From: [V--ta--e] at [phoenix.net]
Newsgroups: talk.politics.misc
Subject: RENO CALLS LINKING WACO/OKC DISPICABLE
Date: Sat, 06 May 95 07:56:56 PDT


Reno Calls Linking Oklahoma Bombing to Waco Raid `Despicable' 

By RAVI NESSMAN

Associated Press Writer

ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) - Attempts to link the Oklahoma City bombing with
the FBI raid on the Branch Davidian compound two years ago are "despicable
and have no basis in truth," U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno said Friday.
"How could some people imply a moral equivalency between the government's
efforts to save lives at Waco and the cruel and indifferent taking of 

lives in Oklahoma City?" Reno asked in her speech to federal law 

enforcement officials.

Reno maintained that the federal government was not responsible for the
deaths of more than 85 Branch Davidian cult members. After an extensive
probe of the raid, the Justice Department said it found that the deadly 
fire that swept through the compound had been set by sect members.

"Such reckless comparisons are despicable and have no basis in the truth," 
she said to loud applause at the annual conference of the Federal Law 

Enforcement Officers Association.

Timothy McVeigh, the only person charged so far in the Oklahoma City 

bombing, was said by acquaintances to be deeply upset with the federal 

government's role at Waco.

The April 19 bombing in Oklahoma, which killed more than 160 people, took 
place on the second anniversary of the Waco raid.

In her speech Friday, Reno said the government decided to raid the Branch
Davidian compound for three reasons: Law enforcement agents around the 

compound no longer felt safe; FBI experts thought cult leader David Koresh 

was unstable and might try to kill as many people as possible, and 

officials believed Koresh was having sexual relations with 10- and 

11-year-old girls.

The standoff began Feb. 28 after four agents from the bureau of Alcohol
Tobacco and Firearms and six cult members were killed in a shootout that
started when ATF agents stormed the compound trying to serve weapons 

warrants.

After 51 days, Reno ordered agents to begin a tear-gas assault on the 
compound, and won widespread praise at the time for taking full 

responsibility for the results.

"The risk of doing nothing had come to exceed the risk of doing 

something," she said Friday.

She said that Koresh and some of his followers were responsible for the 
deaths.

"Twenty-two individuals were shot to death by those in the compound, some 
by their own hand, some by other Branch Davidians. A baby was stabbed to 
death," Reno said.

Story Number:00639 Story Date: 5/5/95