Who Is Responsible for the Branch Davidian Tragedy?
In an earlier column. I wrote that “many Americans see Mount Carmel as a modern-day Lexington.” Little did I realize how prophetic those words would be. On April 19, the 218th anniversary of the battle of Lexington, the end came for the Branch Davidians. Around 6 a.m., government forces used tanks to punch holes through the buildings at Mount Carmel, into which they poured tear gas. At noon, a fire of unknown origin burned the complex to the ground within an hour. As of this writing, only eight Davidians are known to have survived. The FBI blames the Branch Davidians for setting the fire in a mass suicide. However, former members, Koresh’s grandmother, and one religious historian who has studied the sect say that suicide is not a part of their creed. The actions of sect members in defending themselves and their home, as well as Koresh’s recent signing of movie and book contracts, argue against suicide. The government version arouses suspicion for other reasons. No firetrucks were on th
