Waco Seige
The Blame Game
When I think about law enforcement, the thoughts that come to mind are to protect and serve its citizens, its people, and the innocent. The Waco Siege is an example of what happens when Law Enforcement Agencies fail to do their most basic job, protect the innocent. The Waco tragedy could have been avoided if the Law Enforcement Agencies involved had done their job of protecting the innocent and did not make such catastrophic tactical errors.
The Waco Siege began on February 28, and ended violently 50 days later on April 19, 1993. The siege began 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. After the ATF 's failed to execute the search warrant, a siege was begun by the Federal Bureau of Investigation which lasted 50 days, and ended when a second assault on the compound was made, and then fire engulfed the compound.
Seventy-six people died in the fire, including more than 20 children and two pregnant women. As Peter Meyer points out, the mistakes began with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The 51-day FBI siege of the Branch Davidian compound followed the killing of four ATF agents who were attempting to serve warrants on the occupants.
According to Kate O’Beirne in her article “Waco II the Awful”, the committees found that the ATF could have avoided the killings: The agents in charge "recklessly proceeded" with the raid even though they knew they would encounter armed resistance. She further concluded that the ATF 's entire investigation of Koresh and his followers for possible violations of federal gun laws was "grossly incompetent." It is clear that the ATF wanted to mount a large- scale military raid (dubbed "Showtime"), with Koresh as the target (O’Beirne).
The ATF sought special training in close-combat fighting from Army Special Forces two months before the bureau had probable cause for a warrant and before its
When I think about law enforcement, the thoughts that come to mind are to protect and serve its citizens, its people, and the innocent. The Waco Siege is an example of what happens when Law Enforcement Agencies fail to do their most basic job, protect the innocent. The Waco tragedy could have been avoided if the Law Enforcement Agencies involved had done their job of protecting the innocent and did not make such catastrophic tactical errors.
The Waco Siege began on February 28, and ended violently 50 days later on April 19, 1993. The siege began 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. After the ATF 's failed to execute the search warrant, a siege was begun by the Federal Bureau of Investigation which lasted 50 days, and ended when a second assault on the compound was made, and then fire engulfed the compound.
Seventy-six people died in the fire, including more than 20 children and two pregnant women. As Peter Meyer points out, the mistakes began with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. The 51-day FBI siege of the Branch Davidian compound followed the killing of four ATF agents who were attempting to serve warrants on the occupants.
According to Kate O’Beirne in her article “Waco II the Awful”, the committees found that the ATF could have avoided the killings: The agents in charge "recklessly proceeded" with the raid even though they knew they would encounter armed resistance. She further concluded that the ATF 's entire investigation of Koresh and his followers for possible violations of federal gun laws was "grossly incompetent." It is clear that the ATF wanted to mount a large- scale military raid (dubbed "Showtime"), with Koresh as the target (O’Beirne).
The ATF sought special training in close-combat fighting from Army Special Forces two months before the bureau had probable cause for a warrant and before its
Cited: Abrams, Elliott. "The Dilemmas of a Disaster: How to think about Waco." National Review. 1999: 18. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 26 May. 2010 Kopel, David B. and Blackman, Paul M. The Waco Disaster. Independence Institute, June 1997. Web. 23 May 2010. Meyer, Peter. The Waco Massacre. Serendipity, n.d. Web. 23 May 2010. O 'Beirne, Kate. "Waco II The Awful Truth : What we already know is bad enough.(Branch Davidian siege)." National Review. 1999: 21. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 30 May 2010. “Waco Revisited. (Investigation of Federal Agents ' activities during 1993 siege of Branch Davidian compound).” The Nation. 269. 8 (Sept 20, 1999): 7. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Web. 26 May. 2010