Waco, the Big Lie Review by Brian Francis Redman I was surprised to find myself afraid to view this videotape. When it came in the mail I did not rip open the package and kick on the old VCR (I almost said "fire up" the old VCR). Instead thoughts like, "Well later... perhaps tonight after dinner," came into my mind. I did not want to see that government tank setting fire to the Branch Davidian compound. Because if the government *did* purposely start the fire, then it would logically follow that xx xxxxx xx xxx xxxxxxxxxx was wrong and that xxx xxxxx was in cahoots with them. I did not want to face that. But I overcame my fears, stopped what I was doing, and watched "Waco, the Big Lie." The tape runs for about a half hour and is a professional quality production. The horror of the government tank purposely starting the fire in which all those innocent children were burned alive is what people tend to focus on, but there are other aspects to the video. Early in the video, at the point in time where the press has already been sequestered away from the crime scene, we see what looks like a bedsheet hanging from one of the upper-story windows of the Mount Carmel compound: "God Help Us. We Want the Press," it begs. Too late. The press is already setting up their RVs and their lawn chairs and is more inclined to relax. As the video makes clear, the "only news received by anyone in the U.S. will be the official version told by agent Bob Ricks of the FBI." "Waco, the Big Lie" includes video of Koresh beyond those couple of clips we were shown over and over and over and over. Yes, there *are* other shots of Koresh besides that one scene where he is preaching to his flock. Viewers of the video get to see a decent chunk of an interview with Koresh in which the following exchange takes place: INTERVIEWER: How many wives do you have? KORESH: (sighs) One... *One*. INTERVIEWER: Have you committed adultery? KORESH: No. I don't commit adultery. INTERVIEWER: Are you telling me the truth? KORESH: I'm telling you the truth. INTERVIEWER: Have you beaten children? KORESH: No. I do not beat children. So, in case anyone is interested, Koresh claims he didn't do it. Or rather, *claimed*, seeing as he's dead now. Also noteworthy are statements by two unidentified ATF agents: AGENT #1: [Referring to his "superiors" at the BATF] The thing that I find totally abhorrent and disgusting is, these higher-level people took that same oath. And they violate the basic principles and tenets of the Constitution and simple ethics and morality. That's what disgusts me. AGENT #2: You know what's wrong with the ATF? The people that I put in jail have more honor than the top administration in this organization. I know it's a sad commentary, but that's my experience with ATF. The videotape clearly shows one agent shooting himself in the leg on the day of the initial raid. Not so clear is one scene where three agents on the roof enter the building through a window and then are supposedly assassinated by a fourth agent. And now, as to that tank that seems to be equipped with a fully functioning flame thrower: When I see the Zapruder film of Kennedy being shot, it sure looks to me like one of the shots came more or less from the front. But they found "experts" who say no. When I see the videotape of Rodney King being clubbed by the Los Angeles police, it sure looks to me like he is being beat up. The "experts" disagree. The saying goes that "If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, then, odds are, it's a duck." It sure looks to me like there is a jet of flame shooting out of the barrel of that government tank. Of course, I'm not an "expert." Before the days of the modern State, there was the Church. The Church had these people called "priests" who were posted to the Church's various territories. Part of the job of the priests was to explain to the people "how things are." The people gave their faith to the priests and the priests told them what "reality" was. The modern State also has its "priests" only they are called "experts." Like the priests of old, the experts explain to the people "how things are." The people give their faith to the experts (because people sometimes prefer to have someone else think for them) and the experts tell them what "reality" is. The videotape, "Waco, the Big Lie," has been sent to "experts" at the University of Maryland for "analysis." How many of you think these "experts" are going to conclude that, "yes, that is indeed fire gushing out of the barrel of that tank." Now, how many of you think that these "experts" are going to conclude that, "no, it is not a flame. It is 'marsh gas' (or whatever)." **Right**.