(I didn't start this Koresh/Waco thread...I'm just renaming it from "McVeigh" to something more germane to the points.) At 6:39 PM -0700 6/4/97, Jeremiah A Blatz wrote:
The proper thing to do would be to walk up and knock on the door. The local sherrif suggested that percise action. However, the unassailable feds in their ivory towers couldn't be bothered to ask any local officials before the raid.
As is well known, the Sheriff also said that Koresh had been pleasant to him on a couple of other visits (of the knock on the door type, not the Nomex-clad ninjas sneaking up on all sides with asault rifles at the ready). The Sheriff also said Koresh could have been picked up on any of his trips into Waco, or on any of his morning jogs around the property and nearby roads. For this honesty, the Sheriff elected to resign. Oh, and the reason the Davidians knew about the raiders planning an assault was because some local reporters were talking about it, and someone who overheard them called Koresh to warn him that something big was about to happen. You see, the media and their cameras had been called in to film this propaganda event, this public relations shot in the arm for the beleagured BATF. Shot in the arm indeed. And in the head, And in the kidney. And shot by their own side, from all indications once the "commence fire" command was given. I don't know whether Koresh started the fire, or the tanks started the fire, or the tear gas grenades started the fire, or the automatic weapons fire started the fire. What I know is that a paramilitary assault, complete with tanks and Blackhawk choppers was launched against a private residence for the alleged crimes of having too many weapons (in Texas? gimme a break) and of an allegation of child abuse. That Koresh was not picked up under the circumstances described above, and that the media was invited in to help film the recruting film, tells us that the affair was not about what the BATF and FBI claim it was about. Why is it so radical to ask that a criminal trial be held for those responsible, and all participants, and that the appropriate penalties be meted out if any of those charged are found guilty? Texas is very liberal with the lethal injections, so what's the big deal about having a trial and giving the needle to a dozen or so of the BATF leaders? I imagine that some of those brought to trial might receive lesser sentences, maybe even no punishment at all if they could convince their jury they were "just following orders." I can also imagine some might receive fairly light prison terms, of a few years or less. (Of course, some of them might then face another fate in prison.) But the level of criminality and malfeasance show suggest to me that at least 4 of the Waco raiders and their bosses, maybe 5, would get the death penalty. Sounds fair to me. --Tim May There's something wrong when I'm a felon under an increasing number of laws. Only one response to the key grabbers is warranted: "Death to Tyrants!" ---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---- Timothy C. May | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money, tcmay@got.net 408-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA | knowledge, reputations, information markets, Higher Power: 2^1398269 | black markets, collapse of governments. "National borders aren't even speed bumps on the information superhighway."