From: [V--ta--e] at [phoenix.net]
Date: Sun, 30 Jul 95 12:23:59 PDT
Subject: EXPERTS SAY DAVIDIANS SET COMPOUND ABLAZE


Experts Say Davidians Set Compound Ablaze 
By David Willman and Glenn F. Bunting of The Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON - Branch Davidians deliberately set the fire that leveled 
their religious compound near Waco, Texas, two years ago, experts told 
a congressional panel Friday.

The testimony came on the same day that a survivor of the inferno 
recalled vividly the death screams of his fellow Branch Davidians.

Two experts who testified based their conclusions largely on videotapes 
and on their fire-scene investigation. The evidence, they said, is 
overwhelming that followers of sect leader David Koresh set their own 
living quarters on fire.

The fire on April 19, 1993, came after FBI-deployed tanks launched tear 
gas inside the living quarters in a failed attempt to force the Davidians
to evacuate, following a 51-day standoff.

Present and former government officials said Friday that Koresh, alone,
should be considered responsible for the deaths of four federal agents 
and about 80 Davidians at Waco. Koresh died in the fire.

"The blame lies at the feet of David Koresh, not the president of the 
United States, not the attorney general, not the people at this table,
" said former Associate Attorney General Webster Hubbell, who in 1993 
was a close friend of President Clinton and is now about to enter federal
prison for bilking clients of his former law firm.

Larry Potts, who was assistant director of the FBI criminal division 
throughout the siege, said that, "Unfortunately, the objective of the 
FBI and the wishes of the country did not, and, ultimately, could not,
prevail over the outcome chosen by David Koresh."

In related testimony, the Army toxicologist whom Attorney General Janet 
Reno relied on in her decision to approve injection of "CS" tear gas 
into the living quarters reiterated his view that the substance posed 
no long-term health risk to the Davidian children or adults.

"It is the safest and most effective alternative that we do know of,
" for dispersing crowds in riot-related circumstances, said the 
toxicologist, Harry Salem. The fire experts testified that the tear gas 
played no role in the inferno.

Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has led the defense of the Clinton 
administration's handling of Waco, said that conversations secretly 
recorded by the FBI provide incontrovertible evidence that there was 
no government "conspiracy" to incinerate the Davidians. Transcripts 
of those tapes show the Davidians repeatedly discuss pouring fuel and 
lighting at least one fire after the FBI began injecting the tear gas.

Potts, Hubbell, Salem and former FBI Director William Sessions were 
questioned repeatedly by Republican committee members regarding the 
extent to which Clinton and Attorney General Janet Reno were involved 
with the decisions made at Waco.

Hubbell appeared to shed new light on how Reno, who until April 16 had 
declined to do so, was persuaded the next day to approve using the tear 
gas. The key, Hubbell said, were assurances he and Reno received from 
top military officials that use of the CS tear gas was safe.

"The military said (the Branch Davidians) will come out of that building,
" Hubbell said. "I mean, I had a general and a colonel both look me 
in the eye and say, 'They can't stay in that building. They will come 
out immediately.'

Salem, the expert on CS tear gas, said Reno "was extremely sensitive 
to the risks. ...In the final analysis, the question of the use of CS 
comes down to balancing the risks against the consequences - even the 
consequences of waiting. And that was a very tough decision that they 
had to make."

Reno has said that she approved the tear-gas plan on the basis that 
after the gas was inserted once, the FBI was to back off and allow the 
Davidians to evacuate. Under this scenario, more gas would be pumped 
in over the next 48 hours, with intervals allowed for continued 
evacuations.

However, the FBI escalated its approach after taking fire from the 
Davidians, and launched all of the tear gas on hand in less than six 
hours.

Hubbell and Sessions also testified that FBI officials in Waco advised 
them in what would be the final days of the siege that a surrender 
proposal crafted by Koresh and his lawyer was nothing more than a 
delaying tactic.

The committee's co-chairman, Rep. William Zeliff (R-N.H.) signaled that 
the response by the FBI and the Justice Department to the surrender 
plan is bound to be a focus of further questioning.

"When and why was an 11th-hour offer of surrender, an offer corroborated 
by the Texas Rangers and also confirmed by Koresh's attorney in detail,
rejected?" Zeliff asked.

Sessions, a former U.S. district court judge in San Antonio, told the 
committee he had suggested his returning to Texas to negotiate directly 
with Koresh. His idea, Sessions said, was rejected as "ridiculous and 
grandstanding" by Justice Department officials.

As for the inferno that engulfed the Branch Davidians' compound on April 
19, 1993, one of the experts, Houston fire official Paul Gray, said 
that while the government may have made serious mistakes during the 
51-day siege, the fire resulted from three separate blazes ignited by 
the Branch Davidians.

The officials' version of the fire and other events at the compound 
was disputed by the Davidian who escaped from the blaze on April 19.

Sitting at the same table as the fire experts, Clive Doyle, who is still 
a Branch Davidian, choked back tears as he recalled the events that 
day that left his daughter and 79 other sect members - including 19 
children - dead.

Doyle, 54, who emerged from the living quarters with his hands badly 
burned, said he did not know how the fire started. More Davidians did 
not take the chance to flee that final day, he said, fearing that "the 
FBI might open fire on us." Doyle became overwhelmed when he tried to 
recall hearing the screams that day, and connecting the faces with the 
agonized voices.

Doyle said his faith in Koresh has not diminished in the more than two 
years since the tragedy. He said he doesn't expect everyone to understand
his faith.

"He never said he was Jesus Christ," said Doyle. "He did say he was 
a messiah."

"The messiah?" asked Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.).

"No, a messiah," Doyle replied.


Story Number:01047 Story Date: 7/29/95