Amazon.com: What happened at the Branch Davidian compound in Mt. Carmel, Texas, in 1993? Why did 4 federal agents and 86 civilians lose their lives? The powerful documentary Waco: The Rules of Engagement asks these and many other difficult questions, and the answers are deeply disturbing, even for the most cynical. Using interviews, news footage, testimony before Congress, and infrared photographic analysis, the film relentlessly chips away at the government's story that David Koresh and his followers were a dangerous cult involved in strange sex and drug practices who were preparing to slaughter their neighbors and that they immolated themselves à la Jonestown, rather than give themselves up peacefully. Nearly every element of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' and the FBI's cover-up is exposed as fraudulent and the viewer is left wondering when, if ever, justice will finally be served. Warning: There are a few minutes of extremely graphic footage of the burnt bodies of the Davidians; though this is sickening, it seems less so than the tragic mistakes made by law enforcement officials. --Rob Lightner
Very, Very Disturbing Please allow me to share my frank reaction and some random thoughts after viewing this film.
The Waco/Branch Davidian matter has already became old news. I went into a viewing of this with entertainment in mind, expecting a revelation on the order of "there are Martian corpses at Area 51", or "9-11 was planned by George W Bush". What I came away with is the disgusting feeling that the federal government has committed a big crime, covered it up, and corporate media are a willing accomplice. BTW - the "Davidian" aspect of this group's name takes root in the King David of the Old Testament, NOT in personality David Koresh.
I have heretofore always believed, as I had been taught via TV, that the Branch Davidians were an anti-government, religious cultic sect, and that David Koresh was insane and held himself out as their "messiah" and/or the reincarnation of the Biblical Jesus.
What I found in this film was that the Branch Davidians were a group of Christian Bible-scholars - of mixed race, gender, age, marital staus - that possessed an above average dedication to wringing truth from the scriptures, and courage to NOT be lead by a mainstream religion ring through their nose. What I saw in the film strongly indicates that this was NOT a Jim Jones Guyana situation (which did indeed have all the attributes of being a genuine wacky cult). I disagree with some of Koresh's interpretations, but that is irrelavant.
If I may speak plainly: When the Branch Davidians resisted government interference in the practice of their non-mainstream but definitely Biblical Christian religion . . . then U.S. government law enforcement agencies, headed by Clinton's Attorney General Janet Reno, so as not to lose face, recklessly murdered eighty-plus innocent men, women and children (I can't decide if it was accidental or not). And then covered it up with the finesse of a bulldozer.
This film production could have been more polished of course, but it was certainly better than the minmum necessary to get the story across. I'm glad somebody did it. The innocents who were slaughtered deserved to be de-villanized. By the end of the video, I was close to tears.
THAT is what I saw in the film. Watch it yourself and see what you think.
Waco - Rogue Government Kills Religious Apocalyptists. _Waco - The Rules of Engagement_ (1997) is a documentary directed by William Gazecki about the conflict that took place in 1993 between the Branch Davidians, a splinter group of religious apocalyptists, and the ATF and FBI in Waco, Texas. This particular film is the 136 min. version of the documentary, which has been circulating for quite some time at various lengths. This documentary attempts to reveal the misdeeds and mishaps of the federal government in their raid of the Branch Davidian compound. The film probes into the actions of government officers and the manner in which they planned their raid, attempting to show that the government acted unlawfully and wrongly and then tried to cover up what they had done. Unfortunately, the raid on the compound resulted in horrendous tragedy when after a 51 day stand-off the compound was burned to the ground on April 19, 1993, killing 79 people including 21 children and the leader of the Branch Davidians, David Koresh. This film alleges that the government engaged in serious wrong-doing, casts doubt on many of the allegations against Koresh, and shows how despite claims by the government that the FBI did not fire a single shot on the compound or set the fire which burned it to the ground that these claims cannot be supported by the evidence. As such, this film reveals the federal government at its absolute worst, engaged in unlawful activity against civilians in a ruthless pursuit of revenge. The film also shows the hatred of the government for apocalyptic sects and the arrogance of government officials and congressmen who did everything in their power to cover over what really occurred at Waco.
David Koresh, whose real name was Vernon Howell, was an apocalyptic prophet and leader of the Branch Davidians, a splinter group of the Seventh-Day Adventists. Together with a diverse group of his followers, he set up a compound called the Mount Carmel Center in Waco, Texas. Two of the main allegations against Koresh are that he was stockpiling illegal weapons and that he was guilty of statutory rape. In the film, both of these allegations will be challenged; however, even if one accepts both of these allegations as correct this still does not justify the government's actions against him. On February 28, 1993, the ATF attempted to execute a search warrant on the Branch Davidian compound; however, an exchange of gunfire occurred and four agents were killed and others wounded. Following this, the FBI took over and was involved in a 51 day stand-off with the Branch Davidians, which culminated in tragedy when the compound was burnt to the ground. The film makes several allegations against the federal government regarding wrong-doing during this procedure. First, it is claimed that the ATF turned down an invitation by Koresh to inspect the compound made months before, but rather decided to raid the compound themselves. Second, it is claimed that the Branch Davidians did not actually fire first. This is shown by the fact that the door on which the firing took place had bullet holes going inwards but few going outwards. Other allegations against the government involve the doings of the FBI who took over later. The FBI claims that they did not fire a single shot; however, in tapes shown before the congressional committee gunfire can clearly be seen. In addition, in a particularly callous move considering the fact that there were innocent children inside the compound, CS gas was injected into the building which would have very harmful effects upon breathing individuals inside. Further, the CS gas could have ignited which caused the fire that burnt the compound to the ground, contrary to the claims made by the government that the Branch Davidians themselves burned the compound to the ground. Other questionable activities by the government include the use of psychological warfare, playing loud music, and flooding the building with light to provoke Koresh and his followers. If the government truly believed Koresh to be an unstable individual to begin with, then why would they engage in such tactics against him which could only serve to drive him further into irrationality? Such questions as these remain unanswered by the government, and in repeated and arrogant denials and dismissals federal officials, congressmen, and Janet Reno (head of the FBI at the time) have denied any wrongdoing on their part. Nevertheless, with such questions unanswered and such gaping holes in the official account, it becomes fairly obvious that the actions of the government were wrongful. It has been suggested by some that the actions of the FBI may have been prompted by revenge for what occurred with the ATF. Such desire for revenge allowed federal officials to ignore what would become of 21 innocent children. As one individual in the film makes the case, the government should protect children even if they have bad parents (in fact particularly if they have bad parents and even from their bad parents). But, in this case the government chose to torture children to get back at bad parents leading to their ultimate deaths. Such is the ultimate tragedy of the events which took place at Waco.
This film offers an excellent and important documentary of government wrong-doing. It should be a wake up call to all American citizens of the dangers of government. When the government turns against its own citizens, this is itself the most pernicious evil which can beset a nation. Such was the case at Waco in 1993.
No Bull This documentary feeds you no bull. No hype. Simply the truth. While the "official" line is full of holes...this documentary gives us a clear picture of what happened at Waco... From the missing tapes, to the missing front door of the compound, this video reveals to you things that the ATF doesn't want you to know!!
Thought-provoking documentary I'd seen this movie before, but wanted it on DVD. It's one of those interesting documentaries that make you wonder what really happened. I took most of their "facts" with a grain of salt. Though I think the movie raises enough questions to make you want to check into it further. The filmed government hearings alone are enough to make you want to know more. So it's worth watching, just to get somebody else's view of what happened.
Tendentious but unforgettable First, the flaws. The (very dramatic)FLIR section--purporting to show that the Davidian compound was fired upon by the government's forces during the catastrophic fire--has been shown to be meritless. Interviews and testimony have been edited so as in some cases to misrepresent the opinions of those shown and quoted. The dishonesty, incompetence, and venality of the US government and its agencies in this ghastly, sickening tragedy are glaring enough that there's no need to distort the truth in order to get the point across.
Nonetheless, what happened to the Davidians was so horrible, and this film is so powerfully made, that it will haunt you.
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