\input amstex \documentstyle{amsppt} \pagewidth{6.5in} \magnification=1200 \pageheight{7.5in} \ \title {Letter to the Editor} \endtitle \author {Matthew L. Fante} \endauthor \date {April 20, 1993} \enddate \endtopmatter  In a letter to the FBI, David Koresh said: ``Do you want me to pull back the heavens and show you my anger?! ... fear me.''  The 51 day standoff between federal agents and the Branch Davidians ended on April 19 in what appeared to be a mass suicide by fire.  Now that the multi-million dollar standoff is over, a few things remain: cleaning up the mess, and assigning blame.  \  From the onset of the April 19 tear gas attacks by federal agents, President Clinton already started passing the buck by saying ``Talk to the attorney general or the FBI... I knew it was going to be done, but the decision was {\it entirely theirs}.  {\it They} made the tactical decision.'' Enter Attorney General Janet Reno.  After most of the Branch Davidians died, Reno said she took ``full responsibility'' for the decision.  ``I approved the plan'' she said adding that she ``did not advise him [Clinton] as to the details.''  In fact, she told Clinton that it was ``the best way to go.'' As the fire was roaring through the Branch Davidian's compound Clinton said that he was ``deeply sadened by the loss of life'' and in the same breath that ``the law enforcement agencies involved in the Waco siege recommended the course of action pursued today.''  Later he went on to say ``I stand by that [Reno's] decision.''  \  How did this all begin?  At 0930 on February 28 agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) launched a full-scale, high-profile assault on the Branch Davidian's compound.  This raid was much more than an assault on a group suspected of possessing illegal weapons.  The assault was a planned media circus used as a propaganda device of the BATF to show their might and just purpose.  \  At the onset of the ``no-knock'' raid, gaggles of heavily armed BATF agents made their way inside the compound without identifying themselves or state that they had a warrant until long after the shooting began. Silently, the agents made their way to the compound's buildings and started their ``search'' by charging at the buildings and throwing concussion grenades and ordering the cult members to come out of the buildings.  \  If unknown persons dressed in black ninja costumes and combat fatigues were to attack you, throwing grenades and brandishing firearms, would you not assume that these people are criminals and attempt to defend yourself?  The tactics employed by the BATF provoked the battle.  \  The initial assualt by the BATF was not successful.  Unfortunately, lives were lost on both sides.  But, had the assault been a success, the liberal media would have praised the BATF by showing the footage of BATF agents carting away a bunch of gun-wielding religious nuts.  Of course, any violation of the cult's rights would have been overlooked and the media would proclaim America's fortune in having super-cop organizations like the BATF that can systematically ``take out'' terroristic groups such as the Branch Davidians.  \  As far as I can see, the BATF and the FBI dropped the ball - just like Philadelphia did in the 1985 MOVE crisis which left 11 dead, 250 homeless, and a city block razed. It appears that the BATF has adopted the shoot-first tactic of no-knock raids to execute search warrants.  Don't let the BATF convince you that the no-knock raid was justified.  No-knock assaults make sense when looking for, say, drugs that can easily be hidden or disposed of in a few seconds. The BATF was looking for illegal weapons, not drugs that could be hidden or flushed down the toilet in a matter of a few seconds.  What ever happened to ``This is the police!  You are surrounded...''?  {\it This policy of no-knock raids, by federal and local agencies, should be restricted}.  Further, the use of military firepower against presumed innocent citizens is a very scary idea, and is why the Davidians were justified in using lethal force to ensure that their fourth ammendment rights [``the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures''] are not denied.  \  \  \  \noindent Matthew L. Fante \newline \end            --  ____________________________________________________________________ Matthew Fante mlf3@Lehigh.EDU             For a good prime call 2^756839 - 1