FBI agent fired three pyrotechnic tear gas rounds at a concrete pit 75 feet from the living quarters of the compound. Although these rounds did not start the fire, government officials did not admit their use until August 1999, more than six years later. Danforth found that this negligence was at best a mishandling of evidence, and at worst a criminal attempt to conceal the truth from investigators.
The full text of Danforth's preliminary report is available online from the Center for Studies on New Religions. A final report is expected in the fall of 2000.]
FRONTLINE's chronology of the siege, which starts below, is drawn from two reports (OCT. 8, 1993) issued by the Justice Department: "Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas, February 28 to April 19,1993," (hereinafter designated as "Scruggs"), compiled by Richard Scruggs, who is an assistant to the Attorney General, and five other officials in the Justice Department; and "Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas February 28 to April 19, 1993," (hereinafter designated as "Dennis") by Edward S. G. Dennis, Jr., a Philadelphia lawyer and former assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the Justice Department. Both reports were issued on October 3, 1993. (As of July 1994, Richard Scruggs is no longer an assistant to the Attorney General.)
February 28, 1993 through March 7, 1993
March 8, 1993 through March 18, 1993
March 19, 1993 through March 31, 1993
April 1, 1993 through April 15, 1993
April 16, 1993 through April 19, 1993
SUNDAY, 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.[ Scruggs 1, 9, 21, 22, 24, 229, 236, 241]
MONDAY, MARCH 1:
In the early morning, Acting Attorney General Stuart GERSON gives an update to CLINTON, who implicitly endorses a negotiated solution and asks to be advised if there is any change in strategy. Larry POTTS at FBI headquarters in Washington and JAMAR in Waco are in command. Negotiations continue, and over the course of the day, 10 children are sent out of the compound. By 5 p.m., the FBI takes control with a fully functioning command post. FBI agents in armored vehicles deploy to the compound's perimeter. KORESH becomes extremely agitated when the armored vehicles move closer and when his phone line is cut except for outgoing calls to the negotiators. At least twice, KORESH says suicide is not being contemplated. CLINTON and FBI Director William SESSIONS talk about how to handle crisis. SESSIONS favors "waiting strategy," and CLINTON approves this tactic. [ Scruggs 9, 27, 28, 29, 30, 126, 237]
TUESDAY, MARCH 2:
Into the wee hours the negotiations continue. In the early morning, KORESH makes a one-hour audio tape of his religious teachings, adding a preamble promising to surrender upon the national broadcast of tape. At 1:30 p.m., the tape is broadcast over the Christian Broadcasting Network. At 5:58 p.m, the word is relayed to negotiations from KORESH that God had spoken to him and had told him to wait. GERSON states that the strategy is "to talk them out, no matter how long it took." CLINTON calls GERSON and agrees to deploy military vehicles for safety purposes. [ Scruggs 32-35, 238, 239]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3:
In a conciliatory gesture, the FBI intervenes to have murder charges dropped against two elderly women, Davidians who had left the compound on March 2. Speaking with negotiators, KORESH accounts for his failure to surrender, as agreed, by saying he's "dealing now with his Father" and not with "your bureaucratic system of government." And he delivers various rambling sermons, focusing on such Biblical matters as "unlocking" the Seven Seals and interpreting God's intentions about the end of the world. In a late-evening conversation, he bristles at the movement of armored vehicles around the compound and says the FBI would have to "look at some of the pictures of the little ones that ended up perishing." [Scruggs 38-41]
THURSDAY, MARCH 4:
Negotiators jawbone for 11 hours with various Davidians, including 7 hours and 38 minutes with KORESH. The negotiators remain "calm and conciliatory." A memo written by Pete SMERICK and Mark YOUNG, two FBI psychological profilers, says a strategy of negotiations, coupled with ever increasing tactical presence, could be counter-productive and result in the loss of life. [ Scruggs 41-49, 180]
FRIDAY, MARCH 5:
Nine-year-old Heather JONES leaves compound wearing a note pinned to her jacket on which her mother says that, once the children are out, the adults will die. KORESH and his top aide, Steve SCHNEIDER, deny they are contemplating suicide. The FBI seeks the advice of experts and Davidians on likelihood of mass suicide by the Davidians and receives "inconsistent information." The FBI concludes that the Davidians have a one-year supply of food, including abundant military rations or MREs (meals ready to eat). KORESH continues preaching and threatening violence. [ Scruggs 49-52]
SATURDAY, MARCH 6:
In an early morning conversation SCHNEIDER suggests federal agents might burn the compound down to destroy evidence. KORESH and SCHNEIDER are both "highly agitated and upset" for most of the day. The FBI becomes concerned that the negotiations are at an impasse and acknowledges "frustration in attempting to negotiate with KORESH." [ Scruggs 52-55]
SUNDAY, MARCH 7:
Talks with KORESH and others inside the compound go round in circles. The FBI refuses to deliver milk for the children unless more of them are released. KORESH says all the children left in the compound are his biological descendants. A memo by SMERICK and YOUNG advises against tactical options in favor of establishing trust with KORESH. They predict the assault on the compound and say mass suicide is a possibility. GERSON talks SESSIONS out of going to Waco to negotiate directly with KORESH. [ Scruggs 57, 58, 181, 240]
MONDAY, MARCH 8:
KORESH's wounds are said to be healing well. The FBI delivers six gallons of milk to the compound. SMERICK-YOUNG memo says strong show of force will play into KORESH's hands. GERSON passes his Waco portfolio on to Webster HUBBELL, an acting associate attorney general, who is briefed by the FBI. (Exact day is uncertain.) [Scruggs 60, 182, 240]
A videotape of the children in the compound is sent out by the Davidians. The negotiators' log shows that, when the tape is reviewed, there is concern that if the tape is released to the media, KORESH would gain much sympathy. [Dennis 11]
TUESDAY, MARCH 9:
At 2:15 a.m., the electricity to the compound is cut off. KORESH says he will not talk further until power is restored, and it is restored. SCHNEIDER expresses outrage over the movement of armored vehicles around the compound. HRT members see weapons in the windows, and firing ports being cut in plywood placed in the windows. SMERICK-YOUNG memo recommends various tactical measures. [Scruggs 60, 61, 183]
On several occasions, tactical pressure is exerted on the Davidians either without consulting the negotiators or over the negotiators' objections. [Dennis 43]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10:
Electricity is temporarily cut off again. Four and a half hours of negotiations yield no progress. [Scruggs 62, 63]
THURSDAY, MARCH 11:
KORESH does not participate in negotiations until 7:03 p.m., and there is no progress in negotiations except a promise that Kathy SCHROEDER will come out the next day. [Scruggs 64, 65]
FRIDAY, MARCH 12:
RENO is sworn in as Attorney General. SCHROEDER leaves the compound, saying no mass suicide would occur. Dr. John HAGMAN, a local physician, consults over the telephone. Over the objections of some FBI negotiators, JAMAR orders all electricity to be cut off for good, because "he wanted those inside the compound to experience the same wet and cold night as the tactical personnel outside." RENO is extensively briefed on Waco by FBI (Exact day is unclear) [Scruggs 65-67, 142, 240]
The Davidians say the power shut-off is a "huge, huge setback," causing SCHNEIDER and others to change their minds about coming out. The justification for cutting the power is that it is going to be a very cold night and maximum effect would be gained in making the Davidians uncomfortable inside the compound. Also, cutting the power is designed to challenge KORESH's control of the situation and to raise the level of stress within the compound to force more departures. [Dennis 14]
SATURDAY, MARCH 13:
SCHNEIDER complains that people inside the compound are cold and freezing. The FBI notifies KORESH that his mother has retained attorneys Richard DeGUERIN and Jack ZIMMERMAN to represent him. [Scruggs 68]
SUNDAY, MARCH 14:
At nightfall the FBI begins to illuminate the compound with bright lights "to disrupt sleep, to put additional pressure on those inside and to increase the safety of the HRT." [ Scruggs 69]
MONDAY. MARCH 15:
The FBI establishes a "modified negotiation strategy," continuing to insist on peaceful resolution but refusing to listen to any more of what they call "Bible babble." SCHNEIDER and another Davidian, Wayne MARTIN, meet outside the compound with SAGE and McLennan County Sheriff Jack HARWELL. [Scruggs 70]
TUESDAY, MARCH 16:
During the day, conversations between the FBI and those in the compound amount to only 46 minutes. [Scruggs 71]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17:
KORESH refuses to allow SCHNEIDER to have another face-to-face conversation with SAGE. In a "confrontational" conversation--what JAMAR called the "Dutch uncle conversation"--SAGE urges KORESH to surrender, challenging his sincerity and calling on him to take some positive action. SAGE tells SCHNEIDER his entreaties apparently had "fallen on deaf ears." With SAGE's agreement, JAMAR decides to increase the pressure on KORESH. SMERICK leaves Waco. [ Scruggs 72, 73, 135, 179]
THURSDAY, MARCH 18:
The FBI broadcasts a message to those in the compound over a loudspeaker, saying they will be treated fairly if they come out. [Scruggs 73]
FRIDAY, MARCH 19:
In a purported attempt to address some of the Davidians' concerns, the FBI delivers to the compound legal documents, letters from KORESH's attorneys and other items. KORESH says he is ready to come out and face the music. Two Davidians, Brad BRANCH and Kevin WHITECLIFF, come out of the compound. [Scruggs 75]
SATURDAY, MARCH 20:
Another Davidian, Rita RIDDLE, comes out of the compound. [Scruggs 76]
SUNDAY, MARCH 21:
At 12:15 a.m., two more women, Victorine HOLLINGSWORTH and Annetta RICHARDS, exit the compound. KORESH says, "I told you that my God says wait." Rita RIDDLE, Gladys OTTMAN, Sheila MARTIN, James LAWTON, and Ofelia SANTOYA come out. In the evening hours the FBI begins playing very loud music, including Tibetan chants, over the loudspeaker system. At 11:35 p.m. KORESH says: "Because of the loud music, nobody is coming out." A short while later, the loudspeaker system malfunctions, and the night ends quietly. [ Scruggs 76-79]
MONDAY, MARCH 22:
SCHNEIDER expresses his anger about the loud music. The negotiators attempt to calm him by blaming the FBI tactical agents. JAMAR calls a meeting of the crisis management team to discuss strategy, discussing "stress escalation measures." If that fails, the negotiators "recommend the introduction of tear gas as a non-lethal alternative to clear the compound." The negotiators' advisory, however, predicts KORESH will stall as long as possible but sees a good "prospect of an eventual peaceful resolution." The FBI reads a new offer to KORESH, allowing him to communicate while in jail, among other things, provided all Davidians begin leaving the compound as of 10 a.m. on March 23. [ Scruggs 79-80, 137, 138]
TUESDAY, MARCH 23:
At 10:05 a.m., Livingstone FAGAN leaves the compound, the last one out during the standoff. Assistant US Attorney William JOHNSTON of Waco writes a letter to RENO, complaining about the FBI's handling of the crime scene, especially the moving of vehicles around the compound. At 10 p.m., the FBI shines floodlights on the compound and plays over the loudspeaker tapes of previous negotiations and messages from those who had exited the compound. [Scruggs 81-81, 232, 251]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24:
In wee hours, FBI plays Tibetan chants, Christmas music. Angered by music, SCHNEIDER refuses to talk further. At the daily 10:30 a.m. press briefing the FBI escalates its verbal assault against KORESH, calling him a liar and coward. [Scruggs 82-84]
THURSDAY, MARCH 25:
FBI ultimatum: 10 to 20 people must leave by 4 p.m., or some action will be taken. At 4 p.m., armored vehicles move into the compound and remove motorcycles and go-carts. [ Scruggs 84-85]
FRIDAY, MARCH 26:
Lights, music and helicopter activity occur throughout the night. FBI issues another ultimatum, and armored vehicles began clearing the front side of the compound. [ Scruggs 87]
SATURDAY, MARCH 27:
No conversations with KORESH for third straight day. [ Scruggs 87, 88]
SUNDAY, MARCH 28:
Another FBI ultimatum. At 12:26 p.m., KORESH says that he had no intention to die and he was waiting for word from God. A call from Dick DeGUERIN is patched in to the compound. A videotape sent out from the compound shows 19 children looking tired but healthy. [Scruggs 89]
MONDAY, MARCH 29:
Over the objections of the assistant US attorneys and Texas Rangers, JAMAR decides to allow a face-to-face meeting between KORESH and DeGUERIN. For almost two hours in the afternoon, the two men meet at the door of the compound. [Scruggs 91, 92]
TUESDAY, MARCH 30:
There are two more meetings between KORESH and DEGUERIN. [Scruggs 93]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31:
Mark RICHARD, the deputy assistant attorney general representing RENO, holds meetings in Waco and San Antonio to look into Waco officials' infighting. DeGUERIN reports to JAMAR that he is "frustrated" in his attempt to negotiate KORESH's surrender. [Scruggs 93]
TUESDAY, APRIL 1:
RICHARD reports his findings to RENO. She assigns Ray JAHN as lead prosecutor and coordinator in the case. DeGUERIN and ZIMMERMAN spend the day inside the compound and tell JAMAR that the Davidians will leave on either April 2 or 10, depending on their Passover observance. [Scruggs 94, 95]
Phil ARNOLD and Jim TABOR, two independent religion experts, appear on talk-show host Ron ENGELMAN's program, interpreting the Book of Revelations as it applies to the standoff.
FRIDAY, APRIL 2: Uneventful. [Scruggs 95. 96]
SATURDAY, APRIL 3: Uneventful. [Scruggs 96]
SUNDAY, APRIL 4: The lawyers meet again with KORESH and reiterate that everyone will come out after Passover. [Scruggs 97]
MONDAY, APRIL 5:
Davidians observe Passover. [Scruggs 97]
TUESDAY, APRIL 6: Despite complaints, the FBI continues broadcasting music throughout the night. [Scruggs 98]
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7:
KORESH refuses to confirm an exit date. POTTS and Floyd CLARKE, high-ranking FBI officials from Washington, are in Waco to discuss strategy, and HRT commander Richard ROGERS proposes a tear gas plan. [Scruggs 98, 256]
THURSDAY, APRIL 8: Uneventful. [Scruggs 99]
FRIDAY, APRIL 9:
"Yahweh" KORESH sends letter to the FBI, saying the "heavens are calling you to judgment." Two experts analyze the letters (and four others sent over the next few days) and conclude he was possibly a psychotic and had no intention of leaving voluntarily. The FBI finalizes plans to use tear gas and seeks RENO's approval. [Scruggs 100]
SATURDAY, APRIL 10: HRT members start installing concertina wire around the compound. [Scruggs 102]
EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 11:
Fruitless negotiations take place with SCHNEIDER over the possible exit of three more Davidians, who decide against it. Tom McLARTY, White House chief of staff, discusses Waco with CLINTON, who refers to his experience as governor in dealing with a standoff at Fort Chaffee. [Scruggs 103, 242]
MONDAY, APRIL 12:
At high-level meetings, SESSIONS, HUBBELL and other Justice and FBI officials present the tear gas plan to RENO for approval. At first, she asks repeatedly, "Why now, why not wait?" but then becomes convinced some action is needed. [Scruggs 104, 263]
The tear gas plan is presented to RENO "not as an all-out assault but as a tactic whereby gas will be inserted in stages, initially into only one small area of the compound. The goal was to allow the exit through uncontaminated portions of the compound." RENO also asks about whether it would be possible to cut off the water supply to the compound. [Dennis 25, 26]
TUESDAY, APRIL 13:
For most of the afternoon, KORESH bombards the negotiators over the phone with what they call "Bible babble," reiterating that he is not coming out until God tells him to do so. HUBBELL meets for 45 minutes in White House counsel Bernard NUSSBAUM's office with top CLINTON aides, Bruce LINDSEY and Vince FOSTER, to discuss the CS gas plan and advise Clinton (This is said to be the "most likely date" of a meeting that occurred sometime during this week.) HUBBELL backs FBI's action plan, citing negotiations impasse and need to pull the HRT back for training. NUSSBAUM reports to CLINTON, telling him that Waco is a matter for the Justice Department to handle. [Scruggs 105, 242, 243, 244]
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14:
A message from KORESH says that he will not surrender until he has written a manuscript explaining the Seven Seals. At a meeting in SESSIONS's office on the tear gas plan, two military experts and the Army's Dr. Harry SALEM brief RENO, detailing what is known about its effect on children ("...although there had been no laboratory tests performed on children relative to the effects of the gas, anecdotal evidence was convincing that there would be no permanent injury"). CLARKE says the Davidians might be running out of water. RENO asks FBI to gather information about the compound's water supply and estimate how long the Davidians could hold out. FBI says rationing is to ensure discipline, and provisions would last a year. RENO meets with Delta Force commanders to review the tear gas plan. [Scruggs 107, 243, 266, 269, 270]
The compound is stocked with a year's supply of food rations and was otherwise prepared to withstand an extended siege. [Dennis 6]
THURSDAY, APRIL 15:
FBI officials report that the compound has enough water to last a significant period of time. HUBBELL talks by phone for two hours with SAGE, who argues for action. [Scruggs 106, 270]
After talking to SAGE, HUBBELL becomes convinced that the negotiators believe there is no further hope of getting the Davidians out through negotiation. [Dennis 57]
FRIDAY, APRIL 16:
KORESH tells negotiators that he has completed the manuscript on the First Seal. RENO rejects the tear gas plan, according to what RICHARD says HUBBELL told him. SESSIONS, CLARKE, and POTTS hurry to HUBBELL's office, and SESSIONS asks to speak with RENO. Ten minutes later HUBBELL returns with RENO, who orders a written statement "describing the situation inside the compound, the progress of negotiations, and the merits" of the plan, plus supporting documentation for all factual assertions. [Scruggs 107, 271]
SATURDAY, APRIL 17:
Louis ALANIZ, who is not a Branch Davidian, but who sneaked into the compound early during the siege, leaves. RENO meets with HUBBELL, SESSIONS, CLARKE and POTTS and other Justice Department officials and reviews the statement covering rules of engagement and supporting documents. RENO approves the FBI's tear gas plan but gives the prepared material "only a cursory review, leaving tactical decisions to those at Waco." [Scruggs 5, 107, 108, 272, 273]
SUNDAY, APRIL 18:
RENO briefs CLINTON on the CS gas plan, and the President "concurs," but asks questions about assuring the children's safety and adds, "It is your decision."...HUBBELL and LINDSEY are also in the loop...Armored vehicles clear KORESH's Chevrolet Camaro and other vehicles away from the front of the compound...Although the FBI warns the Davidians to stay out of the tower, they hold children up in windows and, in one window, hold a sign saying, "Flames Await." [Scruggs 108, 109, 244, 245, 273]
MONDAY, APRIL 19:
At 5:59 a.m., SAGE telephones the Davidians, notifying them of an imminent tear-gas assault. SAGE reads a message over the loudspeaker, advising the Davidians that they are under arrest and should come out. At 6:02 a.m., two FBI combat engineering vehicles, or CEVs, begin inserting gas into the compound through spray nozzles attached to a boom. At 6:04 a.m., the Davidians start shooting, and the FBI begin deploying Bradley vehicles to insert ferret rounds through the windows. At 6:31, the HRT reports that the entire building is being gassed. At about 7 a.m., RENO and senior advisors go to the FBI situation room. At 7:30, a CEV breaches the front side of the building on the first floor as it injects gas, and at 7:58 a.m., gas is inserted in the second floor of the back-right corner of the building. The FBI calls for more gas from outside Waco, and at 9:20 a.m., 48 more ferret rounds arrive from Houston. At about 9:30 a.m., with the supply of ferret rounds dwindling, one CEV is having mechanical troubles, and high winds are blowing the gas away. Another CEV begins enlarging the opening in the middle-front of the building "from which the Davidians could escape" and a third CEV with a boom but lacking a gas delivery system breaches the rear side of the building "to create openings near the gymnasium." At about 11 a.m., (Washington time) RENO talks to CLINTON, saying everything seems to be going well, and she leaves for a judicial conference in Baltimore at 11:30 a.m.. The CEV without a gas delivery system breaches the back side of the compound, concentrating on the back right corner near the warehouse-gymnasium. At 11:40 a.m., the last ferret rounds are delivered. At 11:45 a.m., a wall on the right-rear side of the building collapses. At 12:07 p.m., the Davidians start "simultaneous fires at three or more different locations within the compound." An HRT observer reports seeing "a male starting a fire" in the front of the building. At 12:12 p.m., SAGE calls on KORESH to lead the Davidians out to safety. Nine Davidians flee the compound and are arrested. At about 12:25 p.m., the FBI hears "systematic gunfire" coming from the compound, leaving several agents the impression that the Davidians are either killing themselves or each other. At 12:41, fire-fighting efforts begin. HRT agents enter tunnels to search for survivors, especially children. In the afternoon at an unspecified time HUBBELL speaks to McLARTY. After her appearance on ABC's television program "Nightline," RENO talks again to CLINTON. [ Scruggs 6, 110-113, 245, 285-292]
Sometime in mid-morning an apparent deviation from the approved plan begins. The plan contemplated that the building would not be dismantled if after 48 hours not all the people had come out. However, the CEV's begin knocking holes into the compound the morning of the assault. The CEV not equipped with tear gas knocks down a corner of the building, and a portion of the roof collapsed, in order to clear a path to the main tower so that the other CEV could insert gas in the area. [Dennis 59]
Dear FRONTLINE,
I was surprised at the lack of information regarding the endless lies told by all members of law enforcement invovlved. The whole incident was caused by an incompetent yet highly combative government officials. This should have been made clear.
CRAIG CHAMBERLAIN sun prairie, wi 53590
Dear FRONTLINE,
The Waco incident was one of the most repugnant events in American history. It might help some people sleep at night to think that the tactics of the ATF and FBI were warranted, even justified, but I remain unconvinced.
Frontline hardly did anything to shed light on the real story at Waco. Why didn't Frontline interview some of the independent journalists and reporters who were there at the time of the standoff, whose opinions differ greatly from the sanitized viewpoint your program attempted to proffer. The bottom line is that David Koresh and his followers, however misguided you perceive them to be, never did harm to anybody, and got wasted in an act of gestapo-like proportions. The blood of the Waco genocide rests solely on the shoulders of those principals involved in the harrassment and ultimate annihilation of the Branch Davidian compound.
That such fascism has not sparked a nationwide outrage proves just how somnambulant the American citizenry has become. When will we get it that when one American's freedom is so diabolically usurped, our own enslavement can't be far behind?
David G»rard boston, maE program are available for purchase by schools, libraries, and other educational institutions through PBS Video online, by calling 1-877-PBS-SHOP, by faxing your order to 866-274-9043 (include item title and number and credit card information), or by mailing your order to:
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Who's Who: Peter Boyer. Children of Waco (an article originally published in The New Yorker)
Branch Davidians (Statement of Dick J. Reavis to the Congressional Waco Hearings)
Dr. Rodney Crow, Chief of Identification Service and forensic dentist, who worked closely with Dr. Nizam Peerwani in the Waco investigation.
Interview Excerpts: Clive Doyle, Branch Davidian,
Interview Excerpts: Jack Harwell, Sheriff of McLennan County
Interview Excerpts: Barry Higginbotham, Member of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team
Interview Excerpts: Jeffrey Jamar, On-site FBI commander during the Waco siege
Interview Excerpts: David Koresh, Dr. Nizam Peerwani
Chief Medical Examiner for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner's District, in Northcentral Texas
Interview Excerpts: Janet Reno, Attorney General of the United States Byron Sage, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent (SSRA) with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Austin, Texas
Interview Excerpts: Clint Van Zandt, FBI Special Agent
Interview Excerpts:
INTERVIEW EXCERPTS: Clint Van Zandt
Excerpts from FRONTLINE interview with Clint Van Zandtconducted August 17, 1995 in Washington, D.C. (As of November 1995, Cliff Van Zandt was still a consultant in Fredericksburg, Virginia.)
Talking with Koresh...
VZ: Koresh was so adept at talking to his quote unquote congregation. As you know, he'd talk to them for six, twelve, eighteen hours. He wouldn't let them use the bathroom facilities. He'd keep everybody standing, so Koresh was used to holding a crowd and dominating. One of the things Koresh did, 'cause I spoke to him three hours one night, and he really tries to over-talk you. He would try to over-talk you, he would try to talk, sometimes, louder, or he would try--you listen to the tapes--and sometimes he would not take a breath. I mean, he would just, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, move along, and he would attempt to break your train of thought and just dominate the conversation. While the negotiators, again, their job would be to try to break that. If that's what Koresh was comfortable in, dah dah-dah, dah dah-dah, dah dah-dah, break that--cut that off into bites, OK? But, David, lets talk about this. And get him on an issue, ah, other than what he wanted to talk about, which was always Revelation.
Q: Why weren't Arnold and Tabor used in negotiating with Koresh? They claimed they made a religious connection to him?
VZ: I think you've got to draw the line someplace as to how do we not make this a circus event, how do we not have so many people talking and then going out and making public statements and then having it come back in via the radio. I mean, you try what seems logical and what seems best without totally abdicating your responsibilities, which for us was to negotiation. And I think we talked about the one time. I read every letter that came. The American public was sending letters. Dozens and dozens of letters came every day with Americans saying any where from why don't you bomb the place and quit screwing around, to why don't you go away and leave those people alone. And easily, 6, 8, 10, 12 letters would come in, and I read every one of them every day. One time a letter came in, and some good citizen said, the word might be Beelzebub, or hypothetical, I forget what the word was, but he said, this is a code word to David Koresh.
If you say this word, everybody's going to come out. I read this letter, and I thought, naw. I took a 3 x 5 card, and I wrote on it, use the word "x" in your conversation with Koresh. And I walked into the negotiator who was on the phone, and I slid it in front of him. And I see this look on his face like --'what?' I said, do it. So he went ahead and did it. I sat there and waited for Koresh to come walking out. Did I think he would? No. Did I think it was worth the try? Anything was worth a try to even go to those extremes. Everybody was volunteering to come and talk with them-- I'm a pastor... I'm also Christ incarnate. We've got all of those suggestions from people. Now, I don't place Arnold in the same ballpark as I do some good but maybe deranged person writing in. I think they had all the academic and professional credentials. But again, that would have been the Mickey Mantle and Koresh just hitting off of two major league pitchers. I don't think they would have been the ones. They didn't have the magic bullet or the magic hook that was going to bring Koresh out.
Q: How do you know?
A: How do I know? I would only know if we turned the clock back and let them try. OK? And then let everybody else try who wanted to try also. You know, we could have sold tickets and lined up 1,000 people. Who wants to negotiate with David Koresh? Come on in.
Thoughts watching the flames.....
VZ: I guess my first thought seeing that was, oh, my God, they've accidentally themselves set the place on fire. But maybe this will be the catalyst to get them out. Now they have no choice. Now they can't just sit there, hunker down in that building. They have to make a decision if they've accidentally, meaning the Davidians have accidentally, not the FBI accidentally, but if the Davidians had accidentally set it on fire, my hope upon hope was, well, now this will be the catalyst to get them out. Now they will have to come out if they're going to come out. That was my hope, but it was not my belief that they would come out. I separate hope from what I thought would happen.
Q: When did you know they weren't coming out?
VZ: When I saw the building come down on top of them and nobody came out.
Q: What was your thinking at that moment?
VZ: What an absolute classic tragedy. What a total indictment almost of mankind's inability to communicate and relate, even though we have different religious or personal philosophies, that this is how wars start, because people can't communicate and don't or won't understand each other, and that this was simply a microcosm of every conflict that man has ever had.
I went outside and took a walk and just tried to compose my thoughts and, in my own way, ask God why, why did it end this way? And I wasn't mad at Him. I just didn't understand why. I think I probably called my wife later, and she had already seen it and knew about it, and I tried to come to a personal understanding of what took place, and what role I had played in it. I was just sad. As much as I thought we might see something like that at the end, I hated to have it confirmed. I hated to be right. I would have rather been a fool on that one and had them all walk out and have everybody say, why did you come up with this snare type philosophy? Look, they're all coming out, and it's a big joke, and we're all sitting at the picnic table, and where do you come up with these things? I would have loved that. I really would have. And it just didn't happen.
Public Comments and Views on the Waco Seige
Dear FRONTLINE,
I ask but one question, that addresses the "back to square-one" validity of this terrible American Tragety. As first reported, did the BATF have a Search Warrant at the time of their entry on the property? I do not think any American, especially news reporters, needs to think much past this basic issue. It was reported, as I remember, that the Federal Judge in Waco "had not signed" the Warrant at the time of the attempted entry. The actions that followed by the Branch Davidian's, as I have been taught all my life, is "Self Defense." We do have a "Bill of Rights, 4th Amendment." The government at this point becomes the petrator. How can the news organigations of this country not investigate and report such a tragic and important event? Where have your moral and ethical responibilties gone? If the people of this country does not wake up soon, we will not have an America as we have known it in the past. royal palm beach, florida
Dear FRONTLINE,
The most troubling aspect of Waco is the absence of credible probable cause for the intervention of law enforcement.
If the assertion that child molestation was taking place, it would not seem unreasonable to ask who was responsible for providing that information, and on what factual basis it was made. It seems to me that this question is fundamental to reconciling the actions of Koresh, the Justice Department and law enforcement. Sadly, Senator Danforth has stated that this question will not be addressed in his forthcoming investigation. As long as it remains unanswered, the suspicions, anger, and fear will rage as hotly as the fire at Waco.
Gary Foss salmon, idaho
Dear FRONTLINE,
Mr. van Zandt refers to public interest in the latest Waco revelations as "new kerosene being poured on the ashes of Waco" Waco was not a conspiracy in the sense that occurs in organized crime. It was the instinctive reaction of a bureaucracy threatened with repercussions. The factual FBI report on Ruby Ridge was ignored by Reno and the perps were promoted. Why not do the same at Waco? If Mr van Zandt persists in blaming the public for their distrust in a govt. that attacks and murders almost ninety citizens in their residence, then he is not worthy of being called a profiler.
george hall lowndesboro, alabama
Dear FRONTLINE,
Good job!!! How stupid does this arrogant administration think we, the public are??!!! No military involvement??? Give me a break!! Who was driving the tanks and flying the military chopper? The FBI? BATF? I don't think so. There is no way the military would have entrusted that kind of equipment to those bumbling idiots. Unless, of course, they secretly got the orders from the "Clintonians" to do so...what a coverup!!!
baton rouge, la
Dear FRONTLINE,
Why has no-one ever mentioned the constant tear gasing that lasted for over 6hrs. This deposited a highly flameable coating on walls, furniture, clothing, and everything it came in contact with. Then the tank with the boom punched holes in the walls to insure plenty of oxygen for the fire to burn. The oily black smoke that every saw was the burning residue from the chemicals injected by the gov. Think about it, Walter.
Rev. Walter Bright maysville, nc.
Dear FRONTLINE,
Slowly the truth is coming forward. The FBI has lied about many of their doings since its inception. Did you all totally believe their side of the story about Waco? From its beginning there were too many cover ups. When you think you're above the law as the Justice Dept., and the FBI do you believe your god and everyone else is subject to you. Koresh might have believed he was god , but the FBI knows they are . Especially when they're convinced they are judge ,jury,and executioner. Americans should be outraged by these new findings and demand not only justice but a complete investigation of the whole Justice dept,and FBI.
Robert Maraden nuevo, ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
As an American citizen who is deeply concerned about the freedoms that the people of this country are losing more of each day,I find myself somewhat encouraged by the recent chain of events regarding the Waco massacre that was played out on our television screens six years ago. Unfortunately, I am also keenly aware that whatever the outcome of all these "new" revelations are, I'm afraid that the American people in general will show little interest in this matter. Very few people in this country seem concerned about the enormous amount of corruption that is taking place on a daily basis in Washington these days. The general public seems unconcerned about high ranking government officials such as our current president committing multiple felonies whether it involves lying to a grand jury or being accused of rape. Not much gets anyones attention these days unless it has something to do with sports or Hollywood. And I can only assume that the outcome of this latest investigation into what really happened inside that compound six years ago will hardly register as a blip on the conscience of the average American. "We get the government we deserve."
oak lawn, il
Dear FRONTLINE,
Why are we suprised that goverment officials would hide the truth,deny everthing, committ perjury? Their Commander in Chief, Bill Clinton the president hass been doing the same thing for the last 7 years. However the difference is people will lose their jobs and worse over this whereas little Billy's popularity just keeps going up---you people ask for it and you're getting it!
Mike Duggan atlanta , ga
Dear FRONTLINE,
It is surprising that any evidence remains after so many years that the fox has guarded the hen house.
el paso, tx
Dear FRONTLINE,
One of the points that was not covered on this story on Waco was why the FBI had tanks and helocopter gun ships that they were using on civilians. These are military hardware and are illeagal to use against civilians under the Posse Comitatus Act (Title 18 US Code, PART I, Chapter 67, þ 1385, The Posse Comitatus Act) . You could also have given more coverage as to why the ATF did not attempt to arrest Koresh at some point when he was away from the compound.
Michael Nee widefield, co
Dear FRONTLINE,
The best reporting I have ever seen was on your "Waco-- The Inside Story,". Mr. Boyer did an outstanding job. The three bradley tanks have been hidden by main stream media far too long. Waco is the biggest white wash in US history. We the people should know the truth. So these mistakes will hopefully never happen again. Thanks for being the only truth.
Steven Krammer denver, co
Dear FRONTLINE,
Frontline has done it again. A very good informative program!
It is sad that the a few (maybe about 1%)of government personnel find that telling a lie to accomplish their end desire is always justified. This is certainly what happened at WACO and is now occuring at other places. Janet Reno was told a lie about the children being molested. Who is she covering for that told her that; knowing that would get her to approve their action plan.
Another lie the program did not explore was their use of tear gas. It was developed for use outdoors. It is toxic at 11000 milligram-minutes per cubic meter which can be achieved in enclosed spaces. I do not know of any human studies to determine its affects. Thus, the person at Aberdene, Maryland lied to her when he told her it would not harm the children.
We really need to have new legislative policy regarding telling lies in an offical capacity for the convenience of government.
sierra madre, ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
This report was pure fiction. It lends me reexamine and question the credibility of other Frontline reports. For example, the narrator mentioned that "the ATF was out gunned and the Koresh had a 50 Cal rifle". There was no evidence of the existence of a 50 Cal weapon. Further how do you consider ATF agents with MP5 to be outgunned... The ATF instigated Waco because it was losing its funding and wanted to prove its need to exist.. nothing more. Your report was nothing more than propaganda.
san franscisco, ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
I have no sympathies for david Koresh. However, I can certainly sympathise with the family members and children that he allowed to be consumed with him in his suidcidal stanoff. I feel that the law enforcment agencies involved were sincere in their efforts, but I personally feel entering the compound with tanks was a terrible, stupid mistake. As someone who was recruited into a fanatical cult in my teens (Before the Jones-TownIncident). I completely understand these peoples' mindset. What I do not understand, is why the law enforcementagencies untilize people who would have had personal experience with cults, and heeded their advise? I personally could have predicted this outcome with no hesitation.
I believe that the visability and emergence of cults will increase, and there must be a way to be better prepared.
atlanta, georgia
Dear FRONTLINE,
David Koresh was a religious fanatic who believed the attack on the compound was the prelude to the end of the world and their entrance into the Kingdom. The FBI never understood the mentality of those in the compound, and this failure, in fighting, and impatience resulted in the deaths of all those in the compound. But as far as Koresh being the child murder as some would contend, he along with his followers believed that the flames ushered them into the Kingdom. They would never know diffently. It was a sacrifice they were willing to make because they believed it. In their own minds they took their children into the Kingdom with them.
We are now engaged in a similar situation in Kosovo. It began with the failure to understand the Serb mentality when it comes to Kosovo. NATO has replaced the FBI, the innocent Kosovars have been the first sacrificial victims, refugees by ethnic cleansing, and the bombing. The Serbs must be next on the list, largely because of failed research, a solution pursued by violence, and now facing the failure of original objectives, the need to save the face of NATO. The world womb is now pregnant with the seeds of terrorism. "Blessed are the peacemakers."
Joe Greig berrien springs, mi
Dear FRONTLINE,
Frontline's investigative report into Waco instigated more questions than it answered.
After seeing your report I began imagining that the FBI and the HRT are involved in a major coverup of what really happened at Waco. Is it possible that the HRT killed its own men on Feb.28? Also, Vince Foster was a Clinton advisor in this conflict, I wonder if his death (murder?) had anything to do with something he knew about Waco?
Are the autopsies performed on the Branch Davidians reliable? And why were the FBI so insistent on using such a violent and aggressive method to clearing up the conflict.
Using words like "stress intensifier techniques" tells me that J.Jamar was very willing and ready to use violent tactics to resolve an
otherwise peaceful situation. It fulfills the truism that "he with a hammer thinks everthing a nail". And even if the Davidians did commit suicide, they were driven to it by a bunch of power crazed weapon weilding Federal agents, who were on global tv and weren't going to be outdone. The sheriff is the only one of the whole lot who seems to have his head together. He has huge amounts of regret and sorrow, though he caused no harm!!
I am shocked at the way this was handled by our government agents, and only wonder the harm our agents equipped with weapons of such power can do!!
Chris Kay leominster, ma
Dear FRONTLINE,
I am at a loss as to try to understand why all the hostility towards the FBI and none towards Mr. Koresh. Here's a guy who clearly stockpiled automatic weapons, got caught enough so a judge issued a search warrant, then gunned downd nuermous agents while they were attempting to serve the warrant.
He had at one point proclaimed himself the messiah, having duped a bunch of poor souls makes a stand and literally burns himself to death. This is not to say the FBI was firmly on the high moral ground here. If that had been me and my family I would have been assualted by the local swat team 6 hours into the situation. He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword. End of story.
Rich McIntosh fremont, ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
I was expecting to see a report that would further explore many of the questions that have been raised. I was disheartened at wasn't aired in this episode. I think the biggest problem was that a 51 day siege can not be told in 51 minutes. The program suffered greatly from not discussing the validity of the ATF's warrant, the exclusion of many audiotapes (particularly the "mounted guns on helicopters" call), and why Janet Reno wasn't ultimately held responsible for the debacle. For a program that did such an excellent job with the Rwanda episode just a couple months ago, I was very disappointed.
chad grine san francisco, ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
The only way we'll get the whole truth is if we come out from behind the comfort zones in our world and seek the truth. Don't you think it is important to KNOW if our govt. steps over the line??? David WAS wrong. The FBI was wrong, The ATF was wrong. But the biggest problem was that OUR (Yours and mine) government stepped on the rights of these citizens and that needs to be addressed. I know we will. ps. this is my philosophical response.
Scott Lindsley lc , utah
Dear FRONTLINE,
Dear Frontline:
If SAC Jeff Jamar was so amazed that the Davidians were "burning the crime scene," why did FBI agents warn Koresh attorney Dick De Guerin to "get some fire insurance?"
The federal agents who supervised the Mt. Carmel siege weren't surprised it went up in flames - they were desperately hoping for it so they might destroy key evidence such as the roof which would show the building was strafed by helicopters who shot (and possibly killed) innocent people and (other ATF agents) and the front door which contained exculpatory evidence indicating bloodthirsty ATF agents "fired the first shot." As described in the Committee for WACO Justice Report, the Davidians feared leaving the buiding for the simple fact that the structure
contained key evidence that could prove their innocence in a court of law.
Unfortunately, FRONTLINE took the easy way out and refused to probe these important issues by demonizing Koresh and allowing the remorseless thugs who committed acts of war on American soil to play the role of victims by laying everything at the foot of Koresh.
I have long believed the modern left have taken a perverse pleasure in the WACO siege as it resulted in nothing more than the deaths of a bunch of "gun nuts" and "religious fanatics."
By acting as an apologist for the federal government and ignoring the egregious abuses carried out by both the FBI and BATF, you have shown my supposition to be correct.
I will never again watch your show, and the next time you attempt to win the public's sympathy for the deaths at Kent State or some other leftist flashpoint, remember your indifference to the tragedy of WACO.
Cletus Nelson los angeles, ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
The carnage that took place at Waco is a very good example of government entities at war with each other, egos just waiting to have things go their way, poorly trained people depending on their manuals to refer to a similar situation which they WERE trained in and applying it to a situation they had no idea how to handle...
People who misinformed the attorney general, who conveniently forgot who told her children were being abused, and finally government entities who were allowed to blast the residents with loud rock music while they mooned them and incited a riot....this is disgusting.
Who is in charge here? No one. But, innocent children paid the price of insensitive government egomaniacs who were totally out of control.
Susan Romersa Thabit las vegas, nv
Dear FRONTLINE,
Although, the interviews with the FBI agents were interesting. You did not provide any new or particularly revealing information. In fact a lot of the information you did include was partial and misleading.
Living in the DFW area, only a couple of hours from Waco, we had nearly 24 hour TV and radio coverage of the entire seige. I could write a book on the information you did not include. For example, you never even addressed the issue that the BATF's warrant for David Koresh was acquired illegally. And the information you did include was partial and misleading. For example, you included the medical examiner's statement that several of the Branch Davidians died of gunshot wounds and left it at that. You did not mention that the same medical examiner has said that he believes that these killings, particularly those of the children, were mercy killings because they could not escape the fire.
Well, I could go on. My point is this. Everyone has a Constitutional right to present one's opinion of the events at Waco. Goodness knows that there have been plenty of videos made on the other extreme claiming huge government conspiracies, that the tanks were actually using flame throwers, etc.
My problem with your program is with the promotion of the program as being "The Inside Story." Be honest and present it as "Waco: The FBI's Story." It would still be an interesting look at the words and thoughts of the agents involved and without misleading people in believing that this is the complete story.
mckinney, texas
Dear FRONTLINE,
After watching your programme on the Waco tragedy, I am going to have to revise my heretofore positive view of your series. Your programme on the Branch Davidians and the police apparatus of the American state, was a superb example of very bad ethnography. Your informants were primarilly FBI agents and your uncritical analysis reflects this bias. Unfortunatley,as any antrhropologist worth his or salt recognises such one-sided use of informants does not achieve the neutrality necessary for a truly "objective" reading of the conflict.
Ronald Helfrich albany and moscow, ny and russia
Dear FRONTLINE,
Reading many of the prior responses in this forum, I am quite disturbed. I believe the people defending Koresh are extremely misguided at best.With the benefit of a great deal of hindsight, which includes several years and much investigation, I think it is fair to say that the FBI and the ATF botched Waco in some major ways.
However, all of the errors and misjudgements by the FBI cannot change one very simple and basic fact: If Koresh cared AT ALL about the people inside that compound, if he had one ounce of concern for their well-being, they would have walked out of that compound alive. It was completely within his power to spare the life of everyone in that compound. Instead, Koresh and some of his most faithful followers chose to burn down the compound with all those children inside. I can't see how that is anything but mass murder by the Davidians and their leader.
Ronald Gainey snellville, ga
Dear FRONTLINE,
Your coverage may have been critical of the government's actions, but you managed to leave out many important aspects of this tragic event in American history. The FBI knew the Branch Davidians DID NOT have gas masks that fit the small children, yet they inserted CS anyway. In the interest of saving the children. The FBI used flammable propellants to pump the gas into the building and then used CS ferret rounds which are notorious for causing fires. After the fire, Texas State Fire Marshals were denied access to the scene. The US Attorney appointed an "independent" arson investigator who was previously employed by the BATF, is married to a BATF employee, and attended the funeral of one of the BATF agents killed. The whole stinks and the Feds got away with it.
oakley, california
Dear FRONTLINE,
let's see...david koresh was guilty of the following:
1) he had fervent, unorthodox religious beliefs
2) he exercised his constitutional right to bear arms
3) he carried on sexual relations with more than one woman
4) he was accused, but not convicted or even charged with committing immoral acts (in his case "child molesting"
hmmmmm...david koresh sounds a lot like thomas jefferson to me
doug munro placerville, calif
Dear FRONTLINE,
As I contemplated what I should write, I became concerned about attaching my name to this message for fear of government retaliation of various forms.
What I watched about the FBI and especially the actions and THE TOTAL LACK OF REMORSE OF THE HRT on your program merely reenforces the fact that we should fear our government. The guns are now pointed at US.
Shame on those thugs for their lack of concern for the innocent children within the compound. They should have protected those kids and instead they hastened their death.
las vegas, nv
Dear FRONTLINE,
Your report was very unbalanced with none of the federal agents answers closely examined like they were in the congressional hearings. if they had, a whole different look would have emerged, but I guess Frontline had their own opinion to promote!
One thing that can't be spun is that the worst fears of the writers of the constitution has materialized with a centralized government growing evermore powerful without any checks on its authority.Indeed Mr.Potts was promoted and not one federal agent was ever brought up on ANY charges. Some check on federal power.
Steve Leavitt santa rosa, ca.
Dear FRONTLINE,
I think your piece showed the most crucial point of the whole affair. The Reno justification on the idea that "the children were being abused" remains the most damning piece of evidence against this administration. I would like to know how someone as incompetant as Janet Reno could be nominated and approved as AG. I remember at the time of Waco when Reno stated at the post fire news conference, "we had no idea that this would be the outcome"; I screamed at the TV,"haven't you ever heard of Masada." I hope that someday in their old age that Clinton and Reno realize that the blood of the victims of Waco and Oklahoma City are on their heads.
Richard Minton enid, oklahoma
Dear FRONTLINE,
I understand that many white supremacists, "Christian" identity cults and militia groups hate Janet Reno. But I think she is great. David Koresh was a dangerous, child molestor criminal.
The fact that most of the people in the fire died of gun shots and knife wounds is evidence to me that the outcome would have been the same regardless of the timing of the strike. It was only thanks to Janet Reno's love of children that the Dividians were allowed to carry the siege on.
It is beyond me how anyone could try to defend David Koresh. He was responsible for the death and suffering of so many people including the negotiators who looked so visibly upset over the outcome.
Ed Marcus l.a., ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
After seeing the show tonight i realized no seems to care about the ATF's agents who were killed by David Koresh and His "People" One of my best friends lost her brother that day.He was one of the ATF agents (Steve Willis)murdered by this cult. I want people to remember and never forget.
redondo beach, ca
Dear FRONTLINE,
The only reason that the federal officials who blew that job were not convicted was that Koresh started the fire.
But the Federal government officials involved with this sad episode in american history should be fired. It was amply evident that they do not understand and are not able to handle evolving contemporary crazies like Koresh. In a word, with all their training and experience they are out of touch.
Finally, the President, Janet Reno and the leadership at the FBI share in the blaim.
dennis zannoni ewing, nj
Dear FRONTLINE,
During the program, FBI Waco Commander, Jeff Lamar said (of the beginning of the fire):
JEFF JAMAR: "My first thought was that he's burning the crime scene..."
Though not explored by Frontline, I recall that the Davidian compound was bulldozed not long afterwards.
Given that the initial FBI reaction was that Koresh was "burning the crime scene," I have always wondered why the FBI would BULLDOZE the same crime scene... unless they had something to hide.
Kurt Amesbury san antonio, texas
Dear FRONTLINE,
This is a prime example of a government out of control. Why were the Davidians treated the way they were? Because they were people of faith, even though I feel it was a distorted faith. Even though I totally disagree with what David Koresh did and stood for, he still deserved the rights supposedly accorded to every other American. There are violent groups in this country that get away with far worse things than the Davidians ever did and our government does nothing to stop them. These are dangerous times we live in and the government is not among the least of the evils we are dealing with today.
Carl Pearson mckeesport, pa
Dear FRONTLINE,
Maybe the unbalanced account of the Waco incident is largely attributed to the fact that most of the accounts from the Davidian side went up in smoke; but, the HBO special I recently saw did a surprisingly better job than the Frontline version.
It concerns me deeply that the soveriegn rights established by the Constitution of the United States have been trampled in this incident and potentially in any other situation since there was no declaration of wrong doing (even after a congressional inquiry).
It is each and every persons right to believe him or herself to be God/Christ or an insignificant peon in a spectator culture. Assaults on personal liberty for the sake of personal freedom is becoming a greater and greater concern.
Mark Ahrens ft.lauderdale, fl
Dear FRONTLINE,
I am unable to recall the respondents name but his was the first given after the program ended. He said that he had hate and disdain for David Koresh and nothing but compassion and sorrow for the BATF and the FBI (Full Blown Idiots-my personal opinion)
He must have watched a different video than the two respondents and I watched. When the live telecast(s) were being shown to the citizens, myself included, I saw rampant and reckless disreguard displayed by the so-called "peace keepers" with respect to life and the lives of those, at that time, contained within the compound.
We don't know that the accusations leveled against David and his so-called followers to be true or to be false. BUT, we do know that the response of the constabulary on the scene was totally reprehensible and absolutely deserving of more that the "token" OOPS!
I was totally livid at their (BATF & FBI) cavalier attitude pertaining to the lives contained within. If they (BATF&FBI) were so concerned about the well-being of the children, how did they know that they were not shooting if not killing some of the children while they pumping the building full of lead during their wild firing of their weapons? Just take time to look carefully at the beginning of the assault and you'll see total lack of concern...
Jack Davis hillsborough, nc
Dear FRONTLINE,
In an act of bumbling stupidity the ATF lost a shoot out that should never have occurred. The tactical FBI unit extracted revenge, pure and simple. The fact that no high ranking Federal official was held accountable for an extremely foreseeable tragedy is sickening.
Duncan Macintyre windsor, canada
Dear FRONTLINE,
As usual, your coverage is balanced and factual. Thanks for the story on Waco.
ames, iowa
Dear FRONTLINE,
I think it might have been helpful if the FBI had more theological discussions with David to prove to him that he is NOT the Christ. David was a lunatic, but I believe that more effort should have been put toward this part of the standoff. Plus, perhaps instead of blasting music to annoy the Davidians, it might have been a better idea to give a sermon on why David was not the Christ, using excerpts from the Bible. The sound couldn't exactly be intercepted, unless he blasted them with his crappy music. Though the people were absolutely brainwashed, it could have made them a little dubious of David's claims, and make them think twice about not leaving that burning compound.
Janet Reno's decision to gas the compound was very foolish. Perhaps she was trying to prove herself somehow, since she had just gotten elected to office, and therefore was a little hasty in her decision-making. She may have been pressured to act for political reasons. Anyone with a good head on their shoulders DOES NOT rely on rumor alone to make a decision as great as putting gas into the compound. I mean, she couldn't even remember who had told her? Before doing any such action as gassing innocent people, she should verify that the rumors were true.
Stephanie Manuel, 19 Stephanie Manuel sykesville, maryland
Dear FRONTLINE,
After watching your show, my opinion still pins the blame for everything that happened at Waco squarely on Mr. Koresh. He could have stopped that situation at any time but he chose not to for his own selfish reasons.
The people I feel sorry for are the agents that albeit may have mismanaged the situation, tried their best. Mr. Koresh is responsible for all of the death and destruction.
Douglas Johnson covington, la
Dear FRONTLINE,
The FBI is to blame. Like many people, I do not believe the government's version of what transpired in Waco. I also believe that the American people will NEVER know exactly what happened. Half the story is ashes.
new york, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
After seeing this show again, it just confirms my belief that Janet Reno is either senile or a lier and accomplice to murder. There is no crime that those children, women or men committed that warrented death. As a member of law enforcement it shames me to see how the Federal Branch of law enforcement acts. Stamping on the rights of those people shows what they would do to your rights. But no one complains until they take their rights away.
William Bracken II lehigh acres, fl
Dear FRONTLINE,
Janet Reno and the FBI killed those children and will never will be held accountable.
I guess NATO should have stepped in. Can you immagine our Goverment doing this to our own people?
highland, mi
Dear FRONTLINE,
I used to religiously watch every Frontline because it always presented issues in the most balanced way possible. The show was great a showing different perspectives on the same issue. Then all of a sudden, that practice stopped and the show became incredibly opinionated. I have not watched the show in years, but I had to see your piece on Waco. Well I have not been missing much by avoiding your show. The only way I can describe your piece on Waco is criminally one-sided. You guys are always saying how PBS needs public funding because it has to stay ÏaboveÓ influence from its sponsors. Well it is clear that your current sponsors are the Democratic Party, and that your fears were justified.
Robert Weaver new york, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
I was surprised at the lack of information regarding the endless lies told by all members of law enforcement invovlved. The whole incident was caused by an incompetent yet highly combative government officials. This should have been made clear.
CRAIG CHAMBERLAIN sun prairie, wi 53590
Dear FRONTLINE,
The Waco incident was one of the most repugnant events in American history. It might help some people sleep at night to think that the tactics of the ATF and FBI were warranted, even justified, but I remain unconvinced.
Frontline hardly did anything to shed light on the real story at Waco. Why didn't Frontline interview some of the independent journalists and reporters who were there at the time of the standoff, whose opinions differ greatly from the sanitized viewpoint your program attempted to proffer. The bottom line is that David Koresh and his followers, however misguided you perceive them to be, never did harm to anybody, and got wasted in an act of gestapo-like proportions. The blood of the Waco genocide rests solely on the shoulders of those principals involved in the harrassment and ultimate annihilation of the Branch Davidian compound.
That such fascism has not sparked a nationwide outrage proves just how somnambulant the American citizenry has become. When will we get it that when one American's freedom is so diabolically usurped, our own enslavement can't be far behind?
David G»rard boston, ma
Dear FRONTLINE,
The only reason that the federal officials who blew that job were not convicted was that Koresh started the fire.
But the Federal government officials involved with this sad episode in american history should be fired. It was amply evident that they do not understand and are not able to handle evolving contemporary crazies like Koresh. In a word, with all their training and experience they are out of touch. Finally, the President, Janet Reno and the leadership at the FBI share in the blaim.
dennis zannoni ewing, nj
Dear FRONTLINE,
During the program, FBI Waco Commander, Jeff Lamar said (of the beginning of the fire):
JEFF JAMAR: "My first thought was that he's burning the crime scene..."
Though not explored by Frontline, I recall that the Davidian compound was bulldozed not long afterwards.
Given that the initial FBI reaction was that Koresh was "burning the crime scene," I have always wondered why the FBI would BULLDOZE the same crime scene... unless they had something to hide.
Kurt Amesbury san antonio, texas
Dear FRONTLINE,
This is a prime example of a government out of control. Why were the Davidians treated the way they were? Because they were people of faith, even though I feel it was a distorted faith.
Even though I totally disagree with what David Koresh did and stood for, he still deserved the rights supposedly accorded to every other American. There are violent groups in this country that get away with far worse things than the Davidians ever did and our government does nothing to stop them. These are dangerous times we live in and the government is not among the least of the evils we are dealing with today.
Carl Pearson mckeesport, pa
Dear FRONTLINE,
Maybe the unbalanced account of the Waco incident is largely attributed to the fact that most of the accounts from the Davidian side went up in smoke; but, the HBO special I recently saw did a surprisingly better job than the Frontline version. It concerns me deeply that the soveriegn rights established by the Constitution of the United States have been trampled in this incident and potentially in any other situation since there was no declaration of wrong doing (even after a congressional inquiry). It is each and every persons right to believe him or herself to be God/Christ or an insignificant peon in a spectator culture. Assaults on personal liberty for the sake of personal freedom is becoming a greater and greater concern.
Mark Ahrens ft.lauderdale, fl
Dear FRONTLINE,
I am unable to recall the respondents name but his was the first given after the program ended. He said that he had hate and disdain for David Koresh and nothing but compassion and sorrow for the BATF and the FBI (Full Blown Idiots-my personal opinion)
He must have watched a different video than the two respondents and I watched. When the live telecast(s) were being shown to the citizens, myself included, I saw rampant and reckless disreguard displayed by the so-called "peace keepers" with respect to life and the lives of those, at that time, contained within the compound.
We don't know that the accusations leveled against David and his so-called followers to be true or to be false. BUT, we do know that the response of the constabulary on the scene was totally reprehensible and absolutely deserving of more that the "token" OOPS! I was totally livid at their (BATF & FBI) cavalier attitude pertaining to the lives contained within. If they (BATF&FBI) were so concerned about the well-being of the children, how did they know that they were not shooting if not killing some of the children while they pumping the building full of lead during their wild firing of their weapons? Just take time to look carefully at the beginning of the assault and you'll see total lack of concern...
Jack Davis hillsborough, nc
Dear FRONTLINE,
In an act of bumbling stupidity the ATF lost a shoot out that should never have occurred. The tactical FBI unit extracted revenge, pure and simple.
The fact that no high ranking Federal official was held accountable for an extremely foreseeable tragedy is sickening.
Duncan Macintyre windsor, canada
Dear FRONTLINE,
As usual, your coverage is balanced and factual. Thanks for the story on Waco.
ames, iowa
Dear FRONTLINE,
I think it might have been helpful if the FBI had more theological discussions with David to prove to him that he is NOT the Christ. David was a lunatic, but I believe that more effort should have been put toward this part of the standoff. Plus, perhaps instead of blasting music to annoy the Davidians, it might have been a better idea to give a sermon on why David was not the Christ, using excerpts from the Bible. The sound couldn't exactly be intercepted, unless he blasted them with his crappy music. Though the people were absolutely brainwashed, it could have made them a little dubious of David's claims, and make them think twice about not leaving that burning compound. Janet Reno's decision to gas the compound was very foolish. Perhaps she was trying to prove herself somehow, since she had just gotten
elected to office, and therefore was a little hasty in her decision-making. She may have been pressured to act for political reasons. Anyone with a good head on their shoulders DOES NOT rely on rumor alone to make a decision as great as putting gas into the compound. I mean, she couldn't even remember who had told her? Before doing any such action as gassing innocent people, she should verify that the rumors were true.
Stephanie Manuel, 19 Stephanie Manuel sykesville, maryland
Dear FRONTLINE,
After watching your show, my opinion still pins the blame for everything that happened at Waco squarely on Mr. Koresh. He could have stopped that situation at any time but he chose not to for his own selfish reasons.
The people I feel sorry for are the agents that albeit may have mismanaged the situation, tried their best. Mr. Koresh is responsible for all of the death and destruction.
Douglas Johnson covington, la
Dear FRONTLINE,
The FBI is to blame. Like many people, I do not believe the government's version of what transpired in Waco. I also believe that the American people will NEVER know exactly what happened. Half the story is ashes.
new york, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
After seeing this show again, it just confirms my belief that Janet Reno is either senile or a lier and accomplice to murder. There is no crime that those children, women or men committed that warrented death.
As a member of law enforcement it shames me to see how the Federal Branch of law enforcement acts. Stamping on the rights of those people shows what they would do to your rights. But no one complains until they take their rights away.
William Bracken II lehigh acres, fl
Dear FRONTLINE,
Janet Reno and the FBI killed those children and will never will be held accountable.
I guess NATO should have stepped in. Can you immagine our Goverment doing this to our own people?
highland, mi
Dear FRONTLINE,
I used to religiously watch every Frontline because it always presented issues in the most balanced way possible. The show was great a showing different perspectives on the same issue. Then all of a sudden, that practice stopped and the show became incredibly opinionated. I have not watched the show in years, but I had to see your piece on Waco. Well I have not been missing much by avoiding your show. The only way I can describe your piece on Waco is criminally one-sided. You guys are always saying how PBS needs public funding because it has to stay ÏaboveÓ influence from its sponsors. Well it is clear that your current sponsors are the Democratic Party, and that your fears were justified.
Robert Weaver new york, ny
Dear FRONTLINE,
I was surprised at the lack of information regarding the endless lies told by all members of law enforcement invovlved. The whole incident was caused by an incompetent yet highly combative government officials. This should have been made clear.
CRAIG CHAMBERLAIN sun prairie, wi 53590
Dear FRONTLINE,
The Waco incident was one of the most repugnant events in American history. It might help some people sleep at night to think that the tactics of the ATF and FBI were warranted, even justified, but I remain unconvinced.
Frontline hardly did anything to shed light on the real story at Waco. Why didn't Frontline interview some of the independent journalists and reporters who were there at the time of the standoff, whose opinions differ greatly from the sanitized viewpoint your program attempted to proffer. The bottom line is that David Koresh and his followers, however misguided you perceive them to be, never did harm to anybody, and got wasted in an act of gestapo-like proportions. The blood of the Waco genocide rests solely on the shoulders of those principals involved in the harrassment and ultimate annihilation of the Branch Davidian compound.
That such fascism has not sparked a nationwide outrage proves just how somnambulant the American citizenry has become. When will we get it that when one American's freedom is so diabolically usurped, our own enslavement can't be far behind?
David G»rard boston, ma
References: THE BIBLE
The Book of Revelation/The Seven Seals and its apocalyptic symbolism is central to the faith of David Koresh and his followers.
A summary of the historical interpretation of the Book of Revelation--"How We Read the Book of Revelation (the Apocalypse)" by Rodney L. Petersen, Ph.D.
CS GAS
ARTICLES:
Children of Waco by Peter Boyer, The New Yorker, May 15, 1995
Waco: More Than Simple Blunders? by Joe Rosenbloom III, The Wall Street Journal, October 17,1995
Waco: The Massacre, The Aftermath by Dean M. Kelley, First Things, May 1995
Report and Recommendations Concerning the Handling of Incidents such as the Branch Davidian Standoff in Waco Texasby Alan A. Stone, November 10, 1993.
BOOKS:
Mad Man In Waco: The Complete Story of the Davidian Cult, David Koresh and the Waco Massacre by Brad Bailey & Bob Darden; WRS Publishers, 1993
Inside the Cult by Marc Breault & Martin King; Signet Books, 1993
Massacre at Waco, Texas by Clifford Linedecker; St. Martins Paperback, 1993
See No Evil: Blind Devotion and Bloodshed in David Koresh's Holy War by Tim Madigan; The Summitt Group, 1993
The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation by Dick J. Reavis; Syracuse University Press , 1998
GOVERNMENT REPORTS:
The official reports from the Department of Justice and the Treasury Department concerning the standoff at Waco,Texas which are listed below can be purchased through the United States Government Printing Office at the following address:
732 North Capitol, NW, Washington, DC 20401 Tel: 202-783-3238
Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas, February 28 to April 19, 1993. October 3, 1993.
Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas, February 28 to April 19, 1993. Edward S.G. Dennis, Jr. October 8, 1993.
Lessons of Waco: Proposed changes in Federal Law Enforcement. Philip B. Heymann Deputy Attorney General. October 8, 1993.
Recommendations of Experts for Improvements in Federal Law Enforcement After Waco.
Remarks of Attorney General Janet Reno at Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Dinner, Newark, New Jersey, May 5, 1995.
Joint Statement by the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General of the United States. April 20, 1993.Report of the Department of the Treasury on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell also known as David Koresh.September 1993.
The Waco Texas Siege
The Waco Siege[11] began on February 28, 1993 when the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms(ATF) attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, a property located nine miles (14 km) east-northeast of Waco, Texas. An exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of four agents and six followers of David Koresh. A subsequent 51-day siege by the Federal Bureau of Investigation ended on April 19 when fire destroyed the compound. Seventy-six people (24 of them British nationals)[12] died in the fire, including more than 20 children and two pregnant women, along with Davidian leader Vernon Wayne Howell, better known as David Koresh.
History
The Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists (also known as "The Branch") are a Protestant sect that originated in 1955 from a schism in the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists ("Davidians"), a reform movement that began within the Seventh-day Adventist Church ("SDA") around 1930. As the group gained members, the leadership moved the church to a hilltop several miles west of Waco, which they named Mount Carmel, after a mountain on Israel mentioned inJoshua 19:26 in the Bible's Old Testament. A few years later, they moved again to a much larger site east of the city.
In 1959 Florence Houteff (widow of founder Victor Houteff) announced that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ was about to take place, and members were told to gather at the center to await this event. Many built houses, others stayed in tents, trucks or buses, and most sold their possessions.[13]
Following the failure of this prophecy, control of Mt. Carmel fell to Benjamin Roden, and on his death to his wife, Lois. Lois Roden considered their son, George, unfit to assume the position of prophet and groomed Vernon Howell, later known as David Koresh, as her chosen successor. On the death of Lois, George Roden ran Vernon Howell and his faction off Mt. Carmel at gun point. After George Roden was jailed for murder, the Howell faction paid the back taxes on Mt. Carmel and took control.
By 1992, most of the land belonging to the group had been sold, and most of the buildings had been removed, or were being salvaged for construction materials to convert much of the main chapel and a tall water tank into apartments for the resident members of the group. Many of the members of the group had been involved with the Davidians for a few generations, and many had large families.[14] The new Mount Carmel Center consisted of a main church building (constructed primarily of thin plywood, taking advantage of a lack of building codes at the time), administrative and storage buildings, and homes for the leadership and important visitors.
Accusations
During the siege, the deprogrammer Rick Ross said, "[Koresh is] your stock cult leader. ... They're all the same. Meet one and you've met them all. They're deeply disturbed, have a Borderline personality disorder and lack any type of conscience. ... No one willingly enters into a relationship like this. ... So you're talking about deception and manipulation (by the leader), people being coached in ever so slight increments, pulled in deeper and deeper without knowing where it's going or seeing the total picture." (Before the raid, Rick Ross advised the ATF that arresting Koresh at Mt. Carmel in the presence of his followers would likely provoke a violent response; Joyce Sparks - an investigator from the Texas agency responsible for child protective services - also advised ATF against such action.)
Besides allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, Koresh and his followers were accused of stockpiling illegal weapons. Authorities investigated these charges and obtained a warrant to search Koresh's compound. Former Davidian Marc Breault claimed that Koresh had "...M16 lower receiver parts" (when the receiver is modified and these parts are added to an AR15 rifle it becomes a fully automatic weapon and is subject to the National Firearms Act and its $200 tax in the United States).[15]
Interviews with Koresh's surviving followers reveal that David Koresh was intimately versed in the Bible and "knew it like he wrote it". Koresh taught that the U.S. government was the enemy of the Davidians, and that they would have to defend themselves against it with weapons. The January 5, 1992, interview of David Koresh by Martin King of Australian TV show "A Current Affair" included this exchange: King: Would you use a gun if someone trespassed? Koresh: They come in here with a gun and they start shooting at us, what would you do?[16]
In a video made by Koresh's followers and released during the siege, Koresh stated he'd been told by God toprocreate with the women in the group to establish a "House of David," his "Special People." This involved married couples in the group dissolving their marriages and agreeing that only Koresh could have sexual relations with the wives. On the tape, Koresh is also shown with several minors who claimed to have had babies fathered by Koresh. In total, Koresh had 14 children who stayed with him in the compound.
A video clip of an interview between Koresh and an Australian television station (Channel Nine, "A Current Affair" series) notes that he was accused of impregnating the aged widow of the founder of Branch Davidianism. He sarcastically said that if the charges were true, if he had "made a 62 year-old woman pregnant... I do miracles, I'm God!" He also stated at that time that he had not had any relationships with her, and called her "an ugly old hag".
On February 27, 1993 the Waco Tribune-Herald began the “Sinful Messiah” series of articles. It began, "If you are a Branch Davidian, Christ lives on a threadbare piece of land 10 miles east of here called Mount Carmel. He has dimples, claims a ninth-grade education, married his legal wife when she was 14, enjoys a beer now and then, plays a mean guitar, reportedly packs a 9mm Glock and keeps an arsenal of military assault rifles, and willingly admits that he is a sinner without equal."
The article alleged that Koresh had physically abused children in the compound and had taken multiple underage "brides" amounting to statutory rape. Koresh was also said to advocate polygamy for himself, and declared himself married to several female residents of the small community. According to the paper, Koresh declared he was entitled to at least 140 wives, that he was entitled to claim any of the females in the group as his, that he had fathered at least a dozen children by the harem and that some of these mothers became brides as young as 12 or 13 years old.[17]
Reports from Joyce Sparks, an investigator from the Texas agency responsible for child protective services, stated she had found significant evidence that the allegations were true in her visits to the Mount Carmel site over a period of months. However, she said the investigation was difficult, as she wasn't permitted to speak with the children alone, nor was she permitted to inspect all areas of the site. She noted that safety concerns over construction sites at Mount Carmel were either ignored or slowly corrected.
Prelude
During the siege, the deprogrammer Rick Ross said, "[Koresh is] your stock cult leader. ... They're all the same. Meet one and you've met them all. They're deeply disturbed, have a Borderline personality disorder and lack any type of conscience. ... No one willingly enters into a relationship like this. ... So you're talking about deception and manipulation (by the leader), people being coached in ever so slight increments, pulled in deeper and deeper without knowing where it's going or seeing the total picture." (Before the raid, Rick Ross advised the ATF that arresting Koresh at Mt. Carmel in the presence of his followers would likely provoke a violent response; Joyce Sparks - an investigator from the Texas agency responsible for child protective services - also advised ATF against such action.)
Besides allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, Koresh and his followers were accused of stockpiling illegal weapons. Authorities investigated these charges and obtained a warrant to search Koresh's compound. Former Davidian Marc Breault claimed that Koresh had "...M16 lower receiver parts" (when the receiver is modified and these parts are added to an AR15 rifle it becomes a fully automatic weapon and is subject to the National Firearms Act and its $200 tax in the United States).[15]
Interviews with Koresh's surviving followers reveal that David Koresh was intimately versed in the Bible and "knew it like he wrote it". Koresh taught that the U.S. government was the enemy of the Davidians, and that they would have to defend themselves against it with weapons. The January 5, 1992, interview of David Koresh by Martin King of Australian TV show "A Current Affair" included this exchange: King: Would you use a gun if someone trespassed? Koresh: They come in here with a gun and they start shooting at us, what would you do?[16]
In a video made by Koresh's followers and released during the siege, Koresh stated he'd been told by God toprocreate with the women in the group to establish a "House of David," his "Special People." This involved married couples in the group dissolving their marriages and agreeing that only Koresh could have sexual relations with the wives. On the tape, Koresh is also shown with several minors who claimed to have had babies fathered by Koresh. In total, Koresh had 14 children who stayed with him in the compound.
A video clip of an interview between Koresh and an Australian television station (Channel Nine, "A Current Affair" series) notes that he was accused of impregnating the aged widow of the founder of Branch Davidianism. He sarcastically said that if the charges were true, if he had "made a 62 year-old woman pregnant... I do miracles, I'm God!" He also stated at that time that he had not had any relationships with her, and called her "an ugly old hag".
On February 27, 1993 the Waco Tribune-Herald began the “Sinful Messiah” series of articles. It began, "If you are a Branch Davidian, Christ lives on a threadbare piece of land 10 miles east of here called Mount Carmel. He has dimples, claims a ninth-grade education, married his legal wife when she was 14, enjoys a beer now and then, plays a mean guitar, reportedly packs a 9mm Glock and keeps an arsenal of military assault rifles, and willingly admits that he is a sinner without equal."
The article alleged that Koresh had physically abused children in the compound and had taken multiple underage "brides" amounting to statutory rape. Koresh was also said to advocate polygamy for himself, and declared himself married to several female residents of the small community. According to the paper, Koresh declared he was entitled to at least 140 wives, that he was entitled to claim any of the females in the group as his, that he had fathered at least a dozen children by the harem and that some of these mothers became brides as young as 12 or 13 years old.[17]
Reports from Joyce Sparks, an investigator from the Texas agency responsible for child protective services, stated she had found significant evidence that the allegations were true in her visits to the Mount Carmel site over a period of months. However, she said the investigation was difficult, as she wasn't permitted to speak with the children alone, nor was she permitted to inspect all areas of the site. She noted that safety concerns over construction sites at Mount Carmel were either ignored or slowly corrected.
The Raid
During the siege, the deprogrammer Rick Ross said, "[Koresh is] your stock cult leader. ... They're all the same. Meet one and you've met them all. They're deeply disturbed, have a Borderline personality disorder and lack any type of conscience. ... No one willingly enters into a relationship like this. ... So you're talking about deception and manipulation (by the leader), people being coached in ever so slight increments, pulled in deeper and deeper without knowing where it's going or seeing the total picture." (Before the raid, Rick Ross advised the ATF that arresting Koresh at Mt. Carmel in the presence of his followers would likely provoke a violent response; Joyce Sparks - an investigator from the Texas agency responsible for child protective services - also advised ATF against such action.)
Besides allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, Koresh and his followers were accused of stockpiling illegal weapons. Authorities investigated these charges and obtained a warrant to search Koresh's compound. Former Davidian Marc Breault claimed that Koresh had "...M16 lower receiver parts" (when the receiver is modified and these parts are added to an AR15 rifle it becomes a fully automatic weapon and is subject to the National Firearms Act and its $200 tax in the United States).[15]
Interviews with Koresh's surviving followers reveal that David Koresh was intimately versed in the Bible and "knew it like he wrote it". Koresh taught that the U.S. government was the enemy of the Davidians, and that they would have to defend themselves against it with weapons. The January 5, 1992, interview of David Koresh by Martin King of Australian TV show "A Current Affair" included this exchange: King: Would you use a gun if someone trespassed? Koresh: They come in here with a gun and they start shooting at us, what would you do?[16]
In a video made by Koresh's followers and released during the siege, Koresh stated he'd been told by God toprocreate with the women in the group to establish a "House of David," his "Special People." This involved married couples in the group dissolving their marriages and agreeing that only Koresh could have sexual relations with the wives. On the tape, Koresh is also shown with several minors who claimed to have had babies fathered by Koresh. In total, Koresh had 14 children who stayed with him in the compound.
A video clip of an interview between Koresh and an Australian television station (Channel Nine, "A Current Affair" series) notes that he was accused of impregnating the aged widow of the founder of Branch Davidianism. He sarcastically said that if the charges were true, if he had "made a 62 year-old woman pregnant... I do miracles, I'm God!" He also stated at that time that he had not had any relationships with her, and called her "an ugly old hag".
On February 27, 1993 the Waco Tribune-Herald began the “Sinful Messiah” series of articles. It began, "If you are a Branch Davidian, Christ lives on a threadbare piece of land 10 miles east of here called Mount Carmel. He has dimples, claims a ninth-grade education, married his legal wife when she was 14, enjoys a beer now and then, plays a mean guitar, reportedly packs a 9mm Glock and keeps an arsenal of military assault rifles, and willingly admits that he is a sinner without equal."
The article alleged that Koresh had physically abused children in the compound and had taken multiple underage "brides" amounting to statutory rape. Koresh was also said to advocate polygamy for himself, and declared himself married to several female residents of the small community. According to the paper, Koresh declared he was entitled to at least 140 wives, that he was entitled to claim any of the females in the group as his, that he had fathered at least a dozen children by the harem and that some of these mothers became brides as young as 12 or 13 years old.[17]
Reports from Joyce Sparks, an investigator from the Texas agency responsible for child protective services, stated she had found significant evidence that the allegations were true in her visits to the Mount Carmel site over a period of months. However, she said the investigation was difficult, as she wasn't permitted to speak with the children alone, nor was she permitted to inspect all areas of the site. She noted that safety concerns over construction sites at Mount Carmel were either ignored or slowly corrected.
Chronology of events February 28
Time Event
05:00 76 agents assemble at Fort Hood for the drive to the staging area at the Bellmead Civic Center. According to a later Treasury Department Review, the agents drove in an 80-vehicle convoy that stretched for a mile (1.6 km) with a cattle trailer at either end.
09:45 ATF agents move in on the compound. A gun battle begins.
09:48 Branch Davidian Wayne Martin, a Waco attorney, calls 9-1-1.
11:30 Ceasefire reached.
16:00 (4:00 p.m.) The first message from Koresh is relayed over KRLD Radio In Dallas.
16:55 (4:55 p.m.) Michael Schroeder is shot dead returning to the compound.
17:00 (5:00 p.m.) ATF spokesman Ted Royster says gunfire has continued sporadically through the afternoon.
19:30 (7:30 p.m.) David Koresh is interviewed by CNN. The FBI instructs CNN not to conduct further interviews.
20:15 (8:15 p.m.) ATF spokesperson Sharon Wheeler says negotiations continue with Davidians and gunfire has ended.
22:00 (10:00 p.m.) By now 4 children have exited (2 Sonobe children, 2 Fagan children).
22:05 (10:05 p.m.) Koresh talks for about 20 minutes on KRLD, describing his beliefs and saying he is the most seriously wounded of the Davidians.
Fatalities
The ATF dead from injuries received 28 Feb 1993 included:
Todd McKeehan
Conway LeBleu
Robert Williams
Steve Willis
The Davidian dead from injuries received 28 Feb 1993 included:
Jaydean Wendel
Winston Blake
Peter Gent
Michael Schroeder
Peter Hipsman
Perry Jones
The Siege
ATF agents established contact with Koresh and others inside the compound after they withdrew. The FBI took command soon after as a result of the deaths of federal agents. FBI placed Jeff Jamar, head of the Bureau's San Antonio field office, in charge of the siege as Site Commander. The FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) was headed by HRT Commander Richard Rogers, who had previously been criticized for his actions at the Ruby Ridge incident. As at Ruby Ridge, Rogers often overrode the Site Commander at Waco.
At first, the Davidians had telephone contact with local news media and Koresh gave phone interviews. The FBI cut Davidian communication to the outside world. For the next 51 days, communication with those inside was by telephone by a group of 25 FBI negotiators.[20] The final Justice Department report found that negotiators criticized the tactical commanders for undercutting negotiations.[37]
In the first few days the FBI believed they had made a breakthrough when they negotiated with Koresh an agreement that the Davidians would peacefully leave the compound in return for a message, recorded by Koresh, being broadcast on national radio.[20] The broadcast was made, but Koresh then told negotiators that God had told him to remain in the building and "wait".[20]
Despite this, soon afterwards negotiators managed to facilitate the release of 19 children, ranging in age from five months to 12 years old, without their parents.[13] These children were released in groups of two. This was considered an allusion to Noah's Ark by Koresh, while 98 people remained in the building.[20] The children were then interviewed by the FBI and Texas Rangers, allegedly for hours at a time.[13] The children had been physically and sexually abused long before the standoff,[38] and it was one of the key reasons given to both President Bill Clinton and Janet Reno as justification for launching tear gas on the compound to force the Davidians out.[39]
On day nine the Davidians released a video tape to show the FBI that there were no hostages, but in fact everyone seemingly was staying inside on their own free will. This video also included a message from Koresh.[20] Videos also showed the 23 children still inside Ranch Apocalypse, and child care professionals on the outside prepared to take care of those children as well as the previous 21 released.[13]
As the siege continued, Koresh negotiated more time, allegedly so he could write religious documents he said he needed to complete before he surrendered. His conversations, dense with biblical imagery, alienated the federal negotiators who treated the situation as a hostage crisis.
As the siege wore on, two factions developed within the FBI,[20] one believing negotiation to be the answer, the other, force. Increasingly aggressive techniques were used to try to make the Davidians leave. Outside the compound nine disarmed Bradley Fighting Vehicles and five M-60 combat engineering vehicles (CEVs) obtained from the US Army began patrolling.[20] The armored vehicles were used to destroy perimeter fencing and outbuildings and crush cars belonging to the Davidians. The tanks repeatedly drove over the grave of Davidian Peter Gent despite protests by the Davidians and the negotiators. Two of the three water storage tanks on the roof of the main building had been shot at and holed in the initial ATF raid. Eventually the FBI cut all power and water to the compound, forcing those inside to survive on rain water and stockpiled United States Army Meal, Ready-to-Eat rations.[20]
Criticism was later leveled at the tactic of using sleep and peace-disrupting sound against the Davidians by Schneider's attorney, Jack Zimmerman:
The point was this - they were trying to have sleep disturbance and they were trying to take someone that they viewed as unstable to start with, and they were trying to drive him crazy. And then they got mad 'cos he does something that they think is irrational![40]
Despite the increasingly aggressive tactics, Koresh ordered a group of followers to leave. Eleven people left and were arrested as material witnesses, with one person charged with conspiracy to murder.[20]
The children's willingness to stay with Koresh disturbed the negotiators who were unprepared to work around the Davidians' religious zeal. However, as the siege went on, the children were aware that an earlier group of children who had left with some women were immediately separated, and the women arrested.
During the siege a number of scholars who study Apocalypticism in religious groups attempted to persuade the FBI that the siege tactics being used by government agents would only create the impression within the Davidians that they were part of a Biblical "end-of-times" confrontation that had cosmic significance.[41] This would likely increase the chances of a violent and deadly outcome. The religious scholars pointed out that while on the outside, the beliefs of the group may have appeared to be extreme, to the Davidians, their religious beliefs were deeply meaningful, and they were willing to die for them.[41]
Koresh's discussions with the negotiating team became increasingly difficult. He proclaimed that he was the second coming of Christ and had been commanded by his father in heaven to remain in the compound.[20]
The Final Assault
The FBI suggested that the Davidians might commit mass suicide, as had happened at Jonestown where 900 people killed themselves at their leader's behest, although Koresh had repeatedly denied any plans for this when confronted by negotiators during the standoff, and people escaping the compound hadn't seen any such preparation.[42] The newly appointed U.S.Attorney General Janet Reno approved recommendations by the FBI to mount an assault after being told that conditions were deteriorating and that children were being abused inside the compound.[38] Because the Davidians were heavily armed, the FBI's arms included .50 caliber (12.7 mm) rifles and armored vehicles (CEVs). The assault took place on April 19.
Combat Engineering tanks used booms to puncture holes in the walls of buildings of the compound so they could pump in CS gas ("tear gas") and try to flush out the Davidians without harming them. What most likely was pumped into the buildings was a volatile anaesthetic halothane vapor combined with 3-Methylfentanyl and not "tear gas". The stated plan called for increasing amounts of gas to be pumped in over two days to increase pressure. Officially, no armed assault was to be made, and loudspeakers were used to tell the Davidians that there would be no armed assault and to ask them not to fire on the vehicles. When several Davidians allegedly opened fire, the FBI's response was to increase the amount of gas being used. This may have been the first time an incapacitating agent of this type was used in the field.[20]
After more than six hours no Davidians had left the building, sheltering instead in a cinder block room within the building or using gas masks.[43] The official FBI claim is that CEVs were used to punch large holes in the building to provide exits for those inside. Most Davidians dispute this claim because the "exits" were blocked by debris, structurally unstable, elevated and largely inaccessible due to smoke and large quantities of tear gas.[citation needed] Several Davidians were blocked when a floor above collapsed, and nearly all Davidians said they feared being shot were they to leave.[citation needed]
At around noon, three fires were deliberately started by Davidians almost simultaneously in different parts of the building.[20][44] As the fire spread, Davidians were prevented from escaping; others refused to leave and eventually became trapped. In all, only nine people left the building during the fire.[20][44]
The remaining Davidians, including children, were either buried alive by rubble caused by the fire, or shot by their own side (the position of the bodies suggests that some of them were 'mercy killed' by their own Davidian people).[citation needed] Many suffocated by carbon monoxide inhalation[44] and other causes[44] as fire engulfed the building. Footage of the incident was being broadcast worldwide via television. In all, 75 died (50 adults and 25 children under the age of 15) and nine survived the fire on 19 Apr (on 28 Feb five had been killed in the initial ATF raid and buried on the grounds, one killed by ATF after the raid while returning to Mt. Carmel and 35 had left during the FBI standoff).[44]
Nothing remains of the buildings today, as the entire site was bulldozed by the ATF two weeks after the end of the siege. Only a small chapel, built years after the siege, stands on the site.[20] Despite significant primary source video, much dispute remains as to the actual events of the siege.
Chronology of events April 19
Time Event
05:50 Agents call Davidian compound to warn they are going to begin tank activity and advise residents "to take cover". Agents say the Davidian who answered the phone didn't reply, but instead threw the phone and phone line out of the front door.
05:55 FBI Hostage Rescue Team deploys two armored combat engineering vehicles (CEV) to the buildings. CEV1 goes to the left of the buildings, CEV2 to the right.[45]
06:00 FBI surveillance tapes from devices planted in the wall of the building record a man inside the compound saying "Everybody wake up, let's start to pray", then, "Pablo have you poured it yet" ..."Huh" ... "Have you poured it yet"... "in the hallway"... "things are poured, right?" CEV1 receives orders to spray two bottles of tear gas into left corner of building.[45]
06:04 Armored vehicle with ram and delivery device to pump tear gas into building with pressurized air rips into front wall just left of front door leaving a hole 8 feet (2.4 m) high and 10 feet (3.0 m) wide. Agents claimed the holes not only allowed insertion of the gas, but also provided a means of escape. Agents allege that 75 rounds are fired from inside building at this time.[citation needed] Agent sees shots from inside the compound directed at CEVs.[45]
06:10 FBI surveillance tapes record "don't pour it all out, we might need some later"... "throw the tear gas back out" FBI negotiator Byron Sage is recorded saying "It's time for people to come out." Surveillance tapes[specify] records a man saying "what?" then, "no way."
06:12 FBI surveillance tapes record Davidians saying "They're gonna kill us", then "They don't want to kill us."
06:31 The entire building is gassed.[45]
06:47 FBI fires plastic, nonincendiary tear gas rounds through windows.[45]
07:23 FBI surveillance tapes record a male Davidian saying, "The fuel has to go all around to get started." Then a second male says, "Well, there are two cans here, if that's poured soon."
07:30 CEV1 is redeployed, breaching the building and inserting tear gas. Davidians fire shots at CEV1.[45]
07:48 On FBI tapes of agents recorded during the siege, FBI agent requests permission to fire military-style tear gas shells to break through underground concrete bunker. Gets permission, fires two shells.[45]
07:58 CEV2, with battering ram, rips hole into second floor of compound and then minutes later another hole is punched into the backside of one of the buildings of the compound. The vehicles then withdraw.[45]
08:08 Agent in CEV reports that one military shell bounced off bunker, did not penetrate.[45]
08:24 Audio portion of FBI videotape ends, at request of pilot.[45]
09:00 The Davidians unfurl a banner which reads "We want our phone fixed."
09:13 CEV1 breaks through front door to deliver more gas.[45]
09:20 FBI surveillance records a meeting starting at 7:30 AM between several unidentified males.[46]
UM: "They got two cans of Coleman fuel down there? Huh?"
UM: "Empty"
UM: "All of it?"
UM: "Nothing left."
10:00 A man is seen waving a white flag on the southeast side of the compound. He is advised over loudspeakers that if he is surrendering he should come out. He doesn't. At the same time a man believed to be Schneider comes out to retrieve the phone and phone line.
11:30 More gas inserted through front, punching another big hole;[citation needed] original CEV2 has mechanical difficulties (damaged tread), replacement breaches through back side of compound.[45]
11:43 Another gas insertion takes place, with the armored vehicle moving well into the building to reach the concrete interior room where the FBI believe Davidians are trying to avoid gas.
11:45 Wall on right rear collapses.[45]
12:03 Armored vehicle turret knocks away first floor corner on right side.
12:07 First visible flames appear in two spots in the front of the building, first on the left of the front door on the second floor (a wisp of smoke then a small flicker of flame) then a short time later on the far right side of the front of the building, and at a third spot on the back side. Agents say Branch Davidian members ignited the fires, alleging that observers saw a man dressed in black bend over with cupped hands and then saw flames as he lifted his hands.
12:09 Ruth Riddle exits with computer disk in her jacket containing Koresh's Manuscript on the Seven Seals. Third fire detected on first floor.[45]
12:10 Flames spread quickly through entire building, fanned by high winds. The building burns very quickly.
12:12 Emergency telephone number call placed for fire department. Two Waco FD trucks are dispatched. Shortly after, Bellmead FD dispatches two trucks.
12:22 Waco fire trucks arrive at checkpoint where they are halted;[citation needed] Bellmead follows shortly after.
12:25 There is a large explosion on the left side. One object hurtles into air, bounces off the top of white bus and lands on grass.
12:30 Part of the roof collapses. Around this time there are several further explosions and witnesses report the sound of gunfire, attributed by the FBI to live ammunition cooking off throughout the buildings because of fire.
12:43 Fire trucks arrive in compound according to fire department logs.
12:55 Fire begins to burn out, compound leveled.
15:45 Law enforcement source says David Koresh is dead.
Aftermath
Various gun-control groups, such as Handgun Control Incorporated and the Violence Policy Center have claimed that the Branch Davidans had used .50 caliber rifles and that therefore these types of firearms should be banned.[47][48] Nevertheless, the evidence of this is unclear; the US Treasury Department, in a memorandum to the press dated July 13, 1995 titled "Weapons Possessed by the Branch Davidians", provided an inventory of all the firearms and firearm-related items that were recovered from the Branch Davidian's compound, which claims no .50 caliber rifles or machine guns were recovered, only 4 magazines, 3 magazine springs and belt links for .50 caliber weapons were listed.[7] Several years later, the General Accounting Office in response to a request from Henry Waxman released a briefing paper titled, "Criminal Activity Associated with .50 Caliber Semiautomatic Rifles" which claims that the Branch Davidians used .50 rifles.[49] The GAO's claim is based on a suspicion by the ATF that the Branch Davidians could have acquired .50 rifles. The ATF claims such rifles were used against ATF agents the day of the search warrant. There has not been a reconciliation between the Treasury Department's account and the GAO's.
Trial
The events at Waco spurred both criminal prosecution and civil litigation. On August 3, 1993, a federal grand jury returned a superseding 10-count indictment against twelve of the surviving Davidians. The grand jury charged, among other things, that the Davidians had conspired to, and aided and abetted in, murder of federal officers, and had unlawfully possessed and used various firearms.
The Government dismissed the charges against one of the twelve Davidians, Kathryn Schroeder, pursuant to a plea bargain. After a jury trial lasting nearly two months, the jury acquitted four of the Davidians on all counts with which they were charged. Additionally, the jury acquitted all of the Davidians on the murder-related charges, but convicted five of them on the lesser-included offense of aiding and abetting the voluntary manslaughter of federal agents.[50] Eight Davidians were convicted on firearms charges.
The convicted Davidians, who received sentences of up to 40 years,[51] were:
Kevin A. Whitecliff—convicted of voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm during a crime.
Jaime Castillo—convicted of voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm during a crime.
Paul Gordon Fatta—convicted of conspiracy to possess machine guns and aiding Davidian leader David Koresh in possessing machine guns.
Renos Lenny Avraam (British national) —convicted of voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm during a crime.
Graeme Leonard Craddock (Australian national) —convicted of possessing a grenade and using or possessing a firearm during a crime.
Brad Eugene Branch—convicted of voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm during a crime.
Livingstone Fagan (British national) —convicted of voluntary manslaughter and using a firearm during a crime.
Ruth Riddle (Canadian national) —convicted of using or carrying a weapon during a crime.
Kathryn Schroeder—sentenced to three years after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of forcibly resisting arrest.
24 British nationals were among the 76 fatalities. Two more British nationals who survived the siege were immediately arrested as "material witnesses" and imprisoned without trial for months.[51] One, Derek Lovelock, was held in McLennan County Jail for seven months, often in solitary confinement.[51] Livingston Fagan, another British citizen, who was among those convicted and imprisoned, recounts multiple beatings at the hands of prison guards, particularly at Leavenworth. He claims to have been doused with cold water from a high-pressure hose, which soaked both him and the contents and bedding of his cell, after which an industrial fan was placed outside the cell, blasting him with cold air. He was repeatedly moved between at least nine different facilities. He was strip-searched every time he took exercise, so refused exercise. Released and deported back to UK in July 2007, he still holds on to his religious beliefs.[51]
Six of the eight Davidians appealed both their sentences and their convictions. They raised a host of issues, challenging the constitutionality of the prohibition on possession of machine guns, the jury instructions, the district court’s conduct of the trial, the sufficiency of the evidence, and the sentences imposed. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated the defendants’ sentences for use of machine guns, determining that the district court had made no finding that they had “actively employed” the weapons. The Court of Appeals left the verdict undisturbed in all other respects.[citation needed] United States v. Branch, 91 F.3d 699 (5th Cir. 1996), cert. denied (1997).
On remand, the district court found that the defendants had actively employed machine guns, and re-sentenced five of them to substantial prison terms. The defendants again appealed. The Fifth Circuit affirmed. United States v. Castillo, 179 F.3d 321 (5th Cir. 1999). The Davidians pressed this issue before the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reversed, holding that the term “machine gun” in the relevant statute created an element of the offense to be determined by a jury, rather than a sentencing factor to be determined by a judge, as had happened in the trial court. Castillo v. United States, 530 U.S. 120 (2000). On September 19, 2000 Judge Walter Smith followed the Supreme Court's instructions and cut 25 years from the sentences of 5 convicted Davidians and five years from the sentence of another.[52] All Davidians were released from prison as of July 2007.[53]
Several of the surviving Davidians, as well as more than a hundred family members of those who had died or were injured in the confrontation, brought civil suits against theUnited States Government, numerous federal officials, the former governor of Texas, and members of the Texas National Guard. They sought monetary damages under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”), civil rights statutes, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and Texas state law. The bulk of these claims were dismissed because they were insufficient as a matter of law or because the plaintiffs could advance no material evidence in support of them. Only FTCA claims related to the initial raid on the compound, the actions of the FBI during the insertion of tear gas on April 19, 1993, and the final fire proceeded to trial.[citation needed]
The court, after a month-long trial, rejected the Davidians’ case. The court found that, on February 28, 1993, the Davidians initiated a gun battle when they fired at federal officers who were attempting to serve lawful warrants[citation needed]. ATF agents returned gunfire to the building, the court ruled, in order to protect themselves and other agents from death or serious bodily harm. The court found that the government's planning of the siege – i.e. the decisions to use tear gas against the Davidians; to insert the tear gas by means of military tanks; and to omit specific planning for the possibility that a fire would erupt – was a discretionary function for which the government could not be sued. The court also found that the use of tear gas was not negligent. Further, even if the United States Government were negligent by causing damage to the buildings before the fires broke out, thus either blocking escape routes or enabling the fires to speed faster, that negligence did not legally cause the plaintiffs' injuries because the Davidians started the fires. The court found that the FBI's decision not initially to allow fire trucks on the property was reasonable because of the risk of injury or death to firefighters who might encounter hostile gunfire from the Davidian building.[citation needed]
The Davidians appealed. Their only serious contention was that the trial court judge, Walter S. Smith, Jr., should have recused himself from hearing their claims on account of his relationships with defendants, defense counsel, and court staff; prior judicial determinations; and comments during trial. The Fifth Circuit concluded that these allegations did not reflect conduct that would cause a reasonable observer to question Judge Smith’s impartiality, and it affirmed the take-nothing judgment.[citation needed] Andrade v. Chojnacki, 338 F.3d 448 (5th Cir. 2003), cert. denied (2004).
British nationals killed or injured during the siege
33 British citizens were among the members of the Branch Davidians during the siege. 24 died, including at least one child. The following is an incomplete list[39]:
Derek Lovelock, arm burned during escape from compound on Day 51, detained for 200 days at McClennan County Jail, later released.
Norman Allison, Manchester, arrested outside compound on Day 1, detained at McClennan for 8 months.
Renos Avraam, London, detained at McClennan 4 months, then sentenced to 40 years.
Livingstone Fagan, a social worker and Theology MA, from Nottingham. Left compound to talk to press on Day 30, detained at McClennan for 7 months, then sentenced to 40 years. His 2 small daughters also left the compound.
Yvette Fagan, Livingstone's wife, died on Day 51.
Doris Fagan, Livingstone's mother, died on Day 51.
Zilla Henry, nurse, Nottingham, died on Day 51.
Phillip Henry, Zilla's husband, died on Day 51.
Novellette Hipsman, died on Day 51.
Winston "Bigboy" Blake, decorator, Nottingham, died in his bedroom on Day 1 during the initial ATF attack.
Beverley Elliot, Nottingham, girlfriend of Winston Blake, died on Day 51.
Sue Benta, Nottingham, died on Day 51.
Malcolm "Stone" Livingstone, London, a cousin of Bob Marley, died on Day 51.
Marjorie Thomas, London, sustained 50% burns on Day 51 but survived.
Rose Morrison, died on Day 51.
Mellisa Morrison, infant daughter of Rose, died on Day 51.
Victoria Hollingsworth, London, died on Day 51.
Controversies
Who fired first?
Helicopters had been obtained from the Texas National Guard on the pretext that there was a drug laboratory at Mount Carmel.[2] There were, however, no drug related charges on the arrest warrant served on the morning of February 28, 1993."[54][55] While the official version of events has always stated that the helicopters were merely used as a diversion, and that the Davidians were not targeted by sharpshooters within them, in transcripts of the negotiations, one negotiator admitted that the occupants were armed and that they might have opened fire:
Koresh: "No! Let me tell you something. That may be what you want the media to believe, but there's other people that saw too! Now, tell me Jim, again - you're honestly going to say those helicopters didn't fire on any of us?"
Jim Cavanaugh: "What I'm saying is the helicopters didn't have mounted guns. Ok? I'm not disputing the fact that there might have been fire from the helicopters."[56]
An Austin Chronicle article noted, "Long before the fire, the Davidians were discussing the evidence contained in the doors. During the siege, in a phone conversation with the FBI, Steve Schneider, one of Koresh's main confidants, told FBI agents that "the evidence from the front door will clearly show how many bullets and what happened."[57]Houston attorney Dick DeGuerin, who went inside Mount Carmel during the siege, testified at the trial that protruding metal on the inside of the right-hand entry door made it clear that the bullet holes were made by incoming rounds. DeGuerin also testified that only the right-hand entry door had bullet holes, while the left-hand entry door was intact. The government presented the left-hand entry door at the trial, claiming that the right-hand entry door had been lost. The left-hand door contained numerous bullet holes made by both outgoing and incoming rounds. Texas Trooper Sgt. David Keys testified that he witnessed two men loading what could have been the missing door into a U-Haul van shortly after the siege had ended, but he did not see the object itself. And Michael Caddell, the lead attorney for the Davidians' wrongful death lawsuit explained, "The fact that the left-hand door is in the condition it's in tells you that the right-hand door was not consumed by the fire. It was lost on purpose by somebody." Caddell offered no evidence to support this allegation, which has never been proved.[57] However, fire investigators stated that it was "extremely unlikely" that the steel right door could have suffered damage in the fire much greater than did the steel left door, and both doors would have been found together. The right door remains missing, and the entire site was under close supervision by law enforcement officials until the debris—including both doors—had been removed.."[57]
The fire
Critics suggest that during the final raid the CS gas was injected into the building by armored vehicles in an unsafe manner, which could have started a fire. While two of the three fires were started well inside the building, away from where the CS gas was pumped in, survivor David Thibodeau claimed in a 1999 interview with Reason Magazine that damage to the building allowed the gas to spread, stating that "They started to break the walls, break the windows down, spread the CS gas out."
Attorney General Reno had specifically directed that no pyrotechnic devices be used in the assault.[45] Between 1993 and 1999, FBI spokesmen denied (even under oath) the use of any sort of pyrotechnic devices during the assault; however, pyrotechnic Flite-Rite CS gas grenades had been found in the rubble immediately following the fire. In 1999, FBI spokesmen were forced to admit that they had used the grenades, however they claimed that these devices, which dispense CS gas through an internal burning process, had been used during an early morning attempt to penetrate a covered, water-filled construction pit 40 yards away,[45] and were not fired into the building itself. According to FBI claims, the fires started approximately three hours after the grenades had been fired.[45] When the FBI's documents were turned over to Congress for an investigation in 1994, the page listing the use of the pyrotechnic devices was missing.[45] The failure for six years to disclose the use of pyrotechnics despite her specific directive led Reno to demand an investigation.[45] A senior FBI official told Newsweek that as many as 100 FBI agents had known about the use of pyrotechnics, but no one spoke up until 1999.[45]
The FBI had planted surveillance devices in the walls of the building which captured a number of conversations which the government claims are evidence the Davidians started the fire. According to reporter Diana Fuentes, when the FBI’s April 19 tapes were played in court during the Branch Davidian trials, few people heard what the FBI audio expert claimed to hear; the tapes "were filled with noise, and voices only occasionally were discernible. . .The words were faint; some courtroom observers said they heard it, some didn't."[58]
The Branch Davidians had given ominous warnings involving fire on several occasions.[59] This may or may not be indicative of the Davidians' future actions, but was the basis for the conclusion of Congress that the fire was started by the Davidians, "absent any other potential source of ignition." This was prior to the FBI admission that pyrotechnics were used, but a yearlong investigation by the Office of the Special Counsel after that admission nonetheless reached the same conclusion, and no further congressional investigations followed.
During a 1999 desposition for civil suits by Davidian survivors, fire survivor Graeme Craddock was interviewed. He stated he saw some Davidians moving about a dozen one gallon cans of fuel so they would not be run over by tanks, heard talk of pour fuel outside the building, and, after the fire had started, something that sounded like "light the fire" from another individual.[60]
Professor Kenneth Newport's book The Branch Davidians of Waco attempts to prove that starting the fire themselves was pre-planned and consistent with the Branch Davidians' theology. He cites as evidence conversations the FBI recorded during the siege, testimonials of survivors Clive Doyle and Graeme Craddock and the buying of diesel fuel one month before the start of the siege.[46]
On May 12, less than a month after the incident, Texas state authorities bulldozed the site, rendering further gathering of forensic evidence impossible.
Escaping from the fire
A large concentration of bodies, weapons and ammunition were found in the bunker. The arson report assumes that many of the occupants were either denied escape from within or refused to leave until escape was not an option.[61] The arson report also mentions that the structural debris from the breaching operations on the west end of the building could have blocked a possible escape route through the tunnel system.[61]
An independent investigation concluded that the compound residents had sufficient time to escape the fire, if they had so desired.[44]
Evaluation by FBI of mass suicide possibility
The FBI received contradictory reports on the possibility of Koresh's suicide and wasn't sure about whether he would commit suicide.[42] The evidence made them believe that there was no possibility of mass suicide, with Koresh and Scheinider repeatedly denying to the negotiators that they had plans to commit mass suicide, and people leaving the compound saying that they had seen no preparations for such a thing.[42] There was a possibility that some of his followers would follow Koresh if he committed suicide.[42]
According to Alan A. Stone's report, during the siege the FBI used an incorrect psychiatric perspective to evaluate Davidians' responses, which caused them to over-rely on Koresh's statements that they wouldn't commit suicide. They treated the Davidians as if they were a band of criminals, a military force or, generically, as the aggressor. The Davidians were instead
"an unconventional group in an exalted, disturbed, and desperate state of mind (...) devoted to David Koresh as the Lamb of God (...) willing to die defending themselves in an apocalyptic ending and, in the alternative, to kill themselves and their children (...) neither psychiatrically depressed, suicidal people nor cold-blooded killers (...) ready to risk death as a test of their faith." and should have been evaluated as such. According to Stone, this caused the FBI to not make the pertinent questions to Koresh and to others on the compound about whether they were planning a mass suicide. A more pertinent question would have been
"What will you do if we tighten the noose around the compound in a show of overwhelming power, and using CS gas, force you to come out?"[36]
Autopsies
Autopsies of the dead revealed that some women and children found beneath a fallen concrete wall of a storage room died of skull injuries. Photographs taken after the fire show that the M728 CEV that penetrated the building while injecting CS gas did not come close enough to cause the collapse, which was more likely the result of the fire; photographs show signs of spalling on the concrete, which suggests that it was damaged by the intense heat.
Autopsy photographs of other children locked in what appear to be spasmic death poses are consistent with cyanide poisoning, one of the results produced by burning CS gas.[35] The DOJ report indicated that only one body had traces of benzene, one of the components of solvent-dispersed CS gas, but that the gas insertions had finished nearly one hour before the fire ended, and that it was enough time for solvents to dissipate from the bodies of the Davidians that had inhaled the tear gas.[62]
Autopsy records indicate that at least 20 Davidians were shot, including six children under the age of 14, and three-year-old Dayland Gent was stabbed in the chest. The medical examiner who performed the autopsies believed these shootings were mercy killings by Davidians trapped in the fire with no escape. The expert retained by the Office of Special Counsel concluded that many of the gunshot wounds "support self-destruction either by overt suicide, consensual execution (suicide by proxy), or less likely, forced execution."[63] Another explanation, offered by survivor Clyde Doyle (himself a burn victim) is that the gunshots were mercy killings. In a 1995 press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, Doyle stated that
"I can understand why someone would end the suffering of someone, especially a child, who had been gassed and was burning to death. That makes more sense than these claims of a 'suicide pact.' The people who are saying that have never been on fire." (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Documentary films and related issues
The Waco siege has been the subject of a number of documentary films and books:
The first film was a made-for-television docudrama film, In the Line of Duty: Ambush at Waco, which was made during the siege before the April 19 assault on the church. It essentially promoted the government's view of the initial ambush of February 28, 1993. The scriptwriter, Phil Penningroth, has since disowned his screenplay.
In June 1993, Signet published Inside the Cult co-authored by ex-Davidian Marc Breault who left the group in September 1989 and by Martin King who interviewed Koresh for Australian TV "A Current Affair" in January 1992.
In July 1993, St. Martin's Paperbacks published Massacre at Waco, Texas by true crime author Clifford L. Linedecker.
The first documentary film that was critical of the official reports was Waco: The Big Lie,[64] produced by Linda Thompson followed by Waco II: The Big Lie Continues. The Linda Thompson videos were controversial and made a number of allegations, the most famous of which was footage of a tank with what appears to be light reflected from it; Thompson's narration claimed this was a flame-thrower attached to the tank. Thompson's subsequent activities, such as declaring an armed march on Washington, D.C. and her denunciation of many other researchers into the Waco siege as part of a cover-up, limited her credibility in most circles.
Michael McNulty, of the Citizens' Organization for Public Safety, released footage showing the "flame" to have been a reflection on aluminized insulation that was torn from the wall and snagged on the M728 CEV, which is a vehicle that does not come equipped with a flamethrower. In fact, no flamethrowers were in service in the US military at the time or even today.
Thompson's "creative editing" was exposed by the film Waco: An Apparent Deviation (produced by Michael McNulty, as the result of a comprehensive investigation by people associated with COPS). Thompson worked from a VHS copy of the surveillance tape; McNulty was given access to a beta original.
The next film was Day 51: The True Story of Waco, which featured Ron Cole, a self-proclaimed militia member from Colorado who was later prosecuted for weapons violations.[65][dead link] The Linda Thompson and Ron Cole films, along with extensive coverage given to the Waco siege on some talk radio shows, galvanized support for the Branch Davidians among some sections of the right including the Nascent Militia Movement, while critics on the left also denounced the government siege on civil libertiesgrounds.
In March 1993, Timothy McVeigh drove from Arizona to Waco in order to observe firsthand the federal standoff. Along with other protesters, he was photographed by the F.B.I.[66] McVeigh cited the Waco incident as a primary motivation for the Oklahoma City bombing[67] and was known to be a fan of both the Linda Thompson and Ron Cole videos.[citation needed]
Mainstream media tended to discount the critical views presented in early documentary films, because they were seen as coming from the political fringes of the right and left.[citation needed] This changed in 1997, when professional film makers Dan Gifford and Amy Sommer produced their Emmy Award winning documentary, Waco: The Rules of Engagement.[54] This film presents a history of the Branch Davidian movement and, most importantly, a critical examination of the conduct of law enforcement, both leading up to the raid and through the aftermath of the fire. The film features footage of the Congressional hearings on Waco, and juxtaposition of official government spokespeople with footage and evidence often directly contradicting the government spokespeople. The documentary also shows infra-red footage demonstrating that the FBI likely used incendiary devices to start the fire which consumed the building and that the FBI did indeed fire on, and kill, Branch Davidians attempting to flee the fire.
Waco: The Rules of Engagement was nominated for a 1997 Academy Award for best documentary and was followed by another film: Waco: A New Revelation.[68]
Subsequent government-funded studies[69] contend that the infra-red evidence does not support the view that the FBI improperly used incendiary devices or fired on Branch Davidians. Infra-red experts continue to disagree, and film maker Amy Sommer stands by the original conclusions presented in the Waco: The Rules of Engagementdocumentary.
Davidian survivor David Thibodeau wrote his account of life in the Branch Davidian and of the siege in A Place Called Waco, PublicAffairs, 1999.
America Wake Up (Or Waco) was a film released in 2000 by Alex Jones which documents the 1993 Waco incident with the Branch Davidians.
The Assault on Waco was released on September 16, 2006 on the Discovery channel, and it details the entire attack on Waco.
Inside Waco is an Anglo-American documentary that attempts to show what really happened inside by piecing together accounts from the parties involved. It was produced jointly by Channel 4 and HBO. It aired on More4 in the UK on February 1, 2007 and then February 10, 2007.
Investigation and the Danforth Report
By 1999, as a result of certain aspects of the documentaries discussed above, as well as allegations made by advocates for Davidians during litigation, public opinion held that the federal government had engaged in serious misconduct at Waco. A Time magazine poll conducted on August 26, 1999, for example, indicated that 61 percent of the public believed that federal law enforcement officials started the fire at the Branch Davidian complex. In September of that year, Attorney General Janet Reno appointed former United States Senator John C. Danforth as Special Counsel to investigate the matter. In particular, the Special Counsel was directed to investigate charges that government agents started or spread the fire at the Mt. Carmel complex, directed gunfire at the Branch Davidians, and unlawfully employed the armed forces of the United States.
A yearlong investigation ensued, during which the Office of the Special Counsel interviewed 1,001 witnesses, reviewed over 2.3 million pages of documents, and examined thousands of pounds of physical evidence. In the final Danforth Report of November 8, 2000, Special Counsel Danforth concluded that the allegations were meritless. The report found, however, that certain government employees had failed to disclose during litigation against the Davidians the use of pyrotechnic devices at the complex, and had obstructed the Special Counsel’s investigation. Disciplinary action was pursued against those individuals.
Allegations that the government started the fire were based largely on an FBI agent’s having fired three “pyrotechnic” tear gas rounds, which are delivered with a charge that burns. The Special Counsel concluded that, because the FBI fired the rounds nearly four hours before the fire started, at a concrete construction pit partially filled with water, 75 feet (23 m) away and downwind from the main living quarters of the complex, the rounds did not start or contribute to the spread of the fire. The Special Counsel noted, by contrast, that recorded interceptions of Davidian conversations included such statements as “David said we have to get the fuel on” and “So we light it first when they come in with the tank right . . . right as they’re coming in.” Davidians who survived the fire acknowledged that other Davidians started the fire. FBI agents witnessed Davidians pouring fuel and igniting a fire, and noted these observations contemporaneously. Lab analysis found accelerants on the clothing of Davidians, and investigators found deliberately punctured fuel cans and a homemade torch at the site. Based on this evidence and testimony, the Special Counsel concluded that the fire was started by the Davidians.
Charges that government agents fired shots into the complex on April 19, 1993, were based on Forward Looking Infrared (“FLIR”) video recorded by FBI Nightstalker aircraft. These tapes showed 57 flashes, with some occurring around government vehicles that were operating near the complex. The Office of Special Counsel conducted a field test of FLIR technology on March 19, 2000, to determine whether gunfire caused the flashes. The testing was conducted under a protocol agreed to and signed by attorneys and experts for the Davidians and their families, as well as for the government. Analysis of the shape, duration, and location of the flashes indicated that they resulted from a reflection off debris on or around the complex, rather than gunfire. Additionally, independent expert review of photography taken at the scene showed no people at or near the points from which the flashes emanated. Interviews of Davidians, government witnesses, filmmakers, writers, and advocates for the Davidians found that none had witnessed any government gunfire on April 19. Finally, none of the Davidians who died on that day displayed evidence of having been struck by a high velocity round, as would be expected had they been shot from outside of the complex by government sniper rifles or other assault weapons. In view of this evidence, the Special Counsel concluded that the claim that government gunfire occurred on April 19, 1993, amounted to “an unsupportable case based entirely upon flawed technological assumptions.”
The Special Counsel considered whether the use of active duty military at Waco violated the Posse Comitatus Act or the Military Assistance to Law Enforcement Act. These statutes generally prohibit direct military participation in law enforcement functions, but do not preclude indirect support such as loaning equipment, training in the use of equipment, offering expert advice, and providing equipment maintenance. The Special Counsel noted that the military provided “extensive” loans of equipment to the ATF and FBI including, among other things, two tanks the offensive capability of which had been disabled. Additionally, the military provided more limited advice, training, and medical support. The Special Counsel concluded that these actions amounted to indirect military assistance within the bounds of applicable law. The Texas National Guard, in its state status, also provided substantial loans of military equipment, as well as performing reconnaissance flights over the Davidian complex. Because the Posse Comitatus Act does not apply to the National Guard in its state status, the Special Counsel determined that the National Guard lawfully provided its assistance.
Criticism of the Danforth Report
Critics of the government have called the Danforth report a whitewash.[70] The most prominent of these critics is Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General, who was representing one of the plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit brought by Branch Davidian survivors and relatives. Clark commented:
“History will clearly record, I believe, that these assaults on the Mt. Carmel church center remain the greatest domestic law enforcement tragedy in the history of the United States.”[71]
The introduction to the Danforth Report notes that it is focussed on answering two questions about FBI conduct on Day 51 of the siege, 19 Apr 1993: first, did FBI use incendiary devices that could have ignited the fire (as alleged by Assistant US Attorney Bill Johnston in a letter to US Attorney General Janet Reno); second, did FBI direct small arms fire at the Davidians (as alleged by documentary filmmaker Mike McNulty in Waco: The Rules of Engagement). Evidence concerning these allegations by Johnston and McNulty is in the Texas Rangers Branch Davidian Evidence Reports.[72] The FBI fired a few hundred 40 mm Ferret gas grenades into the building and Davidian survivor Clive Doyle witnessed a fellow Davidian hit in the face with a 40 mm gas grenade. The introduction to the Danforth report states that the gas grenades did not count as small arms fire even though the Texas Rangers had documentation that 40 mm Ferret will penetrate plywood siding.
On the issue of possible Posse Comitatus violations, the comments of Col. Thomas Lujan, JAG, in the U.S. Army War College publication Parameters is a sharp contrast to the Danforth Report.[26]
Equipment used
The ATF suspected that the Branch Davidians could have acquired .50 caliber rifles, so they asked for Bradley armored vehicles, which could resist that caliber. Koresh said during the siege that he could destroy the Bradleys, so they were supplemented with two M1A1 Abrams tanks and five M728 Combat Engineer Vehicles.[73][74]
Related incidents
Main article: Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist attack on April 19, 1995 aimed at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, a U.S. government office complex in downtownOklahoma City, Oklahoma. The attack claimed 168 lives and left over 800 injured. Until the September 11, 2001 attacks, it was the deadliest act of terrorism on U.S. soil, and remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in American history.[75] Within days after the bombing, Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were both in custody for their roles in the bombing. Investigators determined that McVeigh and Nichols were sympathizers of an anti-government militia movement and that their motive was to avenge the government's handling of the Waco siege and Ruby Ridge incidents.[10]
See also
Jonestown
YFZ Ranch
Militia movement
Ken Ballew raid
MOVE
Psychological operations
Religious cults
Ruby Ridge
Waco: The Rules of Engagement
Rainbow Farm
CIRG
In the Beauty of the Lilies[76]
Unintended Consequences
Suggested Reading
Christopher Whitcomb. Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. ISBN 0-552-14788-5.
David Thibodeau. A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story. ISBN 1-891620-42-8
The Waco Holocaust Museum http://www.public-action.com/SkyWriter/WacoMuseum/
References
^ a b c Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch Davidians: V. Military involvement in the Government operations at WACO.
^ a b House investigators determined that "someone" at BATF lied to the military about the Davidians being involved with drugs in order to get U.S. Army Special Forces and other military aid, in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act. Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and the Subcommittee on Crime of the Committee on the Judiciary at the Oversight Hearings on Federal Law Enforcement Conduct in Relation to the Branch Davidian Compound near Waco, Texas, and appended documents, Congressional Record, July, 1995.
^ House of Representatives report, Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch Davidians/Section 5, section about equipment for raiding a methamphetamine lab being used or not by ATF agents the day of the raid.
^ a b c Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas Appendix B. List of Military Personnel and Equipment.
^ FBI brings out secret electronics weapons as Waco siege drags on, by James Adams Washington. Sunday Times, March 21, 1993.
^ a b c Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas/FBI Restraint Edward S.G. Dennis, Jr.
^ a b c d e f US Treasury Department July 13, 1995 Memorandum to the Press "Weapons Possessed by the Branch Davidians" [1].
^ Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas Appendix F Copy of indictment.
^ a b c "Agents prepared for worst before Waco raid". Associated Press. 2000-07-05. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
^ a b Prosecution tries to link Nichols, McVeigh through literature "The government has argued that McVeigh and Nichols were incensed over how federal agents handled the 1993 clash with the Branch Davidian cult in Waco in which 80 cult members died."; retrieved March 15, 2008.
^ Justin Sturken and Mary Dore (2007-02-28). "Remembering the Waco Siege". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
^ The British Waco survivors, by Ed Caesar, The Sunday Times, 14.12.08.
^ a b c d [Psychotherapy Networker, March/April 2007, "Stairway to Heaven; Treating children in the crosshairs of trauma". Excerpt from the book The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz.
^ Ten years after Waco, People Weekly, 2003-04-28
^ Marc Breault and Martin King, Inside the Cult, Signet, 1st Printing June 1993,ISBN 978-0451180292. (Australian edition entitled Preacher of Death).
^ Marc Breault and Martin King, Inside the Cult, Signet, 1st Printing June 1993 ISBN 978-0451180292. (Australian edition entitled Preacher of Death).
^ Waco Tribune-Herald, "Sinful Messiah", February 27, 1993.
^ Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch Davidians: II. The ATF Investigation.
^ Steve Higgins (1995-07-02). "The Waco Dispute - Why the ATF Had to Act". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Neil Rawles.. Inside Waco. [Television documentary]. Channel 4/HBO.
^ Marc Smith, "Agent allegedly refused Koresh's offer," Houston Chronicle, September 11, 1993; "Gun Dealer Alerted Koresh to ATF Probe, Lawyer Says," Houston Post, Associated Press, September 11, 1993.
^ Henry McMahon, Testimony, 1995 Congressional Hearings on Waco, part 1, pp. 162-63. Stuart H. Wright, Editor of Armageddon at Waco, and Robert Sanders, former ATF Deputy Director, also remarked on the ATF refusal of Koresh's offer in testimony.
^ Darlene McCormick, "Sheriff says he did not curb probe," Waco Tribune-Herald, October 10, 1993.
^ http://www.time.com/time/daily/newsfiles/waco/101193.html Time.com, Tripped Up By Lies: A report paints a devastating portrait of ATF's Waco planning -- or, rather, the lack of it, October 11, 1993.
^ Theodore H. Fiddleman, David B. Kopel (1993-06-28). "TF's basis for the assault on Waco is shot full of holes - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms fatal attack on the Branch Davidian complex in Waco, Texas - Column". Insight on the News. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
^ a b Thomas R. Lujan, "Legal Aspects of Domestic Employment of the Army", Parameters US Army War College Quarterly, Autumn 1997, Vol. XXVII, No. 3.
^ Eric Christensen (2001-06-18). "Reno's halfway house". Insight on the News.
^ Report of the Department of the Treasury on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell Also Known as David Koresh, September 1993
^ From the Report of the Department of the Treasury on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell also known as David Koresh, September, 1993, p. 136-40 in the government paperback report version.
^ Bell, Randall. Strategy 360. p. 223.
^ article, Showtime At Waco, by Albert K. Bates, Communities Magazine, Summer 1995, [2].
^ Clifford L. Linedecker, Massacre at Waco, Texas, St. Martin's Paperback's, July 1993. ISBN 978-0863697135.
^ Davidian Criminal Trial Transcripts, Richardson - Cross (Mr. Rentz), pp. 2054-2055.
^ article, Showtime At Waco, by Albert K. Bates, retired attorney, originally published in Communities Magazine, Summer 1995.
^ a b c William Gazecki. (2003). Waco - The Rules of Engagement. [Film documentary]. New Yorker Video.
^ a b "Report and Recommendations. Concerning the Handling of Incidents Such As the Branch Davidian Standoff in Waco Texas". 1993-10-10. Retrieved 2008-04-01.
^ From the Report of the Department of the Treasury on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell also known as David Koresh, September, 1993, Appendix D, 136-140.
^ a b FBI. "Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas/Child Abuse". Retrieved 2009-01-08.
^ a b Nick Davies (1994-01-14). "Lost in America". The Guardian.
^ Testimony to the Subcommitee on National Security et al., loc cite. Congressional Record, July, 1995.
^ a b "U.S. ignores religion's fringes". USA Today. 2001-10-04.
^ a b c d FBI. "Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas/Attitudes of Koresh and others in the Compound". Retrieved 2009-01-08.
^ "Tanks, chemicals couldn't break resolve of cultists," Associated Press, Washington Times, April 23, 1993.
^ a b c d e f two experts from the University of Maryland's Department of Fire Protection Engineering. "Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas/The Aftermath of the April 19 Fire ("The Fire Development Analysis" section)". Retrieved 2008-04-17.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Daniel Klaidman & Michael Isikoff (1999-07-20), A fire that won't die, Newsweek
^ a b Newport, Kenneth G. C.The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic Sect, 294-301 (The FBI transcript quote is on page 298.) (Oxford University Press, 2006).ISBN 0199245746, 9780199245741
^ Brady Campaign "Selling High Powered Military Weapons in the Suburbs" [3].
^ VPC Criminal Use of the .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle [4].
^ Office of Special Investigations, U.S. General Accounting Office, Briefing Paper: Criminal Activity Associated with .50 Caliber Semiautomatic Rifles, Number, presented to GAO/OSI-99-15R of the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform, July 15, 1999 p. 5 [5].
^ p. 7403 of the trial trancripts.
^ a b c d The Sunday Times 14.12.08.
^ Staff reports, "Davidians have prison terms cut," Dallas Morning News, September 20, 2000.
^ Six Branch Davidians due for Release 13 Years After Waco Inferno, FoxNews, April 19, 2006; personal letter to Carol Moore from Livingstone Fagan, June, 2007.
^ a b "Waco: The Rules of Engagement" Official site of documentary.
^ House of Representatives report, Activities of Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Toward the Branch Davidians, Section 5, note 168: "ATF did not mention a drug lab or possession of illegal drugs as suspected crimes in its search warrant."
^ The conversation is replayed in full, and undisputed by the FBI, on the documentary "Waco: The Rules of Engagement"].
^ a b c Robert Bryce (2000-08-18). "Prying Open the Case of the Missing Door". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
^ Diana R. Fuentes, "Davidian Told Grand Jury of Arming before the Raid," San Antonio Express-News, February 16, 1994, 4A.
^ Katherine Ramsland. "David Koresh: Millennial Violence". trutv.com. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
^ Wikisource: Graeme Craddock Testimony on Waco Fire, October 1999 civil suit deposition regarding April 19, 1993 fire at Branch Davidian home and church.
^ a b a team of independent arson investigator assembled by the Texas Rangers. "Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas/Appendix D". Retrieved 2008-04-17.
^ "C. Identification of Bodies/Medical Examiner Reports". Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas. 1993-04-03. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
^ "Final report to the Deputy Attorney General concerning the 1993 confrontation at the Mt. Carmel Complex, Waco, Texas" (PDF). 2000-10-02. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
^ Waco: The big lie, documentary, Google Video.
^ http://cyrusproductions.org/[dead link]
^ Vidal, Gore (2001), "The Meaning of Timothy McVeigh", Vanity Fair (no. September)
^ Lou Michel and Dan Herbeck, American Terrorist: Timothy McVeigh & The Oklahoma City Bombing (New York: ReganBooks, 2001); ISBN 0-06-039407-2.
^ Waco: a new revelation, official site of the documentary.
^ a, b, c, d, and e.
^ http://archive.newsmax.com/articles/?a=2000/7/22/91556
^ http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/22/news/mn-57442
^ http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/director_staff/public_information/branch_davidian/indexfirst.htm
^ David Kopel. "Can Soldiers Be Peace Officers? The Waco Disaster and The Militarization of American Law Enforcement".
^ Victoria Loe (1993-03-14). "FBI'S "A-Team" Plying Varied Skills in Sect Talks But Experts Say Obstacles Numerous". Dallas Morning News.
^ Prior to 9-11, the deadliest act of terror against the United States was the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed 189 Americans.
^ http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/the_tls/article5610640.ece
Bibliography
Government investigations and hearings
"Hearings before the Subcommittee on Oversight of the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress regarding Administration's fiscal year 1994 budget proposals for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, U.S. Tax Court, and Internal Revenue Service, April 22 and 28, 1993." Link to online and PDF versions.
"Events surrounding the Branch Davidian cult standoff in Waco, Texas: hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Third Congress, first session, April 28, 1993." Archive.org Link to online and PDF versions.
"Raid on the Branch Davidian Compound, Waco, Texas. Hearing before House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations subcommittee on the Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government Appropriations, June 9, 1993."
"Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers Branch Davidian Evidence Reports", released online September 1999 and January 2000.
"Wikisource:Report of the Department of the Treasury on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell Also Known as David Koresh September 1993."
"Wikisource:Report to the Justice and Treasury Departments regarding law enforcement interaction with the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas," by Nancy T. Ammerman, September 1993 and "Wikisource:Correspondence to Deputy Attorney General Heymann regarding Waco Report - Addendum" from Nancy T. Ammerman, September 10, 1993.
"Wikisource:Report to the Deputy Attorney General on the Events at Waco, Texas" (redacted version), USDOJ, October 8, 1993. Also available from Department of Justice.
"Wikisource:Lessons of Waco: Proposed changes in Federal Law Enforcement" by Philip B. Heymann Deputy Attorney General. October 8, 1993. (Washington: USDOJ, 1993). ISBN 0-16-042977-3Also available from Department of Justice.
"Wikisource:Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas" (redacted version), Edward S.G. Dennis, Jr., USDOJ, October 8, 1993. Department of Justice version.
"Recommendations of Experts for Improvements in Federal Law Enforcement after Waco," October 8, 1993 (Washington: USDOJ, 1993). ISBN 0-16-042974-9 (not available online)
"Wikisource:Branch Davidian Negotiation Transcript from April 18," the day before the 1993 FBI actions and the Mount Carmel fire.
"Report and Recommendations. Concerning the Handling of Incidents Such As the Branch Davidian Standoff in Waco Texas", Alan A. Stone, M.D., November 10, 1993. (Also known as "Stone Report")
"House of Representatives Report 104-749 - Wikisource:Activities of federal law enforcement agencies toward the Branch Davidians." Joint report by the House of Representatives' Committee on Government Reform and Oversight and Committee on the Judiciary's July 2005 hearings. (Or see Government printing office PDF.)
"Joint Hearings before the Subcommittee on Crime of the Committee on the Judiciary House of Representatives and the Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, One Hundred Fourth Congress, First Secession." Part 1-July 19, 20, 21, 24: PDF; Part 2-July 25, 26, 27: PDF; Part 3-July 28, 31, August 1:PDF
"Wikisource:Department of Defense: Military Assistance During the Branch Davidian Incident," August 21, 2000 letter from Carol R. Schuster of National Security Preparedness Issues, to Dan Burton, Chairman of the Committee on Government Reform. PDF version
"Wikisource:Remarks to Federal Law Enforcement" regarding the House hearings, July 20 1995 by Author:Bill Clinton
"The aftermath of Waco: changes in federal law enforcement. Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourth Congress. October 31 and November 1, 1995." Link to online and PDF versions.
"Wikisource:Final report to the Deputy Attorney General concerning the 1993 confrontation at the Mt. Carmel Complex, Waco Texas," by John C. Danforth, special counsel. Issued November 8, 2000. (Also known as the "Danforth Report.")
"House Report 106-1037 - The Tragedy at Waco: New Evidence Examined, Committee on Government Reform. Thursday, December 28, 2000."
[edit]Legal proceedings
United States v. Branch, W.D. Texas Criminal Case No. 6:93cr46, trial transcript 1/10/94 - 2/26/94; 91 F.3d 699 (5th Cir. 1996)
United States v. Castillo, 179 F.3d 321 (1999); Castillo v. United States, 120 S.Ct. 2090 (2000); on remand, 220 F.3d 648 (5th Cir. 2000)
Andrade v. United States, W.D. Texas Civil Action No. W-96-CA-139, trial transcript 6/19/2000 - 7/14/2000; 116 F.Supp.2d 778 (W.D. Tex. 2000)
Andrade v. Chojnacki, 338 F.3d 448 (5th Cir. 2003)
Wikisource: Graeme Craddock Testimony on Waco Fire, October 1999 civil suit deposition regarding April 19, 1993 fire at Branch Davidian home and church.</ref>
[edit]Books
Anthony, D. and T. Robbins (1997). "Religious totalism, exemplary dualism and the Waco tragedy." In Robbins and Palmer 1997, 261–284.
Bell, Randall (2009), Strategy 360, Laguna Beach, CA: Owners Manual Press, ISBN 9781933969169
Christopher Whitcomb. Cold Zero: Inside the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. ISBN 0-552-14788-5. (Also covers Ruby Ridge.)
Docherty, Jayne Seminare. Learning Lessons From Waco: When the Parties Bring Their Gods to the Negotiation Table (Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2001). ISBN 0-8156-2751-3
Kerstetter, Todd. "'That's Just the American Way': The Branch Davidian Tragedy and Western Religious History", Western Historical Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 4, Winter 2004.
Kopel, David B. and Paul H. Blackman. No More Wacos: What’s Wrong With Federal Law Enforcement and How to Fix It (Amherst, New York: Prometheus Books, 1997). ISBN 1-57392-125-4
Lewis, James R. (ed.). From the Ashes: Making Sense of Waco (Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield, 1994). ISBN 0-8476-7915-2 (cloth) ISBN 0-8476-7914-4 (paper)
Linedecker, Clifford L. Massacre at Waco, Texas: The Shocking Story of Cult Leader David Koresh and the Branch Davidians (New York: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 1993). ISBN 0-312-95226-0
Lynch, Timothy. No Confidence: An Unofficial Account of the Waco Incident (Washington: Cato Institute, 2001).
Moore, Carol. The Davidian Massacre: Disturbing Questions Abut Waco Which Must Be Answered." (Virginia: Gun Owners Foundation, 1995). ISBN 1-880692-22-8
Newport, Kenneth G. C. "The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic Sect" (Oxford University Press, 2006). ISBN 0199245746, 9780199245741
Reavis, Dick J. The Ashes of Waco: An Investigation (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1995). ISBN 0-684-81132-4
Tabor, James D. and Eugene V. Gallagher. Why Waco?: Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1995). ISBN 0-520-20186-8
Thibodeau, David and Leon Whiteson. A Place Called Waco: A Survivor's Story (New York: PublicAffairs, 1999). ISBN 1-891620-42-8
Wright, Stuart A. (ed.). Armageddon in Waco: Critical Perspectives on the Branch Davidian Conflict (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995).
A visit to Waco Texas 15 years later
http://www.etherzone.com/body.html
CLINTON BODY COUNT
By: Ether Zone Staff
Here is the latest body count that we have. All of these people have been connected with the Clintons in some form or another. We have not included any deaths that could not be verified or connected to the Clinton scandals. All deaths are listed chronologically by date. This list is current and accurate to the best of our knowledge as ofJanuary 13, 1999 August 1, 2000.
Susan Coleman: Rumors were circulating in Arkansas of an affair with Bill Clinton. She was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head at 7 1/2 months pregnant. Death was an apparent suicide.
Larry Guerrin: Was killed in February 1987 while investigating the INSLAW case.
Kevin Ives & Don Henry: Initial cause of death was reported to be the result of falling asleep on a railroad track in Arkansas on August 23, 1987. This ruling was reported by the State medical examiner Fahmy Malak. Later it was determined that Kevin died from a crushed skull prior to being placed on the tracks. Don had been stabbed in the back. Rumors indicate that they might have stumbled upon a Mena drug operation.
Keith Coney: Keith had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. Died in a motorcycle accident in July 1988 with unconfirmed reports of a high speed car chase.
Keith McKaskle: McKaskle has information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He was stabbed to death in November 1988.
Gregory Collins: Greg had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He died from a gunshot wound to the face in January 1989.
Jeff Rhodes: He had information on the deaths of Ives, Henry & McKaskle. His burned body was found in a trash dump in April 1989. He died of a gunshot wound to the head and there was some body mutilation, leading to the probably speculation that he was tortured prior to being killed.
James Milam: Milam had information on the Ives & Henry deaths. He was decapitated. The state Medical examiner, Fahmy Malak, initially ruled death due to natural causes.
Richard Winters: Winters was a suspect in the deaths of Ives & Henry. He was killed in a "robbery" in July 1989 which was subsequently proven to be a setup.
Jordan Kettleson: Kettleson had information on the Ives & Henry deaths. He was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup in June 1990.
Alan Standorf: An employee of the National Security Agency in electronic intelligence. Standorf was a source of information for Danny Casalaro who was investigating INSLAW, BCCI, etc. Standorf's body was found in the backseat of a car at Washington National Airport on Jan 31, 1991.
Dennis Eisman: An attorney with information on INSLAW. Eisman was found shot to death on April 5, 1991.
Danny Casalaro: Danny was a free-lance reporter and writer who was investigating the "October Surprise", INSLAW and BCCI. Danny was found dead in a bathtub in a Sheraton Hotel room in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Danny was staying at the hotel while keeping appointments in the DC area pertinent to his investigation. He was found with his wrists slashed. At least one, and possibly both of his wrists were cut 10 times. All of his research materials were missing and have never been recovered.
Victor Raiser: The National Finance Co-Chair for "Clinton for President." He died in a airplane crash on July 30, 1992.
R. Montgomery Raiser: Also involved in the Clinton presidential campaign. He died in the same plane crash as Victor.
Paul Tully: Tulley was on the Democratic National Committee. He was found dead of unknown causes in his hotel room on September 24, 1992. No autopsy was ever allowed.
Ian Spiro: Spiro had supporting documentation for grand jury proceedings on the INSLAW case. His wife and 3 children were found murdered on November 1, 1992 in their home. They all died of gunshot wounds to the head. Ian's body was found several days later in a parked car in the Borego Desert. Cause of death? The ingestion of cyanide. FBI report indicated that Ian had murdered his family and then committed suicide.
Paula Gober: A Clinton speech writer. She died in a car accident on December 9, 1992 with no known witnesses.
Jim Wilhite: Wilhite was an associate of Mack McClarty's former firm. Wilhite died in a skiing accident on December 21, 1992. He also had extensive ties to Clinton with whom he visited by telephone just hours before his death.
Steve Willis, Robert Williams, Todd McKeahan & Conway LeBleu: Died Feburary 28, 1993 by gunfire at Waco. All four were examined by a pathologist and died from identical wounds to the left temple. All four had been body guards for Bill Clinton, three while campaigning for President and when he was Governor of Arkansas.They also were the ONLY 4 BATF agents killed at Waco.
Sgt. Brian Haney, Sgt. Tim Sabel, Maj. William Barkley, Capt. Scott Reynolds: Died: May 19, 1993 - All four men died when their helicopter crashed in the woods near Quantico, Va. - Reporters were barred from the site, and the head of the fire department responding to the crash described it by saying, "Security was tight," with "lots of Marines with guns." A videotape made by a firefighter was seized by the Marines. All four men had escorted Clinton on his flight to the carrier Roosevelt shortly before their deaths.
John Crawford: An attorney with information on INSLAW. He died from a heart attack in Tacoma in April of 1993.
John Wilson: Found dead from an apparent hanging suicide on May 18, 1993. He was a former Washington DC council member and claimed to have info on Whitewater.
Paul Wilcher: A lawyer who was investigating drug running out of Mena, Arkansas and who also sought to expose the "October Surprise", BCCI and INSLAW. He was found in his Washington DC apartment dead of unknown causes on June 22, 1993.
Vincent Foster: A White House deputy counsel and long-time personal friend of Bill and Hillary's. Found on July 20, 1993, dead of a gunshot wound to the mouth -- a death ruled suicide. Many different theories on this case! Readers are encouraged to read our report in Strange Deaths.
Jon Parnell Walker: An investigator for the RTC who was looking into the linkage between the Whitewater and Madison S&L bankruptcy. Walker "fell" from the top of the Lincoln Towers Building.
Stanley Heard & Steven Dickson: They were members of the Clinton health care advisory committee. They died in a plane crash on September 10, 1993.
Jerry Luther Parks: Parks was the Chief of Security for Clinton's national campaign headquarters in Little Rock. Gunned down in his car on September 26, 1993 near the intersection of Chenal Parkway and Highway 10 west of Little Rock. Parks was shot through the rear window of his car. The assailant then pulled around to the driver's side of Park's car and shot him three more times with a 9mm pistol. His family reported that shortly before his death, they were being followed by unknown persons, and their home had been broken into (despite a top quality alarm system). Parks had been compiling a dossier on Clinton's illicit activities. The dossier was stolen.
Ed Willey: A Clinton fundraiser. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on November 30, 1993. His death came the same day his wife, Kathleen, was sexually assaulted in the White House by Bill Clinton.
Gandy Baugh: Baugh was Lasater's attorney and committed suicide on January 8, 1994. Baugh's partner committed suicide exactly one month later on February 8, 1994.
Herschell Friday: A member of the presidential campaign finance committee. He died in an airplane explosion on March 1, 1994.
Ronald Rogers: Rogers died on March 3, 1994 just prior to releasing sensitive information to a London newspaper. Cause of death? Undetermined.
Kathy Furguson: A 38 year old hospital worker whose ex-husband is a co- defendant in the Paula Jones sexual harassment law suit. She had information supporting Paula Jone's allegations. She died of an apparent suicide on May 11, 1994 from a gunshot wound to the head.
Bill Shelton: Shelton was an Arkansas police officer and was found dead as an apparent suicide on kathy Ferguson's grave (Kathy was his girl friend), on June 12, 1994. This "suicide" was the result of a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Stanley Huggins: Huggins, 46, was a principal in a Memphis law firm which headed a 1987 investigation into the loan practices of Madison Guaranty S&L. Stanley died in Delaware in July 1994 -- reported cause of death was viral pneumonia.
Paul Olson: A Federal witness in investigations to drug money corruption in Chicago politics, Paul had just finished 2 days of FBI interviews when his plane ride home crashed, killing Paul and 130 others on Sept 8 1994. The Sept. 15, 1994 Tempe Tribune newspaper reported that the FBI suspected that a bomb had brought down the airplane.
Calvin Walraven: 24 year on Walraven was a key witness against Jocelyn Elder's son's drug case. Walraven was found dead in his apartment with a gunshot wound to the head. Tim Hover, a Little Rock police spokesman says no foul play is suspected.
Alan G. Whicher: Oversaw Clinton's Secret Service detail. In October 1994 Whicher was transferred to the Secret Service field office in the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. Whatever warning was given to the BATF agents in that building did not reach Alan Whicher, who died in the bomb blast of April 19th 1995.
Duane Garrett: Died July 26, 1995-A lawyer and a talk show host for KGO-AM in San Fransisco, Duane was the campaign finance chairman for Diane Fienstien's run for the senate, and was a friend and fundraiser for Al Gore. Garrett was under investigation for defrauding investors in Garrett's failed sports memorabilia venture. There was talk of a deal to evade prosecution. On July 26th, Garrett canceled an afternoon meeting with his lawyer because he had to meet some people at the San Fransisco airport. Three hours later he was found floating in the bay under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Ron Brown:. The Commerce Secretary died on April 3, 1996, in an Air Force jet carrying Brown and 34 others, including 14 business executives on a trade mission to Croatia, crashed into a mountainside. The Air Force, in a 22-volume report issued in June of 1996, confirmed its initial judgment that the crash resulted from pilot errors and faulty navigation equipment At the time of Brown's death, Independent Counsel Daniel Pearson was seeking to determine whether Brown had engaged in several sham financial transactions with longtime business partner Nolanda Hill shortly before he became secretary of commerce.
Charles Meissner: died: UNK - Following Ron Brown's death, John Huang was placed on a Commerce Department contract that allowed him to retain his security clearance
by Charles Meissner. Shortly thereafter, Meissner died in the crash of a small plane. He was an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Economic Policy.
William Colby: Retired CIA director was found dead on May 6,1996 after his wife reported him missing on April 27,1996. Apparently, Colby decided to go on a impromptu canoeing excursion and never returned. Colby who had just started writing for Strategic Investment newsletter, worried many in the intelligent community. Colby's past history of divulging CIA secrets in the past were well known. Strategic Investor had covered the Vince Foster suicide and had hired handwriting experts to review Foster's suicide note.
Admiral Jeremy Boorda: Died on May 16,1996 after he went home for lunch and decided to shoot himself in the chest (by one report, twice) rather than be interviewed by Newsweek magazine that afternoon. Explanations for Boorda's suicide focused on a claim that he was embarrassed over two "Valor" pins he was not authorized to wear.
Lance Herndon: Herndon a 41 year old computer specialist and a prominent entrepreneur who received a presidential appointment in 1995 died August 10, 1996 under suspicious circumstances. He appeared to have died from a blow to the head. Police said no weapons were found at his mansion, adding that Mr. Herndon had not been shot or stabbed and there was no evidence of forced entry or theft.
Neil Moody: Died -August 25, 1996 Following Vincent Foster's murder, Lisa Foster married James Moody, a judge in Arkansas, on Jan 1, 1996. Near the time Susan McDougal first went to jail for contempt, Judge Moor's son, Neil died in a car crash. There were other reports that Neil Moody had discovered something very unsettling among his stepmother's private papers and was threatening to go public with it just prior to the beginning of the Democratic National Convention. He was alleged to have been talking to Bob Woodward of the Washington Post about a blockbuster story. Witnesses said they saw Neil Moody sitting in his car arguing with another person just prior to His car suddenly speeding off out of control and hitting a brick wall.
Barbara Wise: Wise a 14-year Commerce Department employee found dead and partially naked in her office following a long weekend. She worked in the same section as John Huang. Officially, she is said to have died of natural causes.
Doug Adams: Died January 7, 1997- A lawyer in Arkansas who got involved trying to help the people who were being swindled out of their life savings. Adams was found in his vehicle with a gunshot wound to his head in a Springfield Mo. hospital parking lot.
Mary C. Mahoney: 25, murdered at the Georgetown Starbuck's coffee bar over the 4th of July '97 weekend. She was a former White House intern who worked with John Huang. Apparently she knew Monica Lewinsky and her sexual encounters with Bill Clinton. Although not verified, it has been said that Lewinsky told Linda Tripp that she did not want to end up like Mahoney.
Ronald Miller: Suddenly took ill on October 3rd,1997 and steadily worsened until his death 9 days later. (This pattern fits Ricin poisoning.) Owing to the strangeness of the illness, doctors at the Integris Baptist Medical Center referred the matter to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office. The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office promptly ran tests on samples of Ron Miller's blood, but has refused to release the results or even to confirm that the tests were ever completed.
Had been investigated by authorities over the sale of his company, Gage Corp. to Dynamic Energy Resources, Inc. was the man who tape recorded Gene and Nora Lum and turned those tapes (and other records) over to congressional oversight investigators. The Lums were sentenced to prison for campaign finance violations, using "straw donors" to conceal the size of their contributions to various candidates. Indeed, Dynamic Energy Resources, Inc. had hired Ron Brown's son Michael solely for the purpose of funneling $60,000 through him to the Commerce Secretary, according to Nolanda Hill's testimony.
Sandy Hume: On Sunday, February 22nd, 1998, Sandy Hume, the 28 year old son of journalist Britt Hume, was reportedly found dead in his Arlington, Virginia home. Aside from the statement that this was an "apparent" suicide, there remains in place a total media blackout on this story, possibly out of concern that the actual facts will not withstand public scrutiny. Worked for Hill magazine, about Congress for Congress.
Jim McDougal: Bill and Hillary Clinton friend, banker, and political ally, sent to prison for eighteen felony convictions. A key whitewater witness, dies of a heart attack on March, 8 1998. As of this writing allegations that he was given an injection of the diuretic lasix has not been denied or confirmed.
Died on March 8, 1998
Johnny Lawhon: 29, died March 29, 1998- The Arkansas transmission specialist who discovered a pile of Whitewater documents in the trunk of an abandoned car on his property and turned them over to Starr, was killed in a car wreck two weeks after the McDougal death.. Details of the "accident" have been sketchy -- even from the local Little Rock newspaper.
Charles Wilbourne Miller: 63, was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head on November 17, 1998 in a shallow pit about 300 yards from his ranch house near Little Rock. Police found a .410 gauge shotgun near Miller's body and a Ruger .357-caliber revolver submerged in water. Investigators concluded the Ruger was the weapon used by Miller to kill himself. Yet, two rounds in the handgun's cylinder had been spent.
He had long served as executive vice president and member of the board of directors for a company called Alltel and was deeply involved in his own software engineering company until the day he died. Alltel is the successor to Jackson Stephens' Systematics, the company that provided the software for the White House's "Big Brother" data base system and that was behind the administration's plan to develop the secret computer "Clipper" chip to bug every phone, fax and email transmission in America
.
Carlos Ghigliotti: 42, was found dead in his home just outside of Washington D.C. on April 28, 2000. There was no sign of a break-in or struggle at the firm of Infrared Technology where the badly decomposed body of Ghigliotti was found. Ghigliotti had not been seen for several weeks.
Ghigliotti, a thermal imaging analyst hired by the House Government Reform Committee to review tape of the siege, said he determined the FBI fired shots on April 19, 1993. The FBI has explained the light bursts on infrared footage as reflections of sun rays on shards of glass or other debris that littered the scene.
"I conclude this based on the groundview videotapes taken from several different angles simultaneously and based on the overhead thermal tape," Ghigliotti told The Washington Post last October. "The gunfire from the ground is there, without a doubt."
Ghigliotti said the tapes also confirm the Davidians fired repeatedly at FBI agents during the assault, which ended when flames raced through the compound. About 80 Branch Davidians perished that day, some from the fire, others from gunshot wounds.
Mark Corallo, a spokesman for the congressional committee chaired by Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said that police found the business card of a committee investigator in Ghigliotti's office. Corallo said Ghigliotti's work for the committee ended some time ago.
Tony Moser: 41, was killed as he crossed a street in Pine Bluff, Ark on on June 10, 2000. Killed 10 days after being named a columnist for the Democrat-Gazette newspaper and two days after penning a stinging indictment of political corruption in Little Rock.
Police have concluded that no charges will be filed against the unnamed driver of a 1995 Chevrolet pickup, which hit Moser as he was walking alone in the middle of unlit Rhinehart Road about 10:10 p.m
Police say they have ruled out foul play and will file no charges against the driver because he was not intoxicated and there was no sign of excessive speed.
"Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact."
Updated August 1, 2000 Ether Zone Online .
http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/bodycount.asp
Snopes.com asks the question whether there is any truth in the following claim:
Claim: Bill Clinton has been quitely doing away with thise who oppose him
Snoops..com's answer: False
Origins: A new version of a lengthy list of deaths associated with Bill Clinton began circulating on the Internet in 1998. Accoring to it, there has been close ot fifty suspicious desths of colleques, advisors, and citizens who were about to testify against the Clintons, with the unstated implication that Bill Clinton or his henshmen were behind each untimely event. We should not have to tell anyone not to beleive this claptrap, but we will anyway. In a frenzied media climate where the chief couln't boff a White House intern without the whole world finding out every niggling detail of every encounter, and demanding his removal from office, are we seriously to believe the same man has been having double handfuls of detractors and former frinds murdered with impunity?
Don't be swayed by the number of names listed on screeds like this. Any public figure is bound to have a much wider circle of aquantances than an ordinary citizen would. Moreover the aquantance is often one-sided - thougfh mnay o fthe people emerated on these lists might property claim to have known Clinton, he wouldn't know or remembered having met a great number of them.
Body Count Lists are not a new phenomenon. Lists documenting all the allegedly "suspicious" deaths of person connected with the assassination of John F, Kennedy have been circulating for decades, and the same techniques used to create and spread the JKF lists have been employed in the Clinton versions:
Please See: http://www.snopes.com/politics/clintons/bodycount.asp
to read the readt if this www.snopes.com article
The USA Weekly News does not take sides are to who is right and who is wrong in these very public claims against Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton...however the USA Weekly News feels it is in the public interest to publicly view this issue and give boiths sides of the debate a chance to have a say
If anyone wants to make any public comment from with either side of this public debate please feel free to email
 Mr Wijat
dearmrwijat@usaweeklynews.com with a copy mrwijat@gmail.com
Now Superman is just an historical legend, Mr Wijat and His Team
have come over from Australia, where they have being
Working for Trurh Justice and the Australian Way
to help take over the good work Superman has done in the past, to work for
For Truth Justice and the American Way
 
ERF The Worm Autralian Weekend News Mr Wijat
A Message From Mr Wijat
 
Hello..I'Mr Wijat...
anyone seen my little greenie mate ERF The Worm?
Here I am Wijat and guess what?
Marvelous Marvin's come up with another lot of great idea!!!
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http://whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/BODIES.html
THE CLINTON BODY-COUNT
Last Update Sat Mar 24 09:34:07 PST 2001
The recent article at World Net Daily triggered a flood of responses including corrections to factual information and (sadly) new names to add to the list (some of the latter delivered anonymously).
My thanks to everyone who took the time to write and suggest corrections. Many changes have been made to this list based on the info sent in and more will be added in the very near future.
As a rule I do not list the names of people who contribute information for reasons of their privacy and safety, but if you contributed to these changes and wish to see your name appropriately acknowledged, please email me and I would be happy to include the proper credits.
The following is a partial list of a large number of persons who have recently met their demise in suspicious circumstances who appear to have some connection to the Clintons. I stress partial because new additions are coming in faster than closets can be found to hide the bodies in!
THE MOST RECENT
Charles Ruff
Clinton lawyer.
died: 11/20/00
Charles Ruff was one of Clinton's attorneys during the impeachment trial and was known to have inside infomration on the White House emails scandal as well. Original reports were that he died in an accident in his home although no details were given. Then the report changed to claim that he was found in his bedroom unconscious, then declared dead on arrival at the hospital. The authorities will provide no details other than the usual (and quite premature) assurances that there was no foul play involved.
Tony Moser
Anti-Corruption Journalist.
died: 6/10/00
Tony Moser, a critic of the Arkansas Democratic Party political machine, was killed as he crossed a street in Pine Bluff 10 days after being named a columnist for the Democrat-Gazette newspaper and two days after writing an article which exposed the looting of programs designed to obtain money from "Dead beat" parents to then give to their children.
Click for full size image.
The police declared that no crime had been committed since the anonymous driver of the 1995 Chevy Pickup truck that struck and killed Moser was not intoxicated nor was he speeding. In Arkansas, that apparently makes it legal to run down a politically unpopular journalist.
Died March 8 1998
Jim McDougal was serving his 3-year sentence for bank fraud at the Fort Worth Federal Medical Center in Texas, a facility operated by the federal Bureau of Prisons for inmates who need medical attention.
Just prior to another round of testimony before Kenneth Starr's grand jury, and while the reporters who were covering that story were two hours away covering a standoff situation in Waco that just "went away", Jim McDougal suffered a heart attack while in solitary confinement. Left alone for too long, when Jim McDougal was taken out of solitary, instead of attempting to defibrillate his heart with equipment on hand at the facility, he was driven over to John Peter Smith hospital. Not the closest hospital to the Fort Worth Federal Medical Center, John Peter Smith hospital is a welfare hospital, where (in the words of one local) ,"They let interns practice on deadbeats".
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram acquired the official report of the McDougal death via a Freedom Of Information Act request, and report that doctors ignored McDougal's sings of imminent death.
John Millis
Staff Director of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Committee
died: 6/4/00
Millis had just helped the HPSCI complete it's "investigation" into alleged CIA cocaine smuggling which predictably (given that Millis was himnself a long time CIA agent) concluded that the CIA was innocent of all allegations of wrongdoing. Fairfax, Virginia police were tipped off by an anonymous phone call claiming that "a man" was threatening suicide in a motel room. Police arrived to find Millis dead of a gunshot wound. As was the case with Vincent Foster and Sandy Hume, the death was immediatly declared a suicide.
Ron Miller
Witness
Died October 12th 1997
Ron Miller, investigated by authorities over the sale of his company, Gage Corp. to Dynamic Energy Resources, Inc. was the man who tape recorded Gene and Nora Lum and turned those tapes (and other records) over to congressional oversight investigators. The Lums were sentenced to prison for campaign finance violations, using "straw donors" to conceal the size of their contributions to various candidates. Indeed, Dynamic Energy Resources, Inc. had hired Ron Brown's son Michael solely for the purpose of funneling $60,000 through him to the Commerce Secretary, according to Nolanda Hill's testimony.
Reportedly a healthy man, Ron suddenly took ill on October 3rd, and steadily worsened until his death 9 days later. (This pattern fits Ricin poisoning.) Owing to the strangeness of the illness, doctors at the Integris Baptist Medical Center referred the matter to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office.
The Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office promptly ran tests on samples of Ron Miller's blood, but has refused to release the results or even to confirm that the tests were ever completed.
Sandy Hume
Journalist
On Sunday, February 22nd, 1998, Sandy Hume, the 28-year-old son of journalist Britt Hume, was reportedly found dead in his Arlington, Virginia home. Aside from the statement that this was an "apparent" suicide, there remains in place a total media blackout on this story, possibly out of concern that the actual facts will not withstand public scrutiny. Indeed, it was reported in Associated Press that the Arlington Police were not responding to any inquiries.
Hume was a reporter for The Hill magazine, newspaper about Congress for Congress, and had broken a major story in 1997 regarding the friction between House Speaker Newt Gingrich and a faction led by Representative Paxon (who announced his resignation just 24 hours after Hume's death).
In addition, Sandy Hume had just joined the staff at Fox TV News and was just three weeks into a job that represented the pinnacle of his young career. Oddly enough, aside from echoing the one Associated Press story, the Fox News website has ignored the death of its newest commentator.
Sandy already had a reputation for getting the story that nobody else wanted to look at. It is worth noting that his death came hard on the heels of reports that "a reporter" was about to break a story confirming the White House's use of investigators to dig up dirt on critics.
It has recently been confirmed that the man who performed the as-yet-unreleased autopsy is none other than Dr. James C. Beyer, who has a record of concealing homicides behind a ruling of suicide.
Kenneth Starr's "suicidologist" Dr. Alan L. Berman has waded in again and as he did in the Foster death ruled it "100% certain that this is a suicide and can be nothing else"
Daniel A. Dutko
C-chairman of Leadership 2000
died: 7/27/99
Daniel A. Dutko, 54, was the co-chairman of Leadership 2000, the Democratic National Committee's main fund-raising effort. He held many other high-level political positions, including vice chairman of finance for Clinton-Gore in 1995; finance chairman of the 53rd inaugural ball; and vice chairman of finance for the DNC in 1996 (when the Chinese money poured in). Attributed to a bicycle accident in which it's claimed he struck his head on the concrete twice.
THE MOST FAMOUS
Potential Candidate for Senator from New York.
died: 7/16/99
Within days of an NBC Dateline story hinting at a possible run for the Senate seat currently assumed to be the property of Hillary Clinton, JFK Jr. and his wife and sister-in-law died when the Piper Saratoga II TC JFK Jr. was piloting crashed in to the ocean just short of Martha's Vineyard. The NEWSWEEK issue for the following Monday, which NBC Dateline had reported would announce JFK Jr's candidacy, was yanked from distributors and destroyed.
Even before the wreckage of the plane had been found, the media was saturated with news stories declaring the weather to have been very hazy (the weather was VFR conditions, and 8 mile visibility, plus weather radar and witnesses on Martha's Vineyard all reported clear skies) making it impossible for JFK Jr. to know which way was up (he also had working instruments in the aircraft).
As was the case when TWA 800 was shot down, the United States Navy took control of the crash site, ordering an unprecidented 5 mile wide no-fly zone while the wreckage of the aircraft was recovered and taken to a military base.
Reporters Cindy Adams and Andrew Goldman have documented the planting of false information about JFK Jr. in the media in the days following his crash. The feeding of false information to the press proves there is a cover-up. The existance of a cover-up is why JFK Jr. gets an entry on the Dead Bodies List.
According to some reports, Mrs. Kennedy was pregnant.
![[Mary Mahoney]](http://1.2.3.11/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/mahoney.gif)
Mary Mahoney
White House Intern
died 7/97
An attractive 25-year-old woman, Mary was a former White House Intern for Bill Clinton working as the Assistant Manager at a Starbuck's Coffee shop in Georgetown.
![[Starbucks]](http://1.2.3.9/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/mahoney1.jpg)
In the pre-trial publicity surrounding Paula Jones lawsuit Mike Isikoff had dropped hints that a "former White House staffer" with the initial "M" was about to go public with her story of sexual harassment at 1600 Pennsylvania. Just days later, gunmen entered the Starbuck's while the crew was cleaning up after closing.
Mary's two associates, Aaron Goodrich, 18 and Emory Evans, 25, were taken to a room and shot. Mary herself had five bullets in her, from at least two different guns, most likely with silencers.
A total of ten shots were fired; none of them heard by neighbors in the densely populated Georgetown section.
Mary was shot in the chest, her face, and in the back of the head. Someone wanted her very dead. Or to send a message.
Even though more than $4000 remained in the store, the police have categorized the triple murder as a robber, even as they acknowledge the "execution style" killings.
There was no sign of forced entry, which means that either Mary of one of the employees let the killers in (at least one hour after closing). That means that the killers included at least one person known to the victims.
One report is that the Starbuck's was still locked when the bodies were found the next morning. Robbers don't bother locking doors.
George Stephenopolis, Monica Lewinsky, and Chelsea Clinton were all regulars at the Starbuck's.
UPDATE: On August 1, 1998, yet another young female government intern with the initial "M", Christine M. Mirzayan, was murdered, beaten to death with a heavy object near Georgetown University.
Eventually, Mike Isikoff's "former White House staffer" has finally surfaced and its NOT Mary Mahoney, but Monica Lewinsky. If the killing of Mary Mahoney was to silence a "bimbo eruption", they got the wrong woman! (Just how many of the interns was Clinton getting oral sex from anyway??)
Carl Cooper, the man charged with the Starbuck's murders on the basis of a confession has now recanted that confession, claiming that it was obtained under coercion (not unlike that of James Earl Ray).
UPDATE: A recent affidavit filed by NOAA's Sonya Stewert, confirms that the Department of Commerce was selling trade mission seats in exchange for campaign donatations, and illegally blocking FOIA requests. Named in the affidavit as the White House staffer directly connected to this obstruction is Doris Matsui. Doris's assigned intern during this period was Mary Mahoney.
The Washington Weekly continues to investigate this case. Anyone with information on the case is encouraged to contact the Washington Weekly by email at editor@dolphin.gulf.net . Confidentiality is assured.
![[Vince Foster]](http://1.2.3.10/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/vincent.gif)
died: 7/21/93
Found dead in Ft. Marcy Park in Washington, DC, of a supposed suicide by gunshot. A suicide note was supposedly found a few days later, torn into several pieces, in his briefcase, after his office had been entered by white house staff and materials removed.
The gun which he supposedly used to kill himself was reported to be still in his hand, but the person who first found the body reports that there was no gun at that time. Many irregularities surround the death and the investigation of it.
Foster was also from Hope, Ark., like Clinton, and also worked for the Rose Law firm. Foster had intimate knowledge of the Clintons' personal finances. Foster was involved in an investigation of their finances, and reportedly made a phone call to Hillary Clinton, in Los Angeles, just hours before his death.
Recently, the signed report of M.E. Dr. Donald Haut was uncovered at the National Archives, proving that Foster had a previously unreported gunshot wound to his neck.
Finally, an FBI memo has surfaced dated the dayafter the date of the official autopsy, in which the autopsist informs the FBI that there was NO exit wound.
The "suicide" note, (leaked despite official efforts to keep it from view) has since been revealed to be a forgery.
Admiral Jeremy Boorda
Chief of Naval Operations
![[Admiral Boorda]](http://1.2.3.11/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/bordapic.gif)
Died May 16th, 1996
Boorda supposedly went home for lunch and decided to shoot himself in the chest (by one report, twice) rather than be interviewed by Newsweek magazine that afternoon.
Explanations for Boorda's suicide focused on a claim that he was embarrassed over two "Valor" pins he was not authorized to wear.
Former CNO Admiral Elmo Zumwalt said on the May 17 Larry King Live show that Admiral Boorda was not only authorized to wear the "V" on his medals, but that had personally authorized him to do so when he was serving as Commander Naval Forces Vietnam.
When it turned out that Boorda was entitled to those decorations, blame shifted to stresses over the down sizing of the Navy, and even (Washington Times) the adverse affect that feminism was having on the Navy's morale.
Boorda supposedly left two suicide notes, neither of which was released.
On Thursday, June 25, 1998, Navy Secretary John Dalton formally acknowledged that Boorda had been entitled to wear the decorations.
So, like Brown, and like Foster, the proximate cause for the "suicide" turns out to be fraudulent
![[William Colby]](http://1.2.3.9/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/colby.jpg)
William Colby
Director of Central Intelligence (ret)
Died - April 27(?), 1996
William Colby had been the DCI from 1973 to 1976 under Nixon and Ford.
At age 76, Colby had found a new career and had just started writing for Strategic Investment at the time of his death. This had worried many insiders in the intelligence community who felt that Colby had already divulged too many of the CIA's secrets in the preceding years. Indeed, his dismissal by Ford because of his over-cooperation with Congressional investigations into CIA wrongdoing. It was Colby who had revealed to Congress the plans to kill Fidel Castro, the spying on American citizens (in direct violation of the CIA charter) and the conducting of biological tests by the CIA on unsuspecting citizens. George Bush replaced him.
According to the original CNN report, Colby was reported missing by neighbors who "recovered" his canoe, by one story from under the dock at Colby's house, by another report, 1/4 of a mile downstream from Colby's home.
Colby was by all report a methodical, tidy man, yet police found his home unlocked, his computer on, and a partly eaten dinner on the table. The official story is that Colby just put down his fork and decided to drop everything and go canoeing.
Colby at 76 was still a world-traveler and consultant to many corporations. He recently became an editor of an important financial newsletter, "Strategic Investment," which covered the Vince Foster "suicide" in detail. Its editors hired three renowned handwriting experts to investigate Foster's suicide note, which hadn't been found when his briefcase was first searched, but later materialized, torn into pieces, with no fingerprints on any of the pieces. Upon comparing this document with others of Foster's writings, these experts declared it was a forgery, and a not very good one at that.
Colby had old enemies as well as new, with plenty of motives for his extermination. He was in charge of the infamous Operation Phoenix during the Vietnam War, in which more than 20,000 South Vietnamese citizens -- supposedly Vietcong sympathizers -- were rounded up, tortured and executed. In the 1970s he opened some of the secrets of the CIA to Congress: "Colby insisted on going public about the agency's role in tapping the telephones and opening the mail of Americans; plotting the assassination of Fidel Castro, and using human guinea pigs for mind-control experiments involving LSD," the Times reports.
On Monday, May 6th, Colby's body was found just 20 yards from where his canoe had been recovered, in an area that had been thoroughly searched several times by helicopters and search teams.
Most notable about the body was the absence of a life jacket, which according to his wife, Colby always wore on the water.
As has since been proven to have happened in the JFK Jr. case false stories were being deliberatly planted in the media, including one quoting Mrs. Colby herself as having been told by William Colby by phone that he was going canoeing. Mrs. Colby denied any such story. The week that he died, Colby was scheduled to meet with the Disclosure Project.
DEAD BODYGUARDS
Maj. Gen. William Robertson,Deputy Commanding General, V Corps, Europe
Col William Densberger,V Corps Chief of Operations and Plans
Col. Robert Kelly,V Corps Chief of Intelligence
Spec. Gary Rhodes, Crew Chief
died: 2/23/93 - All were killed when their Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Wiesbaden, Germany. No cause was ever determined. - V Corps figured prominently in the US Bosnia-Serbia peacekeeping operations, along with the carrier Roosevelt. These men, and 8 others associated with Clinton's visit to the Roosevelt all died within 4 months of each other.
Steve Willis, Clinton bodyguard
Robert Williams, Clinton bodyguard
Conway LeBleu, Clinton bodyguard
Todd McKeehan, Clinton bodyguard
died: 2/28/93 - "executed" by gunfire in the Waco, Texas assault on the Branch Davidians. - All four were examined by a "private doctor" and died from nearly identical wounds to the left temple, so-called execution style. According to Linda Thompson, videotapes and other evidence indicates that none died from guns fired by Branch Davidians. In his address to employees of the Treasury Department in the Cash Room on March 18, 1993, Clinton said: "My prayers and I'm sure yours are still with the families of all four of the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents who were killed in WACO -- Todd McKeehan and Conway Le Bleu of New Orleans; Steve Willis of Houston, and Robert Williams from my hometown of Little Rock. Three of those four were assigned to my security during the course of the primary or general election." However, the Little Rock, Arkansas office of the ATF confirmed that all four had at one point been bodyguards for Bill Clinton, three while he was campaigning for President, and while he had been governor of Arkansas. In the videotape by the American Justice Federation, "WACO II, the Big Lie Continues," Linda Thompson demonstrates that 15 shots were fired from six separate weapons into and out of a room into which three of the four agents had entered through a window. Four of these shots were fired from an overhead helicopter, an agent outside the window, firing an MP5 submachine gun, who also threw in a concussion grenade, fired at least two shots into the room. In the autopsies of these agents, three had virtually identical wounds to the left temple that exited through the rear of the head, execution-style. A "private physician" treated all four.
Alan G. Whicher
Oversaw Clinton's Secret Service detail. In October 1994 Whicher was transferred to the Secret Service field office in the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City. Whatever warning was given to the BATF agents in that building did not reach Alan Whicher, whom died in the bomb blast of April 19th 1995.
Cpl Eric S. Fox.
Died 3/22/99. Crewman for Marine One, the Presidential Helicopter. Shot in the head, and declared a suicide.
Five Navy aviators, Clinton bodyguards/escorts
(names not determined) died: 3/26/93 - all died in a crash of an E-2C Hawkeye in Italy. The crash occurred shortly after the plane was "waved off" from a landing attempt on the Carrier Roosevelt, due to a "foul deck". - All five men had been Clinton's escorts during Clinton's visit to the Roosevelt 2 weeks prior. Three other men, who had flown Clinton to the Roosevelt for that visit also died later in a helicopter crash.
Staff Sgt. Brian Haney, Clinton bodyguard
Marine Sgt. Tim Sabel, Clinton bodyguard
Maj. William Barkley, Clinton bodyguard
Capt. Scott Reynolds, Clinton bodyguard
died: 5/19/93 - All four men died when their helicopter crashed in the woods near Quantico, Va. - Reporters were barred from the site, and the head of the fire department responding to the crash described it by saying, "Security was tight," with "lots of Marines with guns." The Marines seized a videotape made by a firefighter. All four men had escorted Clinton on his flight to the carrier Roosevelt shortly before their deaths.
Aldo Franscoia, Secret Service Agent
Cpt. Kevin N. Earnest, Aircraft Commander
Cpt. Kimberly Jo Wielhouwer, Pilot
2Lt. Benjamin T. Hall, Navigator
SSgt. Michael J. SmithJr., Loadmaster
Sr. Airman Rick L. Merritt, Flight Engineer
SSgt. Michael R. York, Loadmaster
Sr. Airman Billy R. Ogston, Crew Chief
Airman Thomas A. Stevens, Loadmaster.
Killed when the C-130 carrying the Presidential Limos crashed near Jackson Hole, Wyoming. August 18, 1996. All nine people on board a White House support plane were killed late Saterday (10:48pm MDT), when it crashed into Sheep Mountain (also known as Sleeping Indian Mountain) near Jackson Hole Wyoming. The aircraft was en route from Jackson Hole to John F. Kennedy International airport. The Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130 Hurcules transport aircraft was carrying a presidential vehicle and many pieces of luggage, all related to the president's vaction (50th birthday celebration in the Grand Tetons). President Clinton said Sunday afternoon that he was told the pilot was attempting to return to the Jackson Hole airport when it crashed (CNN news report). The Air Force reported finding no evidence of an in-flight mechanical emergency after examining the flight data and flight voice recorders and could not find evidence that the pilot radioed mechanical trouble before crashing into the mountainside as reported by the White House. The victems included 8 crew members and one Secret Service agent. The aircraft and crew were stationed out of Dyess Air Force Base.
Four Marine Pilots, Marine One Presidential Helicopter pilots.
(names not determined) died: 4/8/00 - all died (with 15 others) in a crash of a V-22 Osprey near Tucson. Witnesses reported the craft burst into flames in mid-air, then crashed.
DEAD FUNDRAISERS
C. Victor Raiser II, National Finance Co-Chairman, Clinton for President Campaign
Montgomery Raiser. Son of C. Victor Raiser II
died: 7/30/92 - Both men died in a private plane crash in Alaska, en route to a fishing expedition. The crash was blamed on the pilot, who survived. Five others not connected to Clinton died in the crash. - DeeDee Meyers described Raiser as a "major player" in the Clinton organization. Victor raiser was also chairman of Mobile Telecomm Technologies Corp., whose subsidiary, SkyTel Corp. is an international paging company used by federal police agencies such as the FBI.
Victor Raiser was a Washington lawyer and he was counsel to the Washington law firm of Jones Day Reavis & Pogue until 1991. At his death, he was the national finance co-chairman of the Clinton for President campaign. The campaign's press secretary, Dee Myers, described him as a "major player" in the Clinton organization. He and his wife had been friends of the Clintons for ten years. He was the past national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He served on the boards of the Democratic Business Council and the Center for National Policy and the board of advisers of the Democratic Leadership Council.
On May 29, 1993, President Clinton announced that he had selected Raiser's widow, Molly Raiser, 50, former Democratic co-chair of the Women's Campaign Fund, to be his protocol chief and stated that he planned to nominate her for confirmation as an ambassador.
Paul Tully, Democratic National Committee Political Director
died: 9/24/92 - Found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock Arkansas of "unknown causes." No autopsy allowed. - Described by Clinton as a "dear friend and trusted advisor. Tully authored several key strategies for Clinton and the party. Paul Tully, 48, Democratic National Committee political director and architect of a strategy to make the party competitive again in presidential elections, was found dead in his hotel room on September 24, 1992, in Little Rock, Arkansas of unknown causes. Authorities speculated his death was from a heart attack or stroke. In a press release, then-presidential candidate Clinton called Mr. Tully "a dear friend and trusted adviser." He said he was "deeply saddened by the loss." Tully devised a strategy of targeting states based on their value in the Electoral College, and coordinating the presidential campaign with state and congressional races.
Ed Willey, Real Estate Attorney, Clinton Fund Raiser
died: 11/30/93 - Died of a shotgun blast to the head. Body found in deep woods in Virginia. Ruled a suicide, no note was found. Died on the same day his wife was sexually assaulted in the White House by Bill Clinton. - Intimately involved in several Clinton fund raising events.
Hershell Friday, Attorney and Clinton fund raiser.
died: 3/1/94 - Killed when his plane exploded. Cause unknown.
Duane Garrett, Radio Host and Al Gore fund raiser.
died: 7/26/95 - A lawyer and a talk show host for KGO-AM in San Francisco, Duane was the campaign finance chairman for Diane Fienstein's run for the senate, and was a friend and fundraiser for Al Gore.
According to Garrett's lawyer, Garrett was under investigation for defrauding investors in Garrett's failed sports memorabilia venture. There was talk of a deal to evade prosecution. On July 26th, Garrett canceled an afternoon meeting with his lawyer because he had to meet some people at the San Francisco airport.
Three hours later he was found floating in the bay under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Daniel A. Dutko, C-chairman of Leadership 2000
died: 7/26/99 - Daniel A. Dutko, 54, was the co-chairman of Leadership 2000, the Democratic National Committee's main fund-raising effort. He held many other high-level political positions, including vice chairman of finance for Clinton-Gore in 1995; finance chairman of the 53rd inaugural ball; and vice chairman of finance for the DNC in 1996 (when the Chinese money poured in). Attributed to a bicycle accident in which it's claimed he struck his head on the concrete twice.
DEAD FUNDRAISERS
C. Victor Raiser II, National Finance Co-Chairman, Clinton for President Campaign
Montgomery Raiser. Son of C. Victor Raiser II
died: 7/30/92 - Both men died in a private plane crash in Alaska, en route to a fishing expedition. The crash was blamed on the pilot, who survived. Five others not connected to Clinton died in the crash. - DeeDee Meyers described Raiser as a "major player" in the Clinton organization. Victor raiser was also chairman of Mobile Telecomm Technologies Corp., whose subsidiary, SkyTel Corp. is an international paging company used by federal police agencies such as the FBI.
Victor Raiser was a Washington lawyer and he was counsel to the Washington law firm of Jones Day Reavis & Pogue until 1991. At his death, he was the national finance co-chairman of the Clinton for President campaign. The campaign's press secretary, Dee Myers, described him as a "major player" in the Clinton organization. He and his wife had been friends of the Clintons for ten years. He was the past national finance chairman of the Democratic National Committee. He served on the boards of the Democratic Business Council and the Center for National Policy and the board of advisers of the Democratic Leadership Council.
On May 29, 1993, President Clinton announced that he had selected Raiser's widow, Molly Raiser, 50, former Democratic co-chair of the Women's Campaign Fund, to be his protocol chief and stated that he planned to nominate her for confirmation as an ambassador.
Paul Tully, Democratic National Committee Political Director
died: 9/24/92 - Found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock Arkansas of "unknown causes." No autopsy allowed. - Described by Clinton as a "dear friend and trusted advisor. Tully authored several key strategies for Clinton and the party. Paul Tully, 48, Democratic National Committee political director and architect of a strategy to make the party competitive again in presidential elections, was found dead in his hotel room on September 24, 1992, in Little Rock, Arkansas of unknown causes. Authorities speculated his death was from a heart attack or stroke. In a press release, then-presidential candidate Clinton called Mr. Tully "a dear friend and trusted adviser." He said he was "deeply saddened by the loss." Tully devised a strategy of targeting states based on their value in the Electoral College, and coordinating the presidential campaign with state and congressional races.
Ed Willey, Real Estate Attorney, Clinton Fund Raiser
died: 11/30/93 - Died of a shotgun blast to the head. Body found in deep woods in Virginia. Ruled a suicide, no note was found. Died on the same day his wife was sexually assaulted in the White House by Bill Clinton. - Intimately involved in several Clinton fund raising events.
Hershell Friday, Attorney and Clinton fund raiser.
died: 3/1/94 - Killed when his plane exploded. Cause unknown.
Duane Garrett, Radio Host and Al Gore fund raiser.
died: 7/26/95 - A lawyer and a talk show host for KGO-AM in San Francisco, Duane was the campaign finance chairman for Diane Fienstein's run for the senate, and was a friend and fundraiser for Al Gore.
According to Garrett's lawyer, Garrett was under investigation for defrauding investors in Garrett's failed sports memorabilia venture. There was talk of a deal to evade prosecution. On July 26th, Garrett canceled an afternoon meeting with his lawyer because he had to meet some people at the San Francisco airport.
Three hours later he was found floating in the bay under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Daniel A. Dutko, C-chairman of Leadership 2000
died: 7/26/99 - Daniel A. Dutko, 54, was the co-chairman of Leadership 2000, the Democratic National Committee's main fund-raising effort. He held many other high-level political positions, including vice chairman of finance for Clinton-Gore in 1995; finance chairman of the 53rd inaugural ball; and vice chairman of finance for the DNC in 1996 (when the Chinese money poured in). Attributed to a bicycle accident in which it's claimed he struck his head on the concrete twice.
DEAD WITNESSES
Luther Parks, Head of Clinton's Gubernatorial security team in Little Rock.
died: 9/26/93 - Gunned down in his car at the intersection of Chenal Parkway and Cantrell Road, near Little Rock. Parks was shot through the rear window of his car. The assailant then pulled around to the driver's side of Park's car and shot him three more times with a 9mm pistol.
His family reported that shortly before his death, unknown persons were following them, and their home had been broken into (despite a top quality alarm system). Parks had been compiling a dossier on Clinton's illicit activities. The dossier was stolen.
When news of the discovery of Vincent Foster's body came over the news, Parks is reported to have said, "Bill Clinton is cleaning house".
James Bunch, Influential Texan
died: ??? - Died from a gunshot suicide, similar to Vince Foster. - Was discovered to have a "little black book" containing the names of many influential persons in Texas and Arkansas who visited certain prostitutes.
John Wilson, Former Washington DC Council member
died: 5/18/93 - Found dead from an apparent hanging suicide. Claimed to have info on Whitewater and was threatening to talk.
Bill Shelton, Arkansas state trooper and fiancée of Kathy Ferguson
died: 6/94 - allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself at the grave site of his fiancée - Officer Shelton was the fiancée of Kathy Ferguson, who was the ex-wife of Trooper Danny Ferguson. Kathy Ferguson also committed "suicide" 6/94 when she shot herself in her living room. Oddly, next to the body were her packed bags, as if she was expecting to be going somewhere. Danny Ferguson is a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in Paula Corbin Jones's sexual harassment suit. His ex-wife was reported as a corroborating witness for Ms. Jones.
Kathy Furguson, Ex-wife of Trooper Danny Furguson
died: circa 5/94 - Died of a supposed gunshot suicide in her living room. There was a suicide note found by the body. However, friends were surprise at having noticed nothing wrong previously. And even more curious, found nearby were several packed suitcases, as if she expected she was going somewhere. She was the former wife (since changed her name) of Trooper Danny Ferguson, who is the Arkansas State Trooper alleged to have escorted Paula Corbin Jones to the hotel room for her alleged episode of sexual harassment by then-Governor Clinton. Ferguson's wife was reported as a possible corroborating witness for Ms. Jones.
Gandy Baugh, Attorney representing Mr. Lassater in a case concerning alleged financial misconduct.
died: 1/8/94 - Died in an alleged suicide by jumping out of a window of a multi-story building. - Mr. Lassater was a close associate of Gov. Clinton, and was later indicted on drug related charges, among other things. Baugh's law partner was "suicided" one month later on 2/9/94
Dr. Ronald Rogers, Dentist from Arkansas
Killed in plane crash as he was on his way to an interview with a "London Sunday Telegraph" reporter to reveal some Clinton dirt.
Stanley Huggins, Partner in Memphis law firm
Investigating Madison Guaranty. Reported to have succumbed to viral pneumonia (See attack on Russel Welch). His 300-page report has never been released. Stanley had been at a Cotton Carnival Party on a Friday night. He was supposed to escort his wife all week during the 7 day event, but told her he couldn't as something important was going down. He has recently left the law firm in Little Rock where Hillary C worked and set up a small office in Memphis. On that Friday night I saw Stan and spoke to him briefly. He seemed extreemly nervous & about to jump out of his skin. The word circulated throughout the party that he had been involved in some secretive issue that was under the microscope. Soon after that we were told by his wife that he had flown up to a NE University to give a speech on a Saturday. He checked into the provided dorm room, by the university employees that said he looked fine. When they called up to his room later in the day he didn't answer the phone, so they went to check on him and found him dead. His wife has tried to get the hospital records, but they were sealed by JAnet Reno under presidential orders of Clinton. Over that weekend his Memphis office was broken into and the only noticable thing taken were his files.
Florence Martin, Accountant subcontracting to CIA
Related to the Barry Seal case. Dead of three gunshot wounds to the head. At the time of her death she had the account numbers and PIN for a bank account in the Cayman's in the name of Barry Seal which held 1.4 million dollars. Immediately followi9ng her death, the money was moved to someplace in the Virgin Islands.
Calvin Walraven
24 year on Walraven was a key witness in Jocelyn Elder's son's drug case. Ten days after Elder's son was convicted of trafficking in cocaine, Walraven was found dead in his apartment with a gunshot blast to the head. Tim Hover, a Little Rock police spokesman says no foul play is suspected.
Neil Moody
Died Aug. 25, 1996
Following Vincent Foster's murder, Lisa Foster married James Moody, a judge in Arkansas, on Jan 1, 1996.
Near the time Susan McDougal first went to jail for contempt, Judge Moody's son, Neil died in a car crash. There were other reports that Neil Moody had discovered something very unsettling among his stepmother's private papers and was threatening to go public with it just prior to the beginning of the Democratic National Convention. He was alleged to have been talking to Bob Woodward of the Washington Post about a blockbuster story. Witnesses said they saw Neil Moody sitting in his car arguing with another person just prior to HIS CAR SUDDENLY SPEEDING OFF OUT OF CONTROL AND HITTING A BRICK WALL.
Johnny Franklin Lawhon, Jr.
Died March 29, 1998
In the spring of 1997, a tornado ripped through some junked cars at Johnny's transmission and opened up the trunk of a car that proved to have a box of Whitewater records in it, including a copy of a $27,000 cashiers check drawn on Madison and payable to Bill Clinton. Johnny Franklin Lawhon, Sr. realized what he was looking at and turned the box of documents over to the FBI.
According to police, Lawhon Jr. (the son) and a friend hit a telephone pole at a high rate of speed after their car had become airborne and left the road. They had driven less than 1/4 of a mile at the time of the accident.
This manner of death is similar to the single vehicle accidents that killed Paula Grober, and Neil Moody.
Col. James Sabow
Died 1991
Supposedly about to blow the whistle on drug running activity taking place on the naval base where he was stationed, Col. James Sabow was found by his wife in the backyard of their home with his head blown off with a shotgun. The Navy ruled it a suicide. In all, more than 40 deaths by individuals concerned with drug traffic on military bases have been declared as suicides despite evidence that murder was involved.
Eric Butera
An informant who came forward offering information regarding the murder of White House intern Mary Mahoney. He was then sent into a known crack house to make an undercover buy for the police and was beaten to death.
Maynard Webb
Owned a small aircraft repair business, and had stumbled on several aircraft whose tail numbers were being changed on a regular basis. Was about to go public when he walked headfirst into a spinning propeller.
Caetano Carani.
Witness to a shooting near the White House. Suffered an unknown infection just before he was to tesify. Death attributed to "apparent" food poisoning.
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Terrance Yeakey.
First police officer to arrive at the Murrah Building following the OK City bombing. One year later, his patrol car was found abandoned along a dirt road, the front seat covered with blood. Officer Yeakey himself was found a short distance away, with cut wounds on both arms and his throat, plus a gunshot through the head. No gun was ever found, and the death was ruled a suicide. He had collected together a vast amount of hard data on the bombing of the Murrah building. That material was never found following his death. His life had been threatened.
DEAD WOMEN
Suzanne Coleman
Had affair with Clinton when he was attorney general. Died of "suicide" with gunshot wound to the back of her head. No autopsy allowed. Was 7 months pregnant at time of her death. She had told friends it was Bill Clinton's child. (See Danny Williams). She was 26 at the time of her death.
Paula Grober, Clinton's speech interpreter for the deaf.
died: 12/9/92
Died in a one-car accident with no known witnesses. Her body was thrown 33 feet from the car, indicating a very high speed. A very attractive women, Paula traveled extensively with Clinton from 1978 until her death. Clinton, through a spokesman, called Grober's death "a great personal loss." He also said, "Hillary and I extend our sincere sympathy to Paula's family. I had the privilege of working with her over many years."
Judy Gibbs, Penthouse model, and call girl
died: 1996
Judy Gibbs (along with her sister Sharon) appeared in the December 1979 issue of Penthouse, and later worked at a bordello near Mena, Arkansas which also ran a blackmail operation with photos taken of the customers with their girls. According to the Gibbs family, Bill Clinton was a regular customer of Judy. While cooperating with law enforcement in a drug investigation, Judy was burned alive when her house burned down. In a sworn statement, Clinton bodyguard Barry Spivey related how he had been with the governor when the governor's plane had flown over Judy Gibb's house and Clinton had shown Judy's penthouse photos on the plane and pointed out the house.
DEAD INVESTIGATORS
Paul Wilcher, Washington attorney investigating gun running out of Mena, Arkansas.
died: 6/22/93 - Found dead on a toilet in his Washington apartment. No cause of death was ever reported by the coroner.
At the time of his death, he was investigating connections between the "October surprise" during the 1980 federal election campaign and drug and gunrunning out of Mena, Arkansas, as well as the BATF assault on the Waco, Texas Branch Davidians. Was planning on producing a television documentary on his findings. He had delivered a 105-page affidavit to Janet Reno detailing the evidence he had collected regarding the drug operation at Mena, just three weeks before his death.
Jon Parnell Walker, RTC investigator
Mysteriously fell to his death from an apartment balcony. The same apartment which was alleged to have been a secret getaway which Foster may have visited.
DEAD COMMERCE DEPARTMENT DEATHS
![[Ron Brown]](http://1.2.3.12/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/brown.gif)
died: 5/3/96 - Ron Brown died along with 39 other people when the T-43 (a converted 737 used by the Air Force) carrying the group on a trip to Bosnia crashed while approaching the Dubrovnik airport. On the verge of being indicted and having stated publicly his willingness to make a deal with prosecutors, Ron Brown's death brought to an end his ability to testify.
As of this writing, Judicial Watch has petitioned for the investigation into on Brown's dealings to be expanded to include his death. (NOTE: Also belongs under dead fundraisers)
died: 11/29/96 - As the scandals continued to swirl around the John Huang, one of Huang's associates, Barbara Wise, was found dead in her locked office on the fourth floor of the Department of Commerce, partially nude (by one report completely nude) and covered with bruises. No cause of death has ever been announced even though an autopsy was conducted (prior to next of kin being notified). Calls to the D.C. autopsist, Dr. Jaardemal have gotten an assurance that the bruises were not from being beaten but nothing else. Despite claims of ongoing illness, no record of a hospital visit in the months leading up to her death has surfaced. Oddly enough, following the discovery of her body, Bill Clinton made an unscheduled return to the White House from Camp David, claiming he needed a book of poetry in order to complete his inauguration speech.
Charles Meissner, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Economic Policy.
John Huang was placed on a Commerce Department contract that allowed him to retain his security clearance by Charles Meissner. Charles Meissner died on the plane with Ron Brown.
THE HENRY - IVES DEATHS, A.K.A. THE "TRAIN DEATHS"
![[Don Henry]](http://1.2.3.13/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/don.jpg) ![[Kevin Ives]](http://1.2.3.11/bmi/whatreallyhappened.com/RANCHO/POLITICS/DEAD/kevin.jpg)
Initial cause of death was reported to be the result of falling asleep on a railroad track in Arkansas on August 23, 1987. This ruling was reported by the State medical examiner Fahmy Malak. Later it was determined that Kevin died from a crushed skull prior to being placed on the tracks. Don had been stabbed in the back. Rumors indicate that they might have stumbled upon part of the Mena drug operation, specifically a drop site in the area of Bauxite and Alexander, Arkansas.
Keith Coney
Keith had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. Died in a motorcycle accident in July 1988 while being chased by a car. Ruled a traffic accident.
Keith McKaskle
McKaskle has information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He was stabbed to death in November 1988. He had told his family someone was out to kill him and told tem "good bye".
Gregory Collins
Greg had information on the Ives/Henry deaths. He died from a gunshot blast to the face in January 1989. Declared a suicide.
Paul Olson
A Federal witness in investigations to drug money corruption in Chicago politics, Paul had just finished 2 days of FBI interviews when his plane ride home crashed, killing Paul and 130 others on Sept 8 1994. The Sept. 15, 1994 Tempe Tribune newspaper reported that the FBI suspected that a bomb had brought down the airplane.
Jeff Rhodes
He had information on the deaths of Ives, Henry & McKaskle. His burned body was found in a trash dump in April 1989. He died of a gunshot wound to the head and there was some body mutilation, specifically that his hands and feet had been partially sawn off, leading to the speculation that he was tortured prior to being killed. The body was then burned.
James Milam
Milam was decapitated. The state Medical examiner, Fahmy Malak, initially ruled death due to natural causes, claiming that the victim's small dog had eaten the head, which was later recovered from a trash bin several blocks away.
Richard Winters
Winters were a suspect in the deaths of Ives & Henry, and had offered to cooperate. He was killed by a shotgun blast to the face during a "robbery" in July 1989, which was subsequently proven to be a setup.
Dan Harmon, the Prosecutor who Winters reportedly made the offer to, has since been implicated in the Kevin/Ives deaths and is now in jail for running his office as a racket.
Jordan Kettleson
Kettleson had information on the Ives & Henry deaths. He was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup in June 1990.
Barry Seal
Now known to have been a drug runner for the CIA, operating out of the Mena airport, Barry Seal had reportedly kept in contact with Bill Clinton's head of security at the governor's mansion, Raymond "Buddy" Young, the ex rodeo clown who is now the number 2 man at FEMA.
Following his fall from CIA grace, Barry was sentenced to live at a Salvation Army Housing Complex by a judge who also prohibited Barry Seal to either have any guns or to employ any bodyguards. Corruption doesn't become any more obvious than this. Barry was gunned down with machine gun fire in the parking lot of the Salvation Army Housing Complex.
In violation of the court order, Barry had hired bodyguards who worked a rotation schedule. But the bodyguard who was to be there when Barry was killed never showed up. That bodyguard, according to video producer Daniel Hopsicker, was a former associate (meaning drug pilot) of Barry's named William "Bear" Bottoms. Bottoms continues to this very day to prowl the internet insisting that there never was any drug running operation at Mena, Arkansas.
Anonymous
Barry Seal's aircraft mechanic at Mena (name unknown as of this time) died March 21, 1995 of an "overdose of mouthwash". Regarded by local authorities as an obvious homicide.
INSLAW deaths:
Larry Guerrin
Was killed in February 1987 while investigating the INSLAW case.
Alan Standorf
An employee of the National Security Agency in electronic intelligence. Standorf was a source of information for Danny Casalaro who was investigating INSLAW, BCCI, etc. Standorf's body was found in the backseat of a car at Washington National Airport on Jan 31, 1991.
Dennis Eisman
An attorney with information on INSLAW. Eisman was found shot to death on April 5, 1991.
Danny Casalaro
Danny was a free-lance reporter and writer who was investigating the "October Surprise", INSLAW and BCCI. Danny was found dead in a bathtub in a Sheraton Hotel room in Martinsburg, Virginia. Danny was staying at the hotel while keeping appointments in the DC area pertinent to his investigation. He was found with his wrists slashed. At least one, and possibly both of his wrists were cut 10 times. All of his research materials were missing and have never been recovered.
Ian Spiro
Spiro had supporting documentation for grand jury proceedings on the INSLAW case. His wife and 3 children were found murdered on November 1, 1992 in their home. The all died of gunshot wounds to the head. Ian's body was found several days later in a parked car in the Borego Desert. Cause of death? The ingestion of cyanide. Declared a murder/suicide.
Wounded or attempted murder:
Gary Johnson
Not dead, but beaten near death and left for dead. Had videotapes of Clinton entering Gennifer Flowers' apartment. His tapes were taken.
Dennis Patrick
Court clerk. Had millions of dollars laundered through his account at Lassater & Co without his knowledge. Four attempts on his life.
L.J. Davis
Reporter investigating Clinton scandals. Attacked at his hotel room in Little Rock. His notes were stolen.
Larry Nichols
Former official at ADFA and author of "The Clinton Chronicles." The man who broke many of the Clinton scandal stories. Several attempts on his life.
Russel Welch
Infected with military grade anthrax.
Charles Wilbourne Miller
Died 1/12/99. Vice President and Board Member for Alltel, the computer company that wrote the White House "Big Brother" computer system. Found shot to death with two guns. Multiple shots had been fired. Declared a suicide.
Gordon Matteson
Died 5/15/97. Clinton associate. Shot in the head. Declared a suicide.
David Drye
Died 8/1999. Pat Matrisciana, owner of "Jeremiah Films" (which produces such vides as The Clinton Chronicles), and David Drye planned a trip to Washington DC by Private plane. At the last second, pat had to cancel and David left without him, dying when the plane crashed.
Sadly, the list goes on......
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