In the second of a two-part conversation, investigative journalist and bestselling author Jeff Guinn chats with Trey Elling about WACO: DAVID KORESH, THE BRANCH DAVIDIANS, AND A LEGACY OF RAGE. You can find part 1 of this interview HERE. This time around, the focus is on the 51-day seige, and fatal mistakes made by ATF- and FBI leadership. Topics include:
- How the ATF ended up on the Branch Davidians’ trail (1:22)
- How ATF agents were misinformed on two crucial elements before the initial raid (6:10)
- The ATF’s plan of action (9:30)
- Why the Treasure Department reversed their decision to nix the ATF’s planned raid (13:34)
- How the ATF’s raid lost its element of surprise (16:55)
- Whether choppers fired on the Branch Davidian compound during that initial raid (21:14)
- What the ATF agents who took part in the raid still resent the most (27:01)
- The no-win situation for the ATF agents on the ground that day (30:50)
- Two conflicting internal factors at play when the FBI took over (32:09)
- The likelihood of the FBI ever apologizing for mistakes they made in Waco (41:16)
- Whether Koresh close to surrendering before that final, fateful day (41:36)