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Waco - The Rules of Engagement

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Waco: The Rules of Engagement should be required viewing by all seniors in every public high school in the land.

This documentary may be the single most shocking evidence of the actual impact of a rougue government, bent on murdering it's own citizens. Using an impressive combination of video from the Waco site, congressional hearings, night vision, news camera film clips and actual testimony, this video leaves no doubt that the U.S. Government, under Janet Reno and William Jefferson Clinton murdered innocent civilians. One of the hidden stars in this movie is the arrogant, obnoxious, and totally disrepectful Charles Schummer, then a congressman. Of special interest is the infra-red film of the night sieges by the BATF and FBI where any compound resident attempting to stray outside of the buildings is summarily executed by agents equipped with night vision. The IR film conclusively shows this outright murder while the agents are shown recounting one falsehood after another. Lying, subterfuge, confusion, murder, violence against innocent citizens, all condoned by the Attorney General of the United States. It almost sounds like a made for TV movie that is too far-fetched to be true. Sadly, it is all documented, believable, and excessively frightening.

As one who has long been dubious of the morals and motivations of our elected leaders (regardless of party) and - even more so -the agencies (ATF, CIA, FBI, etc.) which supposedly answer to them, I was none too surprised by the revelations of the riveting 1997 documentary/expose, "Waco, The Rules of Engagement". Those revelations, in a nutshell, are as follows: that the ATF and FBI under the leadership of Janet Reno and the Clinton Administration murdered some 86 men, women and children after a 51 day siege. Now, that these allegations do not surprise me may say more about me than it does about the state of political reality in this country - I am willing to concede that - but this is a powerful piece of film making which goes a long way toward confirming any suspicions of corruption and "Big Brotherism" myself and like minded people may have entertained.

I know nothing about the filmmakers - their political leanings, religious beliefs and favorite colors are a mystery to me - but it seems a fair bet they lean to the left. I make this observation because this film is thus far my only source of information regarding the Waco tragedy and I have no idea how objective it is or is not. It seems that there is a definite bias in favor of the Branch Davidians but, in light of the more than compelling evidence presented here against the ATF/FBI, the objectivity of the filmmakers almost seems a moot point. One of the more powerful pieces of this evidence is the testimony from the inventor of the FLIR infrared filming technology and the report of an independent lab, both stating that the film shot from an airplane during the raid of April 19, 1993 indicates automatic gunfire directed against the burning Branch Davidian "compound" - contrary to the FBI claim that their personnel fired no shots.

Much contested also was the issue of who fired the first shots at the beginning of this whole sorry situation - the ATF or the Branch Davidians? This also is rendered a moot point, for me at least, by the fact that the government chose to issue a supposed search warrant (for illegal weapons) to David Koresh via a veritable army of ATF personnel in full combat gear. I dont claim to be familiar with police procedure, much less the arcane workings of agencies like the ATF, but this seems to me like a show of force that is meant to be intimidating and confrontational. It seems perfectly clear that the authorities had no intention of resolving their issues with David Koresh (and these are issues that touch all of us profoundly  freedom of religion and the right to bear arms, for instance) in a peaceful manner.

I have no sympathy with the teachings and lifestyle of the Branch Davidians. They may have broken some laws (and let us please consider that just because legislation is passed does not mean it is right) regarding weapons and, perhaps, underage sex. Whatever they did or did not do, the treatment they received at the hands of the FBI and ATF was inexcusable, shameful, and inhumane.

Did the United States government willfully murder its own citizens with not even a semblance of due process in Waco in 1993? Until I find more compelling evidence to the contrary, I must, unfortunately, say yes. Please watch this film and decide for yourself.

Please allow me to share my frank reaction and some random thoughts after viewing this film.

The Waco/Branch Davidian matter has already became old news. I went into a viewing of this with entertainment in mind, expecting a revelation on the order of "there are Martian corpses at Area 51", or "9-11 was planned by George W Bush". What I came away with is the disgusting feeling that the federal government has committed a big crime, covered it up, and corporate media are a willing accomplice. BTW - the "Davidian" aspect of this group's name takes root in the King David of the Old Testament, NOT in personality David Koresh.

I have heretofore always believed, as I had been taught via TV, that the Branch Davidians were an anti-government, religious cultic sect, and that David Koresh was insane and held himself out as their "messiah" and/or the reincarnation of the Biblical Jesus.

What I found in this film was that the Branch Davidians were a group of Christian Bible-scholars - of mixed race, gender, age, marital staus - that possessed an above average dedication to wringing truth from the scriptures, and courage to NOT be lead by a mainstream religion ring through their nose. What I saw in the film strongly indicates that this was NOT a Jim Jones Guyana situation (which did indeed have all the attributes of being a genuine wacky cult). I disagree with some of Koresh's interpretations, but that is irrelavant.

If I may speak plainly: When the Branch Davidians resisted government interference in the practice of their non-mainstream but definitely Biblical Christian religion . . . then U.S. government law enforcement agencies, headed by Clinton's Attorney General Janet Reno, so as not to lose face, recklessly murdered eighty-plus innocent men, women and children (I can't decide if it was accidental or not). And then covered it up with the finesse of a bulldozer.

This film production could have been more polished of course, but it was certainly better than the minmum necessary to get the story across. I'm glad somebody did it. The innocents who were slaughtered deserved to be de-villanized. By the end of the video, I was close to tears.

THAT is what I saw in the film. Watch it yourself and see what you think.

This movie shook me to the core. Never before have I had my assumptions and prejudices thrown back in my face with such force. While there may have been some bias in the way the material is presented, there didn't seem to be. I felt like I was being given the facts and then allowed to process them as I saw fit. The end result in my case is a complete overhaul of my long-held beliefs about "freedom" in America.

When you think of Waco, you probably think, "that's where all the wackos live..." right? Freaks and weirdos. Why, it's worse than California! When you think of David Koresh and the Branch Davidians you probably think, "head nutjob who brainwashed a group of religious fanatics to kill themselves..." Am I right? I admit I thought the same thing. Considering the press coverage we were being fed, is it any wonder? I remember one of the major networks was busy creating a Waco movie before the standoff even ended.

Listen to the tapes of the negotiations between the FBI and the compound members. Watch the tapes and see the footage from numerous sources showing how highly flammable and combustible CS gas was injected into the compound. And most damning of all, watch the FLIR tapes that show FBI agents firing automatic weapons on the compound as the gas was set ablaze.

Opinions may vary, and that's the purpose of intelligent debate, but it's the opinion of this viewer that Waco was not an incident, but a massacre -- a deliberate and premeditated assassination performed by our government against our own people. Even more disturbing is how our elected officials, after having viewed the same footage in congressional hearings, moved swiftly to dismiss any possibility that the FBI acted in error.

Think I'm exaggerating or overreacting? Then you need to see this film.

The Davidians had unusual religious views, but I thought that you were allowed to have unusual religious views in this country. In fact, wasn't this country *founded* by people who who were searching for a safe place to practice their unusual religious views?

Even granting all the main objections--they were stockpiling weapons, waiting for an armageddon, would not surrender to authorities--how can it ever, ever be right to plow men, women, and children under tanks? They had no trial; they were convicted of no crimes. They were just murdered. Shame on those officials--who are filmed walking around John-Wayne style, obviously looking for a fight--who are still today free men, not charged with any crimes.

If this movie doesn't make you sit up and take notice that your government--or parts of it, at least--are running amok, nothing will.

Waco: The Rules of Engagement is without a doubt the scariest film I have ever seen. What disturbed me most about this true story is that before I saw this film, I too was one of the millions who swallowed the Government's sugar coated account of what happened in Waco. The Government portrayed Koresh as a gun-runner, child molester and cult leader. While there may have been some truth to the child molestation charges, the ATF Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) had absolutely no jurisdiction to arrest, engage or even serve a search warrant to Koresh on those charges. The ATF comes off as ultra-corrupt publicity hounds who tried to use the Branch Davidians to further justify their continued funding and existance. I mean, a high ranking ATF official contacted 2 different news stations and "alerted" them that "something big" may happen around Waco in the next two days. Under examination by Congress when asked if the sole reason for this action was to garner publicity for the ATF, the woman answers UNDER OATH "No, that was in no way the intention". The Branch Davidians had no choice but to defend themselves from the onslaught of ATF agents who randomly began firing on their compound. The result of 4 dead ATF agents set the wheels in motion for the biggest Government cover-up since the Watergate scandal. The horrifying images of the dead, charred women and children are some of the most disturbing pictures I have ever viewed. Bodies twisted, bones snapped from the CS gas that the FBI shot into the compound basically into the lap of the women and children who were hiding in the concrete kitchen. Yet, the FBI and ATF insist that the Branch Davidians committed mass suicide by starting fire to the compound. It is clearly documented that the combination of combustible chemicals shot into the compound along with the destruction of the structure by tanks caused fireballs to engulf the compound within seconds killing almost everyone inside. **WE NEED MORE FILMS LIKE WACO: THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT TO OPEN PEOPLES EYES AS TO HOW FAR REACHING THE CORRUPTION WITHIN OUR GOVERNMENT REACHES. I APPLAUDE THE MAKERS OF THIS FILM FOR HAVING THE GUTS TO TELL THE TRUTH...FOR THE TRUTH SHALL SET US ALL FREE.** This was no less than mass murder perpitrated by the American Government upon it's own citizens. If this is the REAL AMERICA, then I am ashamed to be an American. Highest Recommendation.

There are enough rave comments about this raveworthy film that I don't need to add my own adulation, I just want to make a side comment. I'm quite surprised that Al D'Amato didn't show excerpts from then-Rep. Charles Schumer's performance at the Waco hearings during his Senate race in 1998. Schumer is such an arrogant putzhead (to use D'Amato's own turn of expression) and it comes through so clearly here that, had D'Amato aired some of this footage, he might still be a Senator.

"Waco: The Rules Of Engagement" is an important, powerful documentary that all Americans should see. I would compare it to Oliver Stone's masterpiece, "JFK." This is a movie that dissects corruption within our structure of law, it also makes a big impact on our rights and our freedom to practice those rights. "Waco: The Rules Of Engagement" is also full of shocking evidence that makes you look at the situation in a whole new different light. This is an extremely haunting, effective, disturbing, and convincing piece of film. I haven't seen a better documentary all year. "Waco: The Rules Of Engagement" should be seen by all Americans interested in their rights.

The incredible amount of video footage taken at the time of the Waco massacre puts the lie to the government's version.

One of the last visions you are left with is of three young children smiling at a videocamera before they are brutally and callously gassed and burnt to death by officials of the US government.

The Bureau of Tobacco and Firearms led an unwarranted, unjustified and prejudicial assault on a bunch of people who may have thought differently and held divergent beliefs but essentially held the right to do so.

The Bureau failed to complete its murderous mission and the ever helpful FBI stepped in with tanks, guns and a cyanide based gas which they proceeded to ignite.

There was no suicide. No child abuse. No illegal firearms. Numerous witnesses, experts and the decision of the courts succinctly refute the claims of the authorities.

The footage is horrific and painful. But more revolting and compelling is the possibility that the Bureau was trying to drum up support for its Budget hearings.

This seems to be supported by footage of the Bureau's fully manned media centre contrasting starkly with a reported lack of communications with Koresh.

You may never feel the same about 911 again when you have heard the terrified voices of those inside a beseiged building as they beg for help and ask for their assailants to be called off...

"We have women and children in here"

The footage has echoes of Tiananmen square in its boys-toys tanks and of the assault on Iraq with its pretty, murderous helicopters.

However, the most vivid and current comparison is with the Columbine tragedy. Both incidents involved innocent victims and men in black with guns and an unassailable belief in their right to kill whoever they "chose"