The author was on Fresh Air today plugging his book about the 1993 ATF assault on the Branch Davidian Compound. Here is the link:
The author (whose analysis I disagree with somewhat) does proffer some new perspectives into the siege I hadn't considered before. For one thing, he points out that the BD's were figuring this was going to be the "the end" so when most survived the initial assault, they were left with more questions than answers. I had never considered what a member of a suicide cult would do if, when the end of times battle was engaged, they survived.
While I don't think there is any charitable way to shade (as the author does) the BDs as being righteous--when the feds say, "put down your weapons, come out with your hands up" you do it--the author is right that there should have never been a siege, never been this standoff, and never been this type of assault. The ATF/FBI/US Marshalls could have arrested Koresh at any point in the days, weeks, and months leading up to the assault. This wasn't Bin Laden...he went to Wal*Mart like 4 days before the siege started.
Anyway, if you're interested in what the author has to say about the tragic assault that should have never taken place...give it a listen. Just one note, after this weekend, the episode will likely go behind a paywall so if you want to listen...do it soon.
The author (whose analysis I disagree with somewhat) does proffer some new perspectives into the siege I hadn't considered before. For one thing, he points out that the BD's were figuring this was going to be the "the end" so when most survived the initial assault, they were left with more questions than answers. I had never considered what a member of a suicide cult would do if, when the end of times battle was engaged, they survived.
While I don't think there is any charitable way to shade (as the author does) the BDs as being righteous--when the feds say, "put down your weapons, come out with your hands up" you do it--the author is right that there should have never been a siege, never been this standoff, and never been this type of assault. The ATF/FBI/US Marshalls could have arrested Koresh at any point in the days, weeks, and months leading up to the assault. This wasn't Bin Laden...he went to Wal*Mart like 4 days before the siege started.
Anyway, if you're interested in what the author has to say about the tragic assault that should have never taken place...give it a listen. Just one note, after this weekend, the episode will likely go behind a paywall so if you want to listen...do it soon.
