With the ATF siege in motion, assault vehicles storm the Mount Carmel compound and exchange gunfire, which begins a 51-day standoff.With the ATF siege in motion, assault vehicles storm the Mount Carmel compound and exchange gunfire, which begins a 51-day standoff.With the ATF siege in motion, assault vehicles storm the Mount Carmel compound and exchange gunfire, which begins a 51-day standoff.
Storyline
Did you know
- Trivia"Operation Showtime" was the ATF's code name for the planned raid of the Mount Carmel compound.
- GoofsIn the episode the ATF is shown shooting penned dogs, then there is a general flurry of mostly-ATF gunfire that starts the battle. There's no compelling evidence the ATF fired first or the gun battle was simply a mistake. There is documentary evidence (video) and testimony both from agents and journalists there to cover the event that the Branch Davidians opened fire as soon as the ATF began to demand they all come out over bullhorns.
- Quotes
David Koresh: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down! Please, stop!
Edward Wiggins: Keep your hands in the air and get on the ground now!
David Koresh: There are women and children in here!
- ConnectionsReferences The Lonely Man (1957)
Featured review
So now we know why the first episode had FBI negotiator Gary Noesner being critical of FBI tactics in the Ruby Ridge siege.
Even though Jacob Vazquez infiltrated the Branch Davidians, he did not see them as dangerous and told the ATF not to go in heavy handed. Vazquez is ignored as the ATF go in with all guns blazing. The situation in the compound quickly escalates with casualties in both sides.
Even though the real life scenario was complex. The narrative here is that Koresh's people shoot at law enforcement as an act of defence. Secondly there is an argument being made the military force is being used against civilians. A radio personality described the difference between law enforcement and military force.
It certainly looks like in this drama that ATF were ill prepared, unsure as to what was going on and they even did not take some basic communication equipment with them. When the FBI takeover the incident at Waco is a mess.
The episode does seem to have a sympathetic slant towards Koresh and his followers. Some of the media pundits seen on television news shows at the time who are castigating Koresh. It is implied that the law enforcement authorities wanted Koresh to be painted out as a loon and might have manipulated the media towards that direction. Yet Koresh did release that 60 minute tape where he is reading from the Bible when he should had been better at giving his side of the story.
This was a fast moving episode. The build up of the first two episodes is over and now it certainly gets messy.
Even though Jacob Vazquez infiltrated the Branch Davidians, he did not see them as dangerous and told the ATF not to go in heavy handed. Vazquez is ignored as the ATF go in with all guns blazing. The situation in the compound quickly escalates with casualties in both sides.
Even though the real life scenario was complex. The narrative here is that Koresh's people shoot at law enforcement as an act of defence. Secondly there is an argument being made the military force is being used against civilians. A radio personality described the difference between law enforcement and military force.
It certainly looks like in this drama that ATF were ill prepared, unsure as to what was going on and they even did not take some basic communication equipment with them. When the FBI takeover the incident at Waco is a mess.
The episode does seem to have a sympathetic slant towards Koresh and his followers. Some of the media pundits seen on television news shows at the time who are castigating Koresh. It is implied that the law enforcement authorities wanted Koresh to be painted out as a loon and might have manipulated the media towards that direction. Yet Koresh did release that 60 minute tape where he is reading from the Bible when he should had been better at giving his side of the story.
This was a fast moving episode. The build up of the first two episodes is over and now it certainly gets messy.
- Prismark10
- Oct 31, 2019
- Permalink
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