Waco Siege Conspiracies Debunked – #1 – David’s Rise to Power

In May of 1992, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) were informed that Vernon Howell, also known as David Koresh, the leader of the Branch Davidians, a religious group who believed the apocalypse was imminent, had received a large shipment of firearms, inert grenades, and possible explosive precursors. In February of 1993, they obtained a warrant to arrest Koresh, as well as several other Davidians, and to search the Mount Carmel Centre Ranch (the headquarters of the Davidians). An intense gun battle erupted on February 28th, when the ATF attempted to raid the ranch, which resulted in the death of four government agents and six Davidians. A siege was then initiated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lasting 51 days until April 19th, when they launched an assault on the complex. Their plan was to forcibly remove the Davidians using CS gas, however, during the attack, fire engulfed the compound, killing approximately 74 people (this number excludes two unborn children and is an approximation because of the extensive burning and commingling of the bodies).

Since the incident, many, including Academy Award nominated documentaries, have accused the US government of pinning children in a burning building with gunfire, using helicopters to shoot at people from above, and deliberately setting fire to Mount Carmel. Over the next month, I plan to publish a series of blog posts investigating these accusations to see if they have any merit, but first, here is a brief history of David’s rise to power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPdOtAON93A&t=265s

Over the next month, I plan to publish a series of blog posts investigating these accusations to see if they have any merit, but first, here is a brief history of David’s rise to power.

Look forward to it.

Original Quill wrote:

Over the next month, I plan to publish a series of blog posts investigating these accusations to see if they have any merit, but first, here is a brief history of David’s rise to power.

Look forward to it.

So do I, as he is very good with reaearch Quill

Hope we both can enjoy this

That disasterous 1993 siege wasn't one of the FBI's greatest moments of glory, was it  ?!?

Right down there with their illegal raids on Native American reservations during the 1970s, '80s and '90s, (helping private companies to steal mineral and logging rights off the First Nations people..).

It will be interesting to see if more information is revealed about the FBI's heavy-handed actions over this past half century ?

On February 25 1993 the ATF obtained a warrant from the federal magistrate to arrest Koresh, and to search the Davidian complex and the surrounding 77 acres. The affidavit alleged unlawful possession of a destructive device and also contained discussion of alleged child abuse. Three days later, whilst the ATF were preparing to storm the complex, Rodriguez returned to Mount Carmel for one last time. He spoke to Koresh and learned that he knew about the planned execution of a warrant and that the operation had been compromised. Rodriguez left the complex and reported this information to his supervisors.

Despite being informed that the Davidians knew the raid was coming, the ATF commander ordered that the raid go ahead, even though their plan was dependant on reaching the compound before the Davidians had time to arm themselves. At approximately 9:30am on February 28th, ATF agents left a staging area in cattle trailers en route for Mount Carmel. According to Davidians, Kathryn Schroeder, Victorine Hollingsworth, and Marjorie Thomas, several Davidian males, including Koresh, were armed and prepared to fire on the ATF agents as they exited their vechicles and approached the complex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kdwz6nU-4I8