Newsgroups: alt.activism,misc.headlines
From: [c m p 0118] at [sys.uea.ac.uk] (S. Green)
Subject: Re: Waco aflame
Date: Thu, 22 Apr 1993 10:53:29 GMT

I read the following newspaper report today :

(from the London Guardian)

"The FBI knew far more than it has disclosed about..the intentions and
activities of David Koresh and his followers during the crucial last days
inside the Mount Carmel compound, it was learned yesterday.
Law enforcement sources in Waco said the FBI listened in to cult discussions
about tactics...by means of numerous miniature radio transmitters...
The FBI said last night that Koresh sent two threatening letters on April 9
and 10 warning of a massive explosion, and he vowed to use the children in
the compound as hostages.
On another occasion, Koresh said he had the capability to blow up an
army armoured vehicle '40 to 50 feet in the air' officials said..."

In short, Koresh had already threatened to blow up the compound. The FBI
was also bugging the compound and therefore must have known of his intentions.

Therefore, both from the threats and the bugging, they must have known
that such a holocaust was a possibility.

Despite the fact that, as one other poster has said, this was west Texas,
I still find it incredible that they were able to assemble a large military force
at the compound, but not able to assemble at least some form of fire-fighting
force. Especially after Koresh himself had warned that he would take such
actions.

Whether a fire-fighting force would have made a difference to the eventual
outcome is debatable, however. I just don't see how it would be 
logistically impossible.

On the other hand, as one other poster has said, it's possible that the
lack of facilities for fire-fighting in the area really DID make such actions
difficult. Can any experts elaborate?