The Waco Siege Book

  the waco siege book: A Place Called Waco David Thibodeau, 1999-09-09 One of nine survivors of the attack on the Branch Davidian compound in 1993 describes how he came to join the religious community and offers an eyewitness account of the tragedy.
  the waco siege book: Preacher of Death Martin King, Marc Breault, 1993 A reporter who interviewed cult leader Vernon Howell/David Koresh in 1992, and a former cult member who was second-in-command of the Branch Davidians for many years, describe and explain what led up to the horrifying end of the cult in the Waco fire of April 1993. It is the story of a deluded maniac who exerted a hypnotic influence over his followers and committed many crimes without any legal constraints being brought to bear on him or his sect.
  the waco siege book: Armageddon in Waco Stuart A. Wright, 2014-07-04 On February 28, 1993, the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF) launched the largest assault in its history against a small religious community in central Texas. One hundred agents armed with automatic and semi automatic weapons invaded the compound, purportedly to execute a single search and arrest warrant. The raid went badly; four agents were killed, and by the end of the day the settlement was surrounded by armored tanks and combat helicopters. After a fifty-one day standoff, the United States Justice Department approved a plan to use CS gas against those barricaded inside. Whether by accident or plan, tanks carrying the CS gas caused the compound to explode in fire, killing all seventy-four men, women, and children inside. Could the tragedy have been prevented? Was it necesary for the BATF agents to do what they did? What could have been done differently? Armageddon in Waco offers the most detailed, wide-ranging analysis of events surrounding Waco. Leading scholars in sociology, history, law, and religion explore all facets of the confrontation in an attempt to understand one of the most confusing government actions in American history. The book begins with the history of the Branch Davidians and the story of its leader, David Koresh. Chapters show how the Davidians came to trouble authorities, why the group was labeled a cult, and how authorities used unsubstantiated allegations of child abuse to strengthen their case against the sect. The media's role is examined next in essays that considering the effect on coverage of lack of time and resources, the orchestration of public relations by government officials, the restricted access to the site or to countervailing evidence, and the ideologies of the journalists themselves. Several contributors then explore the relation of violence to religion, comparing Waco to Jonestown. Finally, the role played by experts and consultants in defining such conflicts is explored by two contributors who had active roles as scholarly experts during and after the siege The legal and consitutional implications of the government's actions are also analyzed in balanced, clearly written detail.
  the waco siege book: Why Waco? James D. Tabor, Eugene V. Gallagher, 2023-11-15 The 1993 government assault on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, resulted in the deaths of four federal agents and eighty Branch Davidians, including seventeen children. Whether these tragic deaths could have been avoided is still debatable, but what seems clear is that the events in Texas have broad implications for religious freedom in America. James Tabor and Eugene Gallagher's bold examination of the Waco story offers the first balanced account of the siege. They try to understand what really happened in Waco: What brought the Branch Davidians to Mount Carmel? Why did the government attack? How did the media affect events? The authors address the accusations of illegal weapons possession, strange sexual practices, and child abuse that were made against David Koresh and his followers. Without attempting to excuse such actions, they point out that the public has not heard the complete story and that many media reports were distorted. The authors have carefully studied the Davidian movement, analyzing the theology and biblical interpretation that were so central to the group's functioning. They also consider how two decades of intense activity against so-called cults have influenced public perceptions of unorthodox religions. In exploring our fear of unconventional religious groups and how such fear curtails our ability to tolerate religious differences, Why Waco? is an unsettling wake-up call. Using the events at Mount Carmel as a cautionary tale, the authors challenge all Americans, including government officials and media representatives, to closely examine our national commitment to religious freedom. The 1993 government assault on the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, resulted in the deaths of four federal agents and eighty Branch Davidians, including seventeen children. Whether these tragic deaths could have been avoided is still debatable,
  the waco siege book: Waco David Thibodeau, Leon Whiteson, 2018-01-02 The basis of the celebrated Paramount Network miniseries starring Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch--Waco is the critically-acclaimed, first person account of the siege by Branch Davidian survivor, David Thibodeau. Twenty-five years ago, the FBI staged a deadly raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. Texas. David Thibodeau survived to tell the story. When he first met the man who called himself David Koresh, David Thibodeau was a drummer in a local a rock band. Though he had never been religious in the slightest, Thibodeau gradually became a follower and moved to the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. He remained there until April 19, 1993, when the compound was stormed and burned to the ground after a 51-day standoff with government authorities. In this compelling account--now with an updated epilogue that revisits remaining survivors--Thibodeau explores why so many people came to believe that Koresh was divinely inspired. We meet the men, women, and children of Mt. Carmel. We get inside the day-to-day life of the community. We also understand Thibodeau's brutally honest assessment of the United States government's actions. The result is a memoir that reads like a thriller, with each page taking us closer to the eventual inferno. Originally published as A Place Called Waco.
  the waco siege book: Waco Untold Douglas Mitchell, 2018 This is the untold story behind the traggic events of Waco, 1993. Who was David Koresh? Who are the Branch Davidians? How did all those men, women, and children end up following a man, even to the death, who held such sway over them that he could take their men¿s wives and daughters as his own - with their consent? Why did the government agencies respond as they did?The answers to these questions are a mystery to most, but not to those who experienced the arrival of David Koresh among the Branch Davidians and his subsequent assault against them and the principles they stood for. This book is the landmark work of a man who not only experienced this assault, but also took the brunt of it being the authentic leader of the Branch movement during the time of its identity theft by Koresh and his group.Gain a never-before-seen glimpse into the inner workings of the Branch Davidian movement before, during, and after the 1993 siege. Learn how all this happened, who was involved, and why it is important for all of us, even today.
  the waco siege book: The Branch Davidians of Waco Kenneth G. C. Newport, 2006-04-13 What were the beliefs of the Branch Davidians? This is the first full scholarly account of their history. Kenneth G. C. Newport argues that, far from being an act of unfathomable religious insanity, the calamitous fire at Waco in 1993 was the culmination of a long theological and historical tradition that goes back many decades. The Branch Davidians under David Koresh were an eschatologically confident community that had long expected that the American government, whom they identified as the Lamb-like Beast of the book of Revelation, would one day arrive to seek to destroy God's remnant people. The end result, the fire, must be seen in this context.
  the waco siege book: Plain Old Agent David Dibetta, 2015-12-31 In this exciting new book, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA) past-president Dave DiBetta (Special Agent, retired) remembers the hundreds of cases, personalities, and experiences from his nearly 22 years with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Anyone who has worked in law enforcement will appreciate the real life, behind-the-scenes stories...the hard work, long hours, humor, and frustrations associated with a career of federal service. In addition, Dave provides an inside look at when the warrant was served to the Branch Davidians at Waco, Texas.
  the waco siege book: When They Were Mine Sheila Martin, 2009 When They Were Mine is the autobiography of Sheila Martin, a member of the Branch Davidian Church at the time of its apocalyptic encounter with the FBI in April, 1993. The assault resulted in a fire that killed 76 Branch Davidians, including 23 children. Sheila's husband and four oldest children died in the fire. Martin told the story of her life, both before and after the attack, to Catherine Wessinger, who then wrote this first-person narrative from the recordings of their sessions together. The result is a haunting account of one life, typical in its ups and downs, made atypical by a collision of faith with history.
  the waco siege book: The Ashes of Waco Dick J. Reavis, 1998-04-01 This is the story the daily press didn't give us. It may be the definitive book about what happened at Mt. Carmel, near Waco, Texas, examined from both sides—the Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the FBI on one hand, and David Koresh and his followers on the other. Dick J. Reavis contends that the government had little reason to investigate Koresh and even less to raid the compound at Mt. Carmel. The government lied to the public about most of what happened—about who fired the first shots, about drug allegations, about child abuse. The FBI was duplicitous and negligent in gassing Mt. Carmel-and that alone could have started the fire that killed seventy-six people. Drawing on interviews with survivors of Koresh's movement (which dates back to 1935), as well as from esoteric religious tracts and audiotapes, and previously undisclosed government documents, Reavis uncovers the real story of the burning at Waco, including the trial that followed. The author quotes from Koresh himself to create an extraordinary portrait of a movement, an assault, and an avoidable tragedy.
  the waco siege book: Stalling for Time Gary Noesner, 2010 A longtime FBI Lead Hostage Negotiator offers a behind-the-scenes account of the many high-profile cases he worked on--from hijackings and prison riots to religious-cult and right-wing-militia standoffs--and explains how such failures as Ruby Ridge and Waco could have been averted.
  the waco siege book: Inside the Cult Marc Breault, Martin King, 1993 Only a person who lived this story--forced marriages, rapes, beatings, torturous rules of behavior--could tell it. Marc Breault is such a person. Once Koresh's right-hand man, Breault broke free of that hold to escape and survive. Now he and a reporter who risked his life to interview Koresh inside the compound join to take you on an unforgettable journey into the mind of the man who bears responsibility for the deaths of his followers.
  the waco siege book: Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas Jr. Edward S.G. Dennis, 2022-05-29 Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas is a critical retrospective evaluation of the activities of the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation during the fifty-one-day halt at the Branch Davidians' Mt. Carmel compound near Waco, Texas.
  the waco siege book: Massacre at Waco Clifford L. Linedecker, 1993-06-15 He loved God. He loved guns. He was the Evil Messiah. I am Christ, said self-proclaimed Messiah David Koresh, to his followers. He promised them Heaven...instead, he took them to Hell....
  the waco siege book: After the Fire Will Hill, 2018-10-02 An Edgar Award finalist A gripping and unforgettable story of survival after life in a cult, inspired by the survivors of the Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas, 1993 The things I've seen are burned into me, like scars that refuse to fade. Before, she lived inside a fence with her family. After, she's trapped, now in a federal facility. Before, she was never allowed to leave the property, never allowed to talk to Outsiders, never allowed to speak her mind. After, there are too many people asking questions, wanting to know what happened to her, trying to find out who she really is. Before, she thought she was being protected from something. After, people are telling her that now she's finally safe. She isn't sure what's better, before or after, all she knows is that there are questions she can't answer, and if everything she's been told is a lie, how can she know who's telling the truth now? Suspenseful and moving, After the Fire is perfect for readers looking for cult books and stories young adult historical fiction binge-worthy teen thrillers an intense, ripped-from-the-headlines plot compulsively readable books that keep you hooked until the very end Praise for After the Fire: Genuinely different...thrilling and spellbinding!—Patrick Ness, #1 New York Times bestselling author The gripping story of survival and escape...It will keep you up late until you get to the very end.—Maureen Johnson, New York Times bestselling author of Truly Devious A heartrending portrait of a young girl's struggle to survive a domineering religious sect and the resilience of the human spirit; this belongs on every YA shelf. —School Library Journal
  the waco siege book: Report of the Department of the Treasury on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Investigation of Vernon Wayne Howell Also Known as David Koresh United States. Department of the Treasury, United States. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, 1993 Investigative report of the events leading to the raid of the Branch Davidian Compound near Waco, Texas, on February 28, 1993.
  the waco siege book: This Is Not An Assault David T. Hardy with Rex Kimball, 2001-05-29 A new book by former federal attorney David Hardy further batters the government´s Waco fairy tale. This Is Not An Assault provides fascinating inside details on how private investigators squeezed out damning information on Waco -- how federal judge Walter Smith stifled lawyers at the trial last year to prevent jurors from learning of over a hundred items of evidence embarrassing to, or potentially incriminating, the federal government -- and how Republican congressmen (such as Dan Burton) and aidescowered and effectively aided the Clinton administration cover-up. Hardy´s skill in hammering federal agencies with Freedom of Information Act requests was a decisive factor in making Waco a hot political potato in 1999. James Bovard, The American Spectator Online, April 2001. In February, 1993, a gun battle erupted outside Waco, Texas, as federal agents attempted to search the communal residence of a religion known as the Branch Davidians, led by a David Koresh. The battle, and the following siege, was the greatest law enforcement debacle in American history. The taking of a wooden building, largely filled with women and children, cost the lives of four agents and nearly nearly ninety civilians. For years the Waco issue seemed dead--as dead as the people who died there. Then in 1999, the Waco issue exploded, with proof that the Federal agencies had lied to their own leadership, to Congress, and to the courts. The Attorney General herself proclaimed that she had been deceived. U.S. Marshals searched FBI headquarters in an unprecedent move, uncovering videotapes that supposedly did not exist. An Assistant U.S. Attorney was indicted. The turnaround was not brought about by political institutions, media, or any other traditional powerbase. It was caused by three individuals -- an insurance salesman turned documentary maker, an attorney practicing solo, and an eccentric spook with sources in the intelligence community. This Is Not An Assault explores this remarkable turnabout. It is authored by someone who saw it from the inside, a former government attorney whose lawsuit forced government agencies to divulge the incriminating documents and tapes, and who debated and cornered FBI´s spokeman on Nightline the night before Attorney General appointed a Special Counsel. The evidence was startling. We now know, from the ATF´s and FBI´s own files, that: David Koresh could easily have been arrested without bloodshed. Nine days before the raid and gun battle, he went shooting with two ATF undercover agents. He was unarmed until one of the agents loaned him a pistol. The ATF daily report discussing the event is reprinted in the book. The opportunity for a peaceful and bloodless arrest was passed over precisely because the agency needed a spectacular raid to divert attention from internal scandals. The agency organized a visually impressive paramilitary raid as a manner of stage production. The raid went in in broad daylight; many agents did not bother to bring spare ammunition; the snipers donned elaborate camouflage, but were dropped off, in daylight, by a white Bronco. Immediately after the raid, efforts were made to destroy all the evidence that might indicate who had begun the battle. The agency explained that every one of the three or four videocameras facing the front of the building had malfunctioned, and the only still camera was (according to an ATF affidavit) stolen from a table in room full of Federal agents. Using tapes of ATF radio traffic (obtained only after a year´s court battle) and tapes of 911 calls from the Davidians, we can reconstruct the entire fight from both sides. From the first minute of the gunfight, Davidians were
  the waco siege book: God's Country, Uncle Sam's Land Todd M. Kerstetter, 2006 While many studies of religion in the West have focused on the region's diversity, freedom, and individualism, Todd M. Kerstetter brings together the three most glaring exceptions to those rules to explore the boundaries of tolerance as enforced by society and the U.S. government.God's Country, Uncle Sam's Landanalyzes Mormon history from the Utah Expedition and Mountain Meadows Massacre of 1857 through subsequent decades of federal legislative and judicial actions aimed at ending polygamy and limiting church power. It also focuses on the Lakota Ghost Dancers and the Wounded Knee Massacre in South Dakota (1890), and the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas (1993). In sharp contrast to the mythic image of the West as the Land of the Free, these three tragic episodes reveal the West as a cultural battleground--in the words of one reporter, a collision of guns, God, and government. Kerstetter asks important questions about what happens when groups with a deep trust in their differing inner truths meet, and he exposes the religious motivations behind government policies that worked to alter Mormonism and extinguish Native American beliefs.
  the waco siege book: Mad Man in Waco Brad Bailey, Bob Darden, 1993 Traces the history of the Branch Davidians, tells how David Koresh became leader of the group, and describes the events that led to the tragic fire
  the waco siege book: Technologies of History Steve F. Anderson, 2011 Captain Kirk fought Nazis. JFK's assassination is a videogame touchstone. And there's no history like Drunk History.
  the waco siege book: The Waco Siege Marylou Morano Kjelle, 2002 Reviews the events leading up to federal agents' 1993 raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, the raid itself, and its aftermath.
  the waco siege book: Bring the War Home Kathleen Belew, 2018-04-09 The white power movement has declared war against the United States and has carried out—with military precision—an escalating campaign of terror against the American public. Kathleen Belew gives the first full history of a movement that consolidated around a sense of betrayal over Vietnam and made tragic headlines with the Oklahoma City bombing.
  the waco siege book: Conflicted Ian Leslie, 2021-02-23 Drawing on advice from the world’s leading experts on conflict and communication—from relationship scientists to hostage negotiators to diplomats—Ian Leslie, a columnist for the New Statesman, shows us how to transform the heat of conflict, disagreement and argument into the light of insight, creativity and connection, in a book with vital lessons for the home, workplace, and public arena. For most people, conflict triggers a fight or flight response. Disagreeing productively is a hard skill for which neither evolution or society has equipped us. It’s a skill we urgently need to acquire; otherwise, our increasingly vociferous disagreements are destined to tear us apart. Productive disagreement is a way of thinking, perhaps the best one we have. It makes us smarter and more creative, and it can even bring us closer together. It’s critical to the success of any shared enterprise, from a marriage, to a business, to a democracy. Isn’t it time we gave more thought to how to do it well? In an increasingly polarized world, our only chance for coming together and moving forward is to learn from those who have mastered the art and science of disagreement. In this book, we’ll learn from experts who are highly skilled at getting the most out of highly charged encounters: interrogators, cops, divorce mediators, therapists, diplomats, psychologists. These professionals know how to get something valuable – information, insight, ideas—from the toughest, most antagonistic conversations. They are brilliant communicators: masters at shaping the conversation beneath the conversation. They know how to turn the heat of conflict into the light of creativity, connection, and insight. In this much-need book, Ian Leslie explores what happens to us when we argue, why disagreement makes us stressed, and why we get angry. He explains why we urgently need to transform the way we think about conflict and how having better disagreements can make us more successful. By drawing together the lessons he learns from different experts, he proposes a series of clear principles that we can all use to make our most difficult dialogues more productive—and our increasingly acrimonious world a better place.
  the waco siege book: The Road to Jonestown Jeff Guinn, 2017-04-11 2018 Edgar Award Finalist—Best Fact Crime “A thoroughly readable, thoroughly chilling account of a brilliant con man and his all-too vulnerable prey” (The Boston Globe)—the definitive story of preacher Jim Jones, who was responsible for the Jonestown Massacre, the largest murder-suicide in American history, by the New York Times bestselling author of Manson. In the 1950s, a young Indianapolis minister named Jim Jones preached a curious blend of the gospel and Marxism. His congregation was racially mixed, and he was a leader in the early civil rights movement. Eventually, Jones moved his church, Peoples Temple, to northern California, where he got involved in electoral politics and became a prominent Bay Area leader. But underneath the surface lurked a terrible darkness. In this riveting narrative, Jeff Guinn examines Jones’s life, from his early days as an idealistic minister to a secret life of extramarital affairs, drug use, and fraudulent faith healing, before the fateful decision to move almost a thousand of his followers to a settlement in the jungles of Guyana in South America. Guinn provides stunning new details of the events leading to the fatal day in November, 1978 when more than nine hundred people died—including almost three hundred infants and children—after being ordered to swallow a cyanide-laced drink. Guinn examined thousands of pages of FBI files on the case, including material released during the course of his research. He traveled to Jones’s Indiana hometown, where he spoke to people never previously interviewed, and uncovered fresh information from Jonestown survivors. He even visited the Jonestown site with the same pilot who flew there the day that Congressman Leo Ryan was murdered on Jones’s orders. The Road to Jonestown is “the most complete picture to date of this tragic saga, and of the man who engineered it…The result is a disturbing portrait of evil—and a compassionate memorial to those taken in by Jones’s malign charisma” (San Francisco Chronicle).
  the waco siege book: Ruby Ridge Jess Walter, 2012-06-26 “The most comprehensive, even-handed and best written account of Ruby Ridge currently in print.” — Washington Times From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jess Walter, here is the story of what happened on Ruby Ridge: the tragic and unlikely series of events that destroyed a family, brought down the number-two man in the FBI, and left in its wake a nation increasingly attuned to the dangers of unchecked federal power. On the last hot day of summer in 1992, gunfire cracked over a rocky knob in northern Idaho, just south of the Canadian border. By the next day three people were dead, and a small war was joined, pitting the full might of federal law enforcement against one well-armed family. Drawing on extensive interviews with Randy Weaver's family, government insiders, and others, Walter traces the paths that led the Weavers to their confrontation with federal agents and led the government to treat a family like a gang of criminals.
  the waco siege book: Every Knee Shall Bow Jess Walter, 1996-05-15 What went wrong at Ruby Ridge? Why was Randy Weaver's son fatally shot in the back? How could the FBI justify shooting a woman as she held her infant child? Why were the Weavers given a $3.1 million settlement by the U.S. Government? Was there an FBI cover-up and how high did it go? Every Knee Shall Bow answers the critical questions that cut to the heart of the most explosive issues in the United States today. The Weaver Family took to the woods to escape what they believed was a sinful world on the brink of Armageddon. But Randy Weaver's indictment on a firearms violation escalated into a deadly shoot out at his northern Idaho cabin. Before it was over, a federal marshal, Weaver's wife and his only son were dead. Now, featuring exclusive interviews with key figures on both sides, Pulitzer Prize finalist Jess Walter objectively reconstructs all the riveting events in this controversial case.
  the waco siege book: The Shooting Gallery Gaz Hunter, 1998 Entering the SAS after serving with the Royal Green Jackets, Gaz Hunter was following a family tradition. His missions have ranged from extracting hostages in Sierra Leone to counter-terrorist operations in Northern Ireland - and he has always led from the front. A former senior NCO of the SAS, Hunter is the highest-ranking member of the regiment to tell his story yet.
  the waco siege book: The Waco Siege Jack Rosewood, 2015-12-30 During fifty one days in early 1993 one of the most tragic events in American crime history unfolded on the plains outside Waco, Texas. An obscure and heavily armed religious sect called the Branch Davidians was barricaded inside their commune and outside were hundreds of law enforcement angry because the former had killed four ATF agents in a botched raid. Open the pages of this book and go on an engaging and captivating ride to examine one of the most important true crime stories in recent decades. Read the shocking true story of how a man the government considered a psychopath, but whose followers believed to be a prophet, led a breakaway sect of the Seventh Day Adventist Church into infamy. You will follow the meteoric rise of the Branch Davidians' charismatic leader, David Koresh, as he went from an awkward kid in remedial classes to one of the most infamous cult leaders in world history. But the story of the Waco Siege begins long before the events of 1993. At the core of the conflict between the Branch Davidians and the United States government were ideas and interpretations of religious freedom and gun ownership, which as will be revealed in the pages of this book, a considerable philosophical gulf existed between the two sides. David Koresh and the Branch Davidians carried on a long tradition in American and Texas history of religious dissent, but in 1993 that dissent turned tragically violent. You will find that beyond the standard media portrayals of the Waco Siege was an event comprised of complex human characters on both sides of the firing line and that perhaps the most tragic aspect of the event was that the extreme bloodshed could have been avoided. The pages of this book will make you angry, sad, and bewildered; but no matter the emotions evoke, you will be truly moved by the events of the Waco Siege.
  the waco siege book: The War Within Alexis Peri, 2017-01-02 The German blockade of Leningrad lasted 872 days and cost almost a million civilian lives—one of the longest, deadliest sieges in modern history. Drawing on 125 unpublished diaries written by individuals from all walks of life, Alexis Peri tells the tragic, intimate story of how citizens struggled to make sense of a world collapsing around them.
  the waco siege book: Recommendations of Experts for Improvements in Federal Law Enforcement After Waco , 1993 Addresses issues that federal law enforcement confronts in barricade/hostage situations such as the stand-off that occurred [at the Branch Davidian compound] near Waco, Texas, betweeen February 28, 1993 and April 19, 1993--Mandate to the experts, i.e. Introd.
  the waco siege book: Cults, Religion, and Violence David G. Bromley, J. Gordon Melton, 2002-05-13 This explores the question of when and why violence by and against new religious cults erupts and whether and how such dramatic conflicts can be foreseen, managed and averted. The authors, leading international experts on religious movements and violent behavior, focus on the four major episodes of cult violence during the last decade: the tragic conflagration that engulfed the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas; the deadly sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo in Tokyo; the murder-suicides by the Solar Temple in Switzerland and Canada; and the collective suicide by the members of Heaven's Gate. They explore the dynamics leading to these dramatic episodes in North America, Europe, and Asia, and offer insights into the general relationship between violence and religious cults in contemporary society. The authors conclude that these events usually involve some combination of internal and external dynamics through which a new religious movement and society become polarized.
  the waco siege book: The Waco Siege Charles River Editors, 2015-08-28 *Includes pictures *Includes accounts of the standoff by federal agents and members of the Branch Davidians *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading *Includes a table of contents If you are a Branch Davidian, Christ lives on a threadbare piece of land 10 miles east of here called Mount Carmel. He has dimples, claims a ninth-grade education, married his legal wife when she was 14, enjoys a beer now and then, plays a mean guitar, reportedly packs a 9mm Glock and keeps an arsenal of military assault rifles, and willingly admits that he is a sinner without equal. - The opening passage of The Sinful Messiah, published in the Waco Tribune-Herald on February 27, 1993 In February 1993, President Bill Clinton had only been in office for a few weeks when one of the most important events of his presidency began to take shape. Ironically, it would involve a group that the vast majority of Americans had never heard of and knew absolutely nothing about. The Branch Davidians were an obscure religious sect located in Texas, but members of the group led by David Koresh in Waco, Texas stockpiled enough weaponry to catch the attention of the federal government. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ultimately decided to serve arrest and search warrants at the compound for the possession of illegal weapons, even though they fully expected it would require a raid that could potentially turn fatal. The ATF hoped to use the element of surprise when it commenced the raid on February 28, but the Branch Davidians were ready for them, which led to an intense firefight between the two sides that resulted in the deaths of 4 ATF agents and a number of Branch Davidians. With that, the FBI got involved, and federal agents settled in for a standoff that would last about 50 days, trying everything from negotiating to using sleep deprivation tactics to coerce the Branch Davidians into ending the confrontation. Finally, on April 19, government agents breached the compound's walls and tried to use gas to flush the Branch Davidians out peacefully, but a series of fires broke out and quickly spread, killing the vast majority of the occupants inside, including many young children. Naturally, controversy spread over how the siege ended; for example, while most believe the Branch Davidians intentionally started the fires as part of a mass suicide, others insist it was the fault of the ATF. Debate also raged over whether the government could have and should have made different decisions to defuse the situation. No matter which side people came down on, the violent confrontation embarrassed government officials, and Dick Morris, an advisor of Clinton's, even claimed that Attorney General Janet Reno only kept her job after Waco by threatening to pin the blame on the president: [H]e went into a meeting with her, and he told me that she begged and pleaded, saying that . . . she didn't want to be fired because if she were fired it would look like he was firing her over Waco. And I knew that what that meant was that she would tell the truth about what happened in Waco. Now, to be fair, that's my supposition. I don't know what went on in Waco, but that was the cause. But I do know that she told him that if you fire me, I'm going to talk about Waco. In addition to influencing how the government approached potential future conflicts with other groups, Waco's most important legacy was that it enraged people who already had an anti-government bent. The most notable, of course, was Timothy McVeigh, who conducted what was at the time the deadliest terrorist attack in American history in Oklahoma City on the second anniversary of the final confrontation at Waco. The Waco Siege: The History of the Federal Government's Standoff with David Koresh and the Branch Davidians chronicles the controversial event and the influence it had.
  the waco siege book: Introduction to Waco siege Gilad James, PhD, The Waco siege was a lengthy stand-off between the FBI, ATF, and members of the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas. The Branch Davidians was a religious group led by David Koresh, an apocalyptic prophet who claimed to be the messiah. The FBI and ATF had been investigating the group for months, believing that they were illegally stockpiling weapons. On February 28, 1993, ATF officials arrived at the Branch Davidian compound to serve a search warrant and arrest Koresh. However, a gunfight broke out, leading to a 51-day siege that ended in tragedy. During the siege, the FBI and ATF made several unsuccessful attempts to end the stand-off peacefully. Negotiations with Koresh eventually broke down, and the FBI made the decision to end the siege by force, resulting in a violent fire that engulfed the compound. In total, 76 Branch Davidian members died, including Koresh and several children. The Waco siege became a controversial event in American history, with many questioning the FBI's tactics and the legality of the use of deadly force. The incident also highlighted the potential danger of religious cults and extremist groups.
  the waco siege book: Waco Standoff Scott Gillam, 2014-01-01 This title examines an important historic event--the standoff in Waco, Texas, between federal law enforcement agencies and Branch Davidian leader David Koresh and his followers living in the Mount Carmel Center. Easy-to-read, compelling text explores the history and religious beliefs of Koresh's group, the suspected criminal activity that led law enforcement to surround the compound, the events of the 51-day standoff, and its tragic end. Also discussed are the social and religious contexts that contributed to the tragedy. Features include a table of contents, glossary, selected bibliography, Web sites, source notes, and an index, plus a timeline and essential facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Essential Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
  the waco siege book: Behold a Pale Horse William Cooper, 2012-04-11 Bill Cooper, former United States Naval Intelligence Briefing Team member, reveals information that remains hidden from the public eye. This information has been kept in Top Secret government files since the 1940s. His audiences hear the truth unfold as he writes about the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the war on drugs, the Secret Government and UFOs. Bill is a lucid, rational and powerful speaker who intent is to inform and to empower his audience. Standing room only is normal. His presentation and information transcend partisan affiliations as he clearly addresses issues in a way that has a striking impact on listeners of all backgrounds and interests. He has spoken to many groups throughout the United States and has appeared regularly on many radio talk shows and on television. In 1988 Bill decided to talk due to events then taking place worldwide, events which he had seen plans for back in the early '70s. Since Bill has been talking, he has correctly predicted the lowering of the Iron Curtain, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the invasion of Panama. All Bill's predictions were on record well before the events occurred. Bill is not a psychic. His information comes from Top Secret documents that he read while with the Intelligence Briefing Team and from over 17 years of thorough research. Bill Cooper is the world's leading expert on UFOs. -- Billy Goodman, KVEG, Las Vegas. The onlt man in America who has all the pieces to the puzzle that has troubled so many for so long. -- Anthony Hilder, Radio Free America William Cooper may be one of America's greatest heros, and this story may be the biggest story in the history of the world. -- Mills Crenshaw, KTALK, Salt Lake City. Like it or not, everything is changing. The result will be the most wonderful experience in the history of man or the most horrible enslavement that you can imagine. Be active or abdicate, the future is in your hands. -- William Cooper, October 24, 1989.
  the waco siege book: The Allure of Immortality Lyn Millner, 2015-10-28 Wall Street Journal’s Five Best Books About Cults For five days in December 1908 the body of Cyrus Teed lay in a bathtub at a beach house just south of Fort Myers, Florida. His followers, the Koreshans, waited for signs that he was coming back to life. They watched hieroglyphics emerge on his skin and observed what looked like the formation of a third arm. They saw his belly fall and rise with breath, even though his swollen tongue sealed his mouth. As his corpse turned black, they declared that their leader was transforming into the Egyptian god Horus. Teed was a charismatic and controversial guru who at the age of 30 had been illuminated by an angel in his electro-alchemical laboratory. At the turn of the twentieth century, surrounded by the marvels of the Second Industrial Revolution, he proclaimed himself a prophet and led 200 people out of Chicago and into a new age. Or so he promised. The Koreshans settled in a mosquito-infested scrubland and set to building a communal utopia inside what they believed was a hollow earth--with humans living on the inside crust and the entire universe contained within. According to Teed’s socialist and millennialist teachings, if his people practiced celibacy and focused their love on him, he would return after death and they would all become immortal. Was Teed a visionary or villain, savior or two-bit charlatan? Why did his promises and his theory of cellular cosmogony persuade so many? In The Allure of Immortality, Lyn Millner weaves the many bizarre strands of Teed's life and those of his followers into a riveting story of angels, conmen, angry husbands, yellow journalism, and ultimately, hope.
  the waco siege book: Breaking the World Jerry Gordon, 2018-04-11 In 1993, David Koresh predicted the end of the world. What if he was right? Cyrus doesn't believe in David's predictions, and he's not interested in being part of a cult. But after the sudden death of his brother, his parents split up and his mom drags him to Waco, Texas against his will. At least he's not alone. His friends, Marshal and Rachel, have equally sad stories that end with them being dumped at the Branch Davidian Church. Together, they're the trinity of nonbelievers, atheist teens caught between a soon to be infamous cult leader, an erratic FBI, and an epidemic that may confirm the worst of the church's apocalyptic prophecies. With tanks surrounding the Branch Davidians and tear gas in the air, Cyrus and his friends know one thing for certain: They can't count on the adults to save them. In his debut novel, Jerry Gordon takes readers deep inside the longest standoff in law enforcement history for an apocalyptic thriller that challenges the news media's reporting of the event, the wisdom of militarizing domestic law enforcement, and the blurry line between religion and cult. The things we do to each other are more awful than any haunted house, ghoul, or demon could ever be, and in BREAKING THE WORLD, Jerry Gordon delivers an unflinching look at real-life horror. This novel will gnaw its way through your skull, burrow into your brain, and mess with you in the best way possible. It's a pitch-black tale of moral ambiguity, with sympathetic characters facing a home-grown apocalypse of twisted faith, fire, and madness. It's one of the strongest horror debuts in recent memory, which not only entertains but provides penetrating insight into a dark chapter of American history. This is horror done right. - Tim Waggoner, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of LIKE DEATH An absorbing blend of history and narrative fiction which elevates the Waco tragedy into an unforgettable exploration of society, faith, and truth. BREAKING THE WORLD by Jerry Gordon is a compelling novel that thunders, and challenges, from page one. The characters are genuine, the struggles throughout are powerful, balanced, and thoughtful. The novel's conclusion and Gordon's ideas within do what great fiction often hopes to - defies and then transcends what we thought we knew. - Geoffrey Girard, Bram Stoker-nominated author of PROJECT CAIN and TRUTHERS
  the waco siege book: The Read-Aloud Family Sarah Mackenzie, 2018 In The Read-Aloud Family, founder of the Read-Aloud Revival podcast Sarah Mackenzie champions the lifelong benefits of reading aloud to children and offers book lists, strategies, and tools parents can use to form deep and lasting connections with their kids.
  the waco siege book: Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas Jr. Edward S.G. Dennis, 2020-12-08 In Evaluation of the Handling of the Branch Davidian Stand-off in Waco, Texas, Jr. Edward S.G. Dennis delves into the complex interplay of law enforcement, media, and religious extremism that defined the 1993 siege at Waco. Through a meticulous analysis of operational strategies and public responses, Dennis employs a critical lens, combining narrative descriptive techniques with empirical research. The work is situated within the broader context of 1990s America, a period marked by mounting tensions between federal authority and fringe religious movements, making this study particularly salient for understanding contemporary issues surrounding religious freedom and government intervention. Edward S.G. Dennis, a scholar with a background in law enforcement and sociology, offers unique insights stemming from both academic rigor and lived experience. His scholarly pursuits reveal a profound interest in the dynamics of power, authority, and the societal impacts of conflict. This personal and professional blend informs his examination of the Waco events, positioning Dennis as an authoritative voice on the implications of the standoff, both historical and ongoing. This book is an essential read for scholars, policymakers, and general readers alike, seeking a comprehensive understanding of the Waco siege's intricacies. Dennis'Äôs astute dissection of policy failures and ethical dilemmas presents crucial lessons, calling for a re-examination of how society engages with radical ideologies and governmental responses.
  the waco siege book: Waco David Thibodeau, Leon Whiteson, 2018-01-02 The basis of the celebrated Paramount Network miniseries starring Michael Shannon and Taylor Kitsch -- Waco is the critically-acclaimed, first person account of the siege by Branch Davidian survivor, David Thibodeau. Twenty-five years ago, the FBI staged a deadly raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. Texas. David Thibodeau survived to tell the story. When he first met the man who called himself David Koresh, David Thibodeau was a drummer in a local a rock band. Though he had never been religious in the slightest, Thibodeau gradually became a follower and moved to the Branch Davidian compound in Waco. He remained there until April 19, 1993, when the compound was stormed and burned to the ground after a 51-day standoff with government authorities. In this compelling account -- now with an updated epilogue that revisits remaining survivors--Thibodeau explores why so many people came to believe that Koresh was divinely inspired. We meet the men, women, and children of Mt. Carmel. We get inside the day-to-day life of the community. We also understand Thibodeau's brutally honest assessment of the United States government's actions. The result is a memoir that reads like a thriller, with each page taking us closer to the eventual inferno.
Waco siege - Wikipedia
The Waco siege, also known as the Waco massacre, [5] [6] [7] [8] was the siege by US federal government and Texas state law enforcement officials of a compound belonging to the religious cult known as …

Waco, Texas - Wikipedia
Waco (/ ˈ w eɪ k oʊ / WAY-koh) is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. [8] It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a U.S. census …

Home City of Waco
5 days ago · Waco is the county seat of McLennan County. It offers major attractions, five historic homes, seven recreational venues, three colleges, five community centers, dozens of public parks, and nine …

21 Fun Things to Do in Waco, Texas - U.S. News Travel
Jul 26, 2024 · As the county seat and home to Baylor University, the city of Waco boasts high-quality museums, historic landmarks, and vibrant options for dining and nightlife at the fingertips of residents and...

THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Waco (2025) - Must-See Attractions
Things to Do in Waco, Texas: See Tripadvisor's 72,944 traveler reviews and photos of Waco tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in June. We have reviews of the best places to see in …

Waco siege - Wikipedia
The Waco siege, also known as the Waco massacre, [5] [6] [7] [8] was the siege by US federal government and Texas state law enforcement officials of a compound belonging to the …

Waco, Texas - Wikipedia
Waco (/ ˈ w eɪ k oʊ / WAY-koh) is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. [8] It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and …

Home City of Waco
5 days ago · Waco is the county seat of McLennan County. It offers major attractions, five historic homes, seven recreational venues, three colleges, five community centers, dozens of public …

21 Fun Things to Do in Waco, Texas - U.S. News Travel
Jul 26, 2024 · As the county seat and home to Baylor University, the city of Waco boasts high-quality museums, historic landmarks, and vibrant options for dining and nightlife at the …

THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Waco (2025) - Must-See Attractions
Things to Do in Waco, Texas: See Tripadvisor's 72,944 traveler reviews and photos of Waco tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in June. We have reviews of the …

Visit Waco, TX – A city to believe in
Waco is a city on the rise, and it has long offered enough to keep visitors busy for days. Mountain bike or hike in Cameron Park, explore Magnolia Market and other downtown boutiques, …

Waco Mammoth National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)
Apr 13, 2012 · Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil …

23 BEST Things To Do In Waco
Feb 20, 2025 · Although it used to be known as a college town, there are now are plenty of things to do in Waco, TX! It has recently grown into quite the tourist destination (thank you, Chip and …

Visiting Waco City of Waco - Waco, Texas
Whether you drive, fly, or walk to Waco, you're guaranteed a fun visit in the heartland of Texas. Situated on the I-35 corridor between Dallas and Austin, Waco's the place to stop for scores of …

City of Waco Attractions - Waco, Texas
Waco offers enough to keep visitors busy for days! Mountain bike or hike in Cameron Park, explore downtown, and wonderful local shops and restaurants. Stroll through our cultural and …