-Caveat Lector-   <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">
</A> -Cui Bono?-

FBI's team leader at Waco a 'problem,' agency papers say Insisted
on using tear gas: Commander also led deadly standoff with
supremacist in '92

Tuesday, February 29, 2000

The Associated Press

DALLAS - Documents obtained by a Dallas newspaper show the
Federal Bureau of Investigation was concerned about its on-scene
commander at the 1993 Waco siege, which turned into a fiery
disaster in which dozens died.

The Dallas Morning News obtained documents that show senior FBI
officials at first were skeptical of the insistence by Richard
Rogers, the hostage rescue-team commander, that tear gas was the
only safe way to end the siege.

A March, 1993, memo from the FBI's most experienced tactical
expert said Mr.  Rogers had prompted similar concerns in the
deadly 1992 standoff at Ruby Ridge, Idaho. In that incident, an
FBI sniper, under the command of Mr.  Rogers, killed the wife of
white supremacist Randy Weaver after Mr. Rogers relaxed bureau
rules of engagement and pushed for an all-out tank and tear-gas
assault on the Weavers' cabin.

"A lot of pressure is coming from Rogers," Danny Coulson, deputy
assistant FBI director, wrote in an internal FBI memo during the
Waco siege on March 23, 1993.

"We had similar problems in Idaho with him and he argued and
convinced the SACs [local FBI special agents in charge of the
incident] that Weaver would not come out. That proved to be
wrong. I believe he is a significant part of the problem here."

He added that he feared bureau officials were lobbying to gas the
Branch Davidians who were barricaded at Waco because the
officials were tired, frustrated and under pressure from Mr.
Rogers.

Congressional officials said the memo is particularly disturbing
because they have never seen it or other internal FBI records
detailing the contentious decision-making process that led to the
tear-gassing of the Branch Davidian compound.

"We've had a subpoena out there for all relevant documents -- all
documents -- since Sept. 7, 1999," said Mark Corallo, spokesman
for the House Government Reform Committee.

"Is the Department of Justice withholding only embarrassing
documents from us? It makes you wonder."

Mr. Coulson did not comment yesterday, while Mr. Rogers and
Jeffrey Jamar, the FBI's special agent in charge of the Waco
operation, have declined interview requests.

The memo and other records obtained by the Dallas paper provide
new details of the FBI's internal struggles as Waco commanders
pushed to use gas against the embattled sect after a 51-day
standoff.

Janet Reno, the U.S. attorney-general, approved a plan to gas the
compound on April 19, 1993.

The action began with a gradual tear-gas insertion, but escalated
immediately to an all-out tear-gas assault after the Davidians
started to shoot at FBI tanks.

Six hours later, after agents increased pressure by sending tanks
deep into the building, the compound burned with sect leader
David Koresh and more than 80 followers inside.

Some died from fire, others from gunshots.

The government has maintained the Davidians were responsible for
their own deaths. But several of the religious group's survivors
and their relatives have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against
the government, claiming members of the FBI and the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms fired into the compound.


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             Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT

  FROM THE DESK OF:                    <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
                      *Mike Spitzer*     <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
                         ~~~~~~~~          <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

   The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends
       Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day.
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