Waco Standoff

THE WACO STANDOFF edited by Nick Treanor 2003 Greenhaven Press This book is basically an anthology of excerpts from documents related to the tragedy that took place in Waco, TX in 1993. The book is laid out in a way that is supposed to give you "both" sides of the story, so for example you have commentary by Attorney General Janet Reno saying that the use of CS gas was justified, then you have a section of Alan Stone's report to the Deputy Attorney General stating that the FBI should not have used the CS gas. You will also notice that in ATF Special Agent's affadavit that the no sexual abuse was found but it is still alluded to in order to smear the Davidians. You will read statements from the Justice Department, local sheriff Jack Harwell, President Bill Clinton and siege survivor David Thibodeau as well as a part of the 911 call made from Mt. Carmel pleading for a cease fire. There are also some writings from authors critical of the government's role in both the ATF and FBI raids. This book would be good for high schoolers or anyone trying to understand why what happened to the Branch Davidians is not just a "right wing" issue. I personally disagree with the Branch Davidians interpretation of Christianity but nobody deserves to die the way they did. The best documentary on the Waco tragedy is still 'WACO: THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT'.