On April 19, 1993, the FBI dispatched tanks to the huge Mount Carmel property in Waco, Texas, early in the morning. After a 51-day standoff that began with an illegal weapons investigation and the shooting deaths of six Davidians and four agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, it was a drastic measure to compel Branch Davidian leader David Koresh and his followers to surrender and face justice.
In the past days and weeks, the U.S. government had unsuccessfully attempted to convince Koresh’s followers to surrender.
After two Koresh followers sneaked through police lines to join the Davidians, the FBI began arguing for permission to employ more harsh tactics to gain control of the situation.
“When this event began to dominate the news, pressure mounted on the FBI to put an end to it. It made the Clinton administration and the FBI seem foolish,” Kevin Cook, author of “Waco Rising: David Koresh, the FBI, and the Birth of America’s Modern Militias,” told The Washington Post on Tuesday. Therefore, the federal government exerted pressure on then-Attorney General Janet Reno to permit the deployment of tear gas — “a tear gas that was not permitted in warfare, and she agreed.”
It was the “deadliest day in FBI history,” according to Cook, as 76 individuals, including more than 20 children, perished before day’s end.
In his latest book, he examines how inadequate government methods and departmental pressures contributed to the deaths, and how Waco became a rallying cry for domestic terrorists and mass shooters.
“The final tear gas strike was unsuccessful. “The Davidians viewed this as the unfolding of the apocalypse, just as David Koresh had predicted,” stated Cook. They remained inside where 76 of them perished.
Some Davidians were killed by tank-borne falling walls. The remaining were engulfed by a roaring fire, the cause of which is unknown.
Cook believes it was sparked by Koresh’s followers.
“I can tell you what I believe after extensive research. “Tear gas did not ignite the blaze,” the author explains.
“The blaze did not begin until midday. Six hours had passed since the initial movement of the assault vehicles that deployed tear gas. The FBI had sneaked listening devices into the property, and voices could be heard saying, “start the fire.” One of Koresh’s adherents stated, “We do not light it until they enter.” Is that correct?’”
According to the author, several of those who remained inside did not perish as a result of the fire.
“Many others killed themselves or each other in what they perceived to be acts of mercy. “Children were shot by some of the adults…one child was stabbed by someone inside,” Cook said, adding, “they had been instructed that a baptism of fire could lead directly to heaven.”
According to the author, Koresh had such a grip on the Davidians that he convinced Mount Carmel Center husbands that it was his divine right to sleep with their wives and prepare their pre-teen daughters for marriage.
Cook stated that the bureau’s forceful efforts, rather than dissuading the populace, feed into the zealot mentality in many ways.
They placed outdoor loudspeakers and played the sounds of animals being slaughtered. They played ‘These Boots Are Made For Walking’ by Nancy Sinatra in an attempt to encourage the Davidians to leave, he said, adding that gongs, Gregorian chants, ringing telephones, and signals that Koresh was misleading the Davidians were also played — often as a sleep deprivation tactic.
“It evolved into psychological warfare,” he declared. “These Davidians were very holy and endeavored not to swear or engage in similar behavior. They were really displeased that several of the law enforcement officers surrounding them were mooning them… “[Agents] also vandalized their property and smashed their cars outside to send a message that they were not playing games.”
Even former President Bill Clinton has now acknowledged that the government forces employed ineffective methods.
In a 2005 speech at Hofstra University, featured in the book, Clinton stated, “I will always regret that.” We ought to have waited them out… It was an error for which I am liable. And you do not receive an A for effort on this.”
Cook stated that not only did the mishandling of Waco result in numerous deaths, but it also ignited a dark movement in the United States that continues to burn.
During the standoff, Timothy McVeigh, a Koresh admirer, was one of several who came to sell bumper stickers in support of the Davidians.
According to Cook, he carried out the Oklahoma City explosions on the two-year anniversary of the Waco siege as an act of “revenge.”
Cook continued, “It is important to note that the 1999 Columbine shooters initially planned to use the anniversary of Waco, which was also the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.”
And he continued, “In 2000, Alex Jones made Waco a cause and documentary… he would yell ‘no more Wacos’ as he established himself as a media celebrity in Texas based on the notion that the government murdered the Davidians at Waco. All of this goes rather directly to the growth of militias today and played a significant role on January 6.”