Buy essay on Tragedy at Waco: the Branch Davidian Incident

The tragedy at Waco, Texas was one of the most significant incidents that revealed the failure of the state agencies, the ATF and the FBI, to manage and conduct the search properly and effectively. At the same time, it is important to lay emphasis on the fact that throughout different stages of the development of the operation by the FBI and the ATF, agents did not always act incorrectly. What is meant here is the fact that, basically, the agents conducted the routine procedure preparing for search but the agents failed to foresee adequately the reaction and response of the Davidians on the operation launched by the ATF that lead to the failure of the initial plan.
First of all, it should be said that the ATF has undertaken actions in relation to the Branch Davidian after hearing reports and gathering resources only. This means that the ATF had ample opportunities to study and investigate in details the Branch Davidian and prepare the raid to the Ranch. Gathering sources and information concerning the Branch Davidian was the first stage in the operation conducted by the ATF and FBI.
As the ATF agents got the information and, thus, they started another organizational stage of the operation – planning to raid. The planning is a crucial stage and this is probably where the ATF agents failed to assess adequately the position of the Branch Davidian and their reaction on the raid. As the matter of fact, the ATF agents apparently counted to conduct the operation fast and to search for firearms. The agents were unprepared to the resistance from the part of the Branch Davidian and they could not afford maintaining the long-lasting confrontation involving the use of firearms. This is actually why the involvement of the FBI was needed. Moreover, the inadequate planning led to casualties in the course of operation.
The next step after planning was obtaining a warrant to search for illegal firearms (Docherty, 2001). In fact, it was an essential legal step to conduct the search legally and to get the information and evidences the ATF agents needed to reveal illegal activities in the Branch Davidian’s ranch in Waco.
As the ATF agents obtain the warrant to search for illegal firearms, they have undertaken the attempt to storm the ranch that was another error made by managers of the operation. In fact, the ATF agents have proved to come unprepared to storm the ranch, whereas the Branch Davidians were prepared and ready to resist to any attempt from the part of any state agency to storm the ranch (2008). As a result, the unprepared and poorly planned attempt to storm the ranch caused casualties among the agents and civilians.
After the failure of the storm, the 51-days siege followed accompanied by negotiations (Newport, 2006). However, negotiations were quite ineffective and conducted unprofessionally, whereas another attempts to storm the ranch and to seize the offenders have been undertaken for 51 days involving the use of tear gas. In fact, this attempt to storm the ranch was better planned but it was still imperfect for the ranch was caught in fire leading to even more casualties, including pregnant women and children.
Thus, it is obvious that the tragedy at Waco was, to a significant extent, provoked by the poor management of the operation conducted by the ATF and FBI.

 
References:
Anthony, D. and T. Robbins (1997). “Religious totalism, exemplary dualism and the Waco tragedy.” In Robbins and Palmer 1997,
Bell, Randall (2008). Strategy 360. Owners Manual Press.
Davidian Criminal Trial Transcripts, Richardson – Cross (Mr. Rentz), pp. 2054-2055.
Docherty, J.S. (2001). Learning Lessons From Waco: When the Parties Bring Their Gods to the Negotiation Table (Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press.
Linedecker, C.L. (July 1993). Massacre at Waco, Texas, St. Martin’s Paperback’s.
Newport, K. G. C. (2006). The Branch Davidians of Waco: The History and Beliefs of an Apocalyptic Sect, Oxford University Press.
Tabor, James D. and Eugene V. Gallagher. (1995). Why Waco?: Cults and the Battle for Religious Freedom in America (Berkeley: University of California Press.
Thibodeau, D. (1999). A Place Called Waco: A Survivor’s Story, Public Affairs.