It is ridiculous to claim that the Branch Davidians had
no peaceful recourse - they rejected peaceful means when they shot at
Federal agents, and paid the price.
Solon, bless his heart, answered this in part. But consider a few facts.
1. Federal agents had Koresh and the compound under surveillance for many months before the siege. They had plenty of information about his weaponry. In fact, federal agents, who were undercover but were suspected by the Davidians of being agents, went in and used the Davidian shooting range with Koresh. They had every opportunity to simply arrest him almost any time they wanted to. No assault was necessary. In fact, I understood that he had said he would show up at the local police station any time they wanted to talk with him. He had good relations with the local law enforcement.
2. If they didn't want to arrest him in the compound because of fear of something going wrong, he frequently went into town and walked around alone, unarmed and without any bodyguard. There was more than ample opportunity to arrest him peacefully if that was their goal.
Exactly who rejected peaceful means of resolving the issues?
The initial incursion by ATF agents was an illegal, armed attack on the compound. They did not serve a search warrant. They did not knock and request entry, even though their agents were often invited to come over, and apparently felt no fear at being in the compound. They simply attacked. Under Texas law, the Davidians had the legal right to resist.
Who created this whole situation?
And for what purposes? (Hint: ATF budget time coming up, big bust helpful in getting more money. As they way, when in doubt, follow the money. The money here leads straight to the ATF budget.)
Your position must, then, be this: when you are illegally attacked by armed federal agents, you have the duty to wait peacefully for them to kill you. You are not allowed to defend yourself. Diablo and many others were wrong to do anything that even looked like resistance; they deserved to die, like all the children in Waco deserved to die.
Guess you and I differ on this, too. |
