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Original poster

Did anyone see that documentary on the Waco seige last night?

18 replies

Pennies · 02/02/2007 14:00

Unbelieveable. David Koresh (not sure how to spell it) had them eating out of his hand. So so sad and the FBI just made such a mess of it all. Horrible situation.

OP posts:
Whimsy · 02/02/2007 14:03

I watched it, those poor children

Agree about the FBI

MamaGrr · 02/02/2007 14:03

I was flicking on and off it during ER adverts - it WAS awful, all those children dying, very upsetting

Original poster
Pennies · 02/02/2007 14:06

I really wanted to know what the survivors thought about it now and with the exception of the lady who still lives there and is still a Branch Davidian they didn't explore that at all. I was particularly curious about the guy who lost his 18 year old daughter in the fire.

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DeputyMacDawg · 02/02/2007 14:07

DAMMIT !!
Forgot it was on

I've seen a few programmes about it, and the FBI mishandled it so badly

roseylea · 02/02/2007 14:15

I saw quite a bit of it. It was so .

Guns - why? (on both sides)?

I can see that the Branc hDavidians were convinced that they were battling the forces of darkness (the FBI) and fulfilling prophecy and bringing on the end of the world and all that - so they were erady to start firing - but why did the FBI retaliate so quickly?

It also makes me wonder how little understanding of this group the outside world had prior to the event - in the sense that their theology affected their response (because of what they believed, they were ready to fight etc) - but did the FBI understand just how entrenched those beliefs were and act according to intelligence or just fire back?

Surely in these days of religious extremism in many parts of the world it is vital that we understand the links between belief and behaviour and work towards peace rather than gunfire?

Original poster
Pennies · 02/02/2007 14:20

Good post roseylea and I'm amazed they didn't glean the depth of their commitment from talking to those women who surrendered.

I think that the upshot is that if ou even wave a gun at an FBI officer you're for it. I do agree tho that guns and devout Christianity seem an unconventional mix that was not explained very well at al.

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roseylea · 02/02/2007 14:22

Actually I've just realised that of course this was pre-9/11 which I hope was enough of a wake-up call for govrenments to take religious extremists seriously in terms of intelligence-gathering.

I remember reading a Time magazine in May 2000 about the upsurge in Islamic militancy - the whole mad was devoted to the subject - and thinking 'blimey', but not much else. It's only when it does get to the point of bloodshed that the threat is taken seriously. Sorry, a bit off the subject!

roseylea · 02/02/2007 14:25

Pennies, guns and evout traditional christianity don't mix, but this group had a very strong emphasis on the coming of the end of the world, and of the great battle between good and evil - so that's why they saw it an intrinsic part of their belief system to defend and fight for God. Which is why David Koresh spoued theology down the phone to the FBI negotiator - he as explaining why they were doing what they were doing, why he felt totally justified in pulling a trigger. I'm not sure if the FBI man really saw how inseperable the theology and the actions were.

roseylea · 02/02/2007 14:26

devout, not evout!

Original poster
Pennies · 02/02/2007 14:26

I see your train of thought bu this wasn't terrorism though. From what I could see the FBI were more afriad of suicide and were looking at previous examples of cultish religous extremism, particualrly that one were 600 people topped themselves for their cult. If anything 9/11 will only strengthen any future uses of force to quell similar situations as they won't be so worried about the loss of life to the perpetrators for fear of them hurting the wider public.

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roseylea · 02/02/2007 14:33

Yes, I do see what you mean. Hence the poor Brazilian man on the underground a while ago shot dead by police.

Original poster
Pennies · 02/02/2007 14:34

Exactly. And to be honest I'm not sure which one I'm more comfortable with...

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roseylea · 02/02/2007 14:55

I don't think it's possible to be comfortable with any form of relgious zealotry, unless you are in that religion itself. It does drive some bizarre behaviour, as it seen as being more important than life or death. Government agencies have to do whatever they deem fit as damage limitation, I guess.

DeputyMacDawg · 02/02/2007 15:20

There are some interesting points made here

WestCountryLass · 05/02/2007 21:19

It is repeated tonight on More 4 (channel 13 on Freeview) at 9pm.

brandy7 · 05/02/2007 21:20

that was horrific, those poor poor people,especially the kids, and you could hear them screaming as the flames got closer

meanscottishbint · 05/02/2007 21:40

yes I saw the last half of it. What year was it? I have been trying to remember.... actually could look it up on internet!!

meanscottishbint · 05/02/2007 21:51

1993 - what a mess. Do the davidians still exist?

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