Documentary Reveals Truth About Waco
An interesting quote appeared in the Palestine Herald-Press not too long ago when syndicated columnist Richard Reeves stated, "[I]f I had to say right now what the Clinton presidency will be remembered for, it would be ‘Waco.’ Most of us ignore or deny it now — it is too stupid, too painful and still incredible — but he was commander in chief in the month of April in 1993 when the U.S. government attacked its own citizens for no good reason."
If there is any doubt that this rather strong statement has any substance behind it, one only need to obtain a copy of Waco: The Rules of Engagement. This powerful, two and one-half hour documentary — now available on video — premiered at Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival in January, and played to packed, enthusiastic audiences in select theaters across the country.
The film features video and audio footage previously unseen and unheard by the public, together with video coverage of congressional hearings, and commentary by medical authorities, Texas Rangers, photographers, arson investigators, and survivors of the Branch Davidian debacle.
One of the films most disturbing segments — which firmly establishes Reeves’ comment about the government attacking its own citizens as fact, not unfounded speculation — shows infra-red footage taken by an FBI plane flying above the Davidian compound. The photography, which registers heat, not light, clearly shows gunfire coming from the FBI. Thus the government's insistent claims that "not a single bullet was ever fired" by the FBI during the entire siege are shown to be lies. The video also makes a compelling case that it was actions of the FBI — not the Davidians — that caused the fatal fire.
Another disturbing aspect brought out by Waco is the question as to why CS gas (in this case, CS powder mixed with methylene chloride, or paint remover) was used in the first place. Indeed, the concentrations the Davidians — including many elderly people, women, and small children — were subjected to were many times higher than would normally be used by police or military units. And with all the well-trained FBI agents on the scene, surely someone knew that that the Davidian babies could not be fitted with gas masks. It is, perhaps, the bitterest irony of all that these children — subjected to lethal amounts of CS gas by the FBI — were the same children repeatedly used as an excuse by the government for attacking their home in the first place!
Yes, Waco: The Rules of Engagement is a movie that everyone should see. And, if there are still any doubts remaining as to the quality of the film, rest assured that Siskel and Ebert gave it "two thumbs up;" the San Francisco Chronicle called Waco "one of the most disturbing films you'll ever see," "a powerful indictment of bureaucrats' ineptitude, disregard for human life, disrespect for the constitution and flagrant dishonesty;" and the New York Times called the film, "...a doozy of an investigative esposé!"
— Jay Banks
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