Educational Media Reviews Online

This disturbing documentary covers the 1993 Waco disaster, in which 86 died, as well as the events leading up to it. After a brief history of the Branch Davidians and David Koresh, attention focuses on the initial raid, the subsequent stand-off, and the final conflagration. The conclusion is inescapable that the ATF, determined to stage a good publicity stunt, conducted a botched raid, after which the ATF and FBI were determined to avenge themselves on the families in the compound.

The producers put together some remarkable evidence, including a home video shot in the compound during the siege, interviews with survivors on both sides, testimony at congressional hearings, negotiators’ transcripts, and thermal imaging tapes of the bloody final hours. What is more remarkable, however, is the evidence that is missing—evidence that the FBI “lost,” but which they claim would prove their case if they could only find it. It is still possible to argue about who fired first, or who started the fire, but it is no longer possible to deny that the FBI tried to cover much of this up.

The documentary is rather disjointed; a minimum of narrative is supplied to hold it all together. Perhaps the producers wanted the focus to be on the evidence, not on their words. Evidence from both sides is presented, and as always, it’s the weakness of the counterarguments that really betrays the force of the truth. The recurrent juxtaposition of government statements to the press, or government testimony, with clear evidence to the contrary makes a very powerful and damning expose of carelessness and wrongdoing.

Although rather long for classroom use, this documentary would support courses in politics, law, and crime.