-Caveat Lector- >From http://fps1999.webjump.com/ - VOLUME 1 | SEPTEMBER 7, 1999 | NUMBER 21 SPECIAL OPS INVOLVED IN WACO OPERATION PRIOR TO FATAL BATF RAID By. John Culbertson In the continuing investigation into recent revelations surrounding the tragic events at Waco, FRONTLINE has obtained information that clearly shows the United States Army Special Operations Command had a long and highly involved role in the Federal law Enforcement actions against the Branch Davidians near Waco, Texas. Documents obtained by FRONTLINE show involvement of the US Military as early as December 17, 1992 in the planning of the raid on the Branch Davidian compound. An ODA, or Operational Detachment Alpha or in popular parlance a hand picked "A" team known as ODA 381 from the United States Army Special Operations Command located at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina received orders to proceed to Texas in order to participate in training BATF agents at Ft. Hood at the MOUT or Military Operations in Urban Terrain site. The ODA is not a normal component of Joint Task Force Six and planning documents indicate that USASOC had concerns regarding the legality of the proposed mission. The order known as "FRAGO "E" to OPORDER JT002-93 is dated February 14, 1993. "FRAGO" is a term that stands for Fragmentary Order. The US military defines FRAGO as "A FRAGO provides brief, specific, and timely instructions without loss of clarity, FRAGOs contain changes or information of immediate concern. These orders may be written or oral. The FRAGO will be issued to change an order that has already been issued." FRAGO "E" was issued to the detachment of at least 8 known soldiers who were operating under an OPORDER or Operational Order that had been issued in December of 1992. The order does not instruct the detachment members to take part in the assault on the Davidian Compound and it cautions the members of the detachment to follow the Rules of Engagement with respect to interfacing with BATF agents with extreme care. However a line on page one provides ample illustration as to the very different missions of the US Military and US Law Enforcement. Under item 1. "Situation" is line "a." which reads: "Enemy Forces: SEE THREAT ASSESSMENT, ANNEX A." "Enemy Forces" is the key term here, it is what the military is all about. In the simplest of terms an army goes out to face the enemy and kill or be killed, that is war. It is dangerous, it is the ultimate in many ways and in the outcome people die. Law enforcement however is a much more complex task, there is no room in our system for "Enemy Forces", the Constitution does not protect the rights of the enemy, it protects the rights of the accused or in modern day terminology the suspect. When a law enforcement agent goes out to arrest a suspect he may well be on the receiving end of treatment from someone who wants to be his or her enemy, but in spite of what the suspect wants to dish out, in the eyes of the law he is still a suspect. This is what makes the job of law enforcement tough, and yet so very important to our way of life. When you cross the line, people die. The United States Army Special Operations Command was very sensitive to this mission and documents show many concerns were raised about the involvement of USASOC in the operation. A hand written fourth page of the FRAGO "E" cautions detachment members not to get on camera as BATF had apparently arranged for a film crew to record the mission. The order instructs the detachment members to "make sure this is up front with film crew, not ATF." Members are also instructed to "support ATF anyway you can within your ROE (Rules OF Engagement) and sustainment capabilities. According to statements of detachment members and reports filed with USASOC the ODA arrived at Ft. Hood on February 22, 1993 and left in two parties on February 27, 1993 and February 28, 1993. The order called for the ODA to EXFIL or exit via UH60-L Blackhawk helicopters on February 27, 1993. Six members of the eight man detachment left in helicopters on February 27, 1993 according to reports filed with USASOC. Four members then left in two rental vans on February 28, 1993 according to the mission commanders report, but this raises questions as to the actual events and mission. According to the FRAGO "E" order ODA 381 was composed of eight persons. Reports filed after the mission indicate that ten persons were involved with ODA 381. It is known from reports that the Company Commander from Ft. Bragg arrived via commercial airline on February 24, 1993 but it is not clear if he was a passenger on one of the Blackhawks, he does not indicate whether this is so in his report. There has been speculation that the mission requirements changed midstream and that some members of the ODA also known as MTT might have been present at the initial raid n the Branch Davidian complex. USASOC had expressed reservations about the type of mission that was being planned and the possible legal and liability issues that such a mission posed. A fax cover sheet for a draft message to be sent to Joint Task Force Six regarding these issues a handwritten note expressed concerns and to "reinforce SOF resistance to potential "CHEATING" which seems to recur @ JTF-6." It is clear from the documents that FRONTLINE has examined so far that the Branch Davidian mission was controversial at best within USASOC. FRAGO "E" was the result of continual lobbying and mission redefinition on the part of BATF Headquarters and Joint Task Force Six. In an after action report detailing Special Operations Forces Involvement in the mission (JT002-93) the BATF had asked for a much larger involvement of US Military forces including SOT/CQB (Special Operations Tactics/Close Quarter Battle) training, Bradley fighting vehicles, on site medical evacuation assistance and assistance in planning. All of these items are clear violations of the Posse Comitatus Act. The document also states: "Legal reservations caused request to be downscoped to MTT (Mobile Training Team) training in company level tactical C2 (Command and Control), Medical Evacuation Training, IV ABC's, assistance with range and MOUT sites." The BATF eventually received small arms training as a part of this operation including hand guns, sub machine guns and sniper rifles. The most telling part of this document comes in the statement of the "Possibility that drug-connection was overstated to secure cost-free SOF training and assistance. No mention of drugs in public media." Perhaps the most profound observation of the entire exercise comes from this document as well, "AS A GENERAL PRINCIPLE, WHAT SOF DO DOES NOT LEND ITSELF TO MOST LAW ENFORCEMENT SITUATIONS." -- Dan S DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. 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