Fear has always been the most powerful weapon of control, whether wielded by governments against a small religious sect in Waco or against entire populations during the Covid lockdowns.
In 1993, the Branch Davidians were surrounded, cut off, and pressured into submission before their compound was engulfed in flames.
Decades later, the world experienced a different kind of siege - locked inside their homes, silenced by threats, and forced into compliance. The methods may have changed, but the principle remained the same: instill fear, apply force, and watch obedience follow.
On April 19, 1993, an horrific inferno engulfed the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, marking the violent end of a 51-day standoff between federal agents and a religious sect led by David Koresh.
What began as an ATF raid to seize what they believed were illegal firearms spiraled into a deadly confrontation that left 76 men, women, and children dead.
To this day, the world debates who lit the match.
Was it a fanatical leader orchestrating his own fiery apocalypse, or a reckless government assault that turned into a massacre?
The Waco siege (February 28 – April 19, 1993) was a standoff between the U.S. government and the Branch Davidians, a religious group led by David Koresh, near Waco, Texas. The siege ended in a deadly fire, killing 76 people, including women and children.
The ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) launched an operation to serve a search and arrest warrant on Koresh, suspecting the group of stockpiling illegal weapons. The Branch Davidians had been amassing firearms, claiming religious and self-defense reasons.
The ATF believed Koresh was illegally modifying firearms to fully automatic and feared an apocalyptic cult preparing for a violent confrontation. Allegations of child abuse and other crimes also fueled government concerns.
The FBI took over after a failed ATF raid on February 28, which resulted in a shootout, killing four ATF agents and six Branch Davidians. The siege lasted 51 days, involving negotiations, psychological pressure, and escalating tensions.
Bringing tanks and gas cylinders that ignited upon contact was approved by newly minted AG, Janet Reno.
At this point, Reno was working under Bill Clinton, and alongside Eric Holder, Bill Barr, and Jamie Gorlick...The Waco massacre was a MEDIA MESS.
On April 19, the FBI launched an assault using tear gas to force the group out. A fire broke out inside the compound, leading to mass casualties. The government blamed the Branch Davidians, while survivors and critics accused the FBI of using tactics that triggered the fire.
The siege is widely regarded as a botched operation. The ATF’s initial raid was poorly planned, with leaked information allowing the Branch Davidians to prepare. The FBI's aggressive tactics, including psychological warfare (blaring loud music, cutting off power), likely worsened the situation.
The government argues Koresh was responsible for the deaths by ordering a mass suicide or setting the fire himself. Critics argue the FBI's heavy-handed approach caused unnecessary deaths and question why they didn’t wait Koresh out.
The ATF planned a dynamic entry raid but lost the element of surprise when a local news crew accidentally tipped off the Branch Davidians. The FBI took over after the botched raid but relied on aggressive psychological tactics like blasting loud music and cutting off utilities, which likely hardened the group's resolve.
The FBI claimed its tear gas attack was meant to force people out. However, many believe it either sparked the fire or made it impossible for those inside to escape.
Survivor Accounts
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Clive Doyle: One of the few adult survivors, Doyle maintained that the Branch Davidians didn’t start the fire. He claimed they were under siege and simply trying to survive. Doyle described the tear gas attack as overwhelming, making it nearly impossible to breathe or escape.
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David Thibodeau: Another survivor, Thibodeau wrote A Place Called Waco, arguing the government’s aggression, not Koresh, caused the deaths. He recounted the chaos of the fire and claimed some members were shot by government forces while trying to flee.
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Kathy Schroeder: Schroeder, who left the compound before the fire, described Koresh as charismatic but manipulative. She admitted that Koresh controlled the group psychologically but rejected the narrative that they were all brainwashed or suicidal.
Koresh believed he was the "Lamb of God" and preached apocalyptic prophecies. His followers saw the government as the enemy, fulfilling biblical predictions. He legally purchased guns but was accused of illegally modifying them. The government saw this as preparing for a violent confrontation. Koresh repeatedly promised to come out but delayed, claiming he needed to write down a religious manuscript first.
During the final assault on April 19, the FBI used armoured vehicles to inject CS tear gas into the compound. They justified this as a non-lethal tactic meant to drive people out. However, the Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) footage ....taken by FBI aircraft.....sparked controversy. Independent analysts, including former military experts, argued that the FLIR footage shows flashes consistent with automatic gunfire coming from FBI positions. The flashes occur near escape points, suggesting Davidians may have been shot while trying to flee the fire. The FBI claimed the flashes were sunlight reflections or debris kicked up by vehicles. However, experts like Edward Allard, a former FLIR technology specialist, insisted the flashes were consistent with gunfire heat signatures. Others argue that portions of the footage were edited or suppressed to conceal the true events.
The CIA’s alleged involvement is more speculative and rooted in conspiracy circles, but it has some persistent claims: Some theorists believe the Branch Davidians were connected to a covert CIA gun-running or drug-trafficking operation. The theory suggests that the ATF raid was intended to cover up the illegal activity, not merely serve a search warrant. Another theory suggests that the psychological warfare tactics (e.g., blasting loud music, cutting off utilities) were part of a CIA-designed psychological operation. The goal was allegedly to break the Davidians' will or provoke a violent response. Witnesses claimed to have seen unmarked black helicopters and alleged that elite military units were present during the siege. Some believe these were CIA-affiliated special forces aiding the FBI.
Some argue that the fire was started by incendiary rounds fired by the FBI, visible in the FLIR footage. The FBI denied using incendiaries but later admitted that some potentially flammable devices were used. The full FLIR footage was never released, leading to claims of a cover-up. Critics argue the government withheld key evidence. Survivors, including David Thibodeau, claimed that automatic gunfire came from government positions as people tried to flee the fire, supporting the FLIR gunfire theory.
And why did the FBI destroy the crime scene (bulldozing the compound) so quickly, making further investigation impossible?
Oh, and incidentally, no illegal firearms were ever recovered from the Branch Davidian compound after the Waco siege.
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Authorities found around 305 firearms, including rifles, pistols, and shotguns, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition.
No Confirmed Illegal Modifications: Despite claims that the Davidians were illegally converting AR-15s into M-16s, no definitive proof of such modifications was presented in court. Some weapons were suspected of being modified, but the fire had damaged them to the point where forensic analysis was inconclusive.
Legal Ownership: Many of the firearms found were legally purchased, and David Koresh had been known to buy and sell weapons at gun shows.
Grenades and Explosives: Authorities did claim to find materials that could be used for making grenades, but this was never proven to be part of an illegal weapons operation.
The lack of hard evidence of illegal weapons raised serious questions about whether the ATF raid was justified in the first place. Many believe the agency exaggerated the weapons charges to justify their assault, and after the fire destroyed the compound, it became impossible to verify what had actually been inside.
The siege remains a flashpoint in discussions about government overreach, religious freedom, and law enforcement tactics. It fueled anti-government sentiment, influencing events like the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Timothy McVeigh cited Waco as a key motivator for his attack in 1995, which killed 168 people. The FBI revised its tactics for dealing with standoffs, favouring negotiation over military-style assaults.
402 acres purchased to build an Islamic city that will govern itself in the heart of Texas pic.twitter.com/eOixmVDHfJ
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) April 1, 2025
Let's be honest, we were made to comply through a mix of fear and force. Just like the Davidians were surrounded, threatened, and psychologically pressured by the government, so too were millions during Covid.
Fear as the Ultimate Weapon. The Davidians were told by Koresh that the government would come for them, and then the government showed up with tanks and snipers....confirming their fears. The public during Covid was bombarded with worst-case scenarios, death tolls, and images of overwhelmed hospitals, ensuring that fear dictated behaviour. The Davidians were surrounded by armed agents, had their power and water cut off, and were subject to escalating attacks. The pressure broke them down. The public faced police enforcing curfews, business closures, arrests for protesting, vaccine mandates, and, in some cases, forced quarantine camps. Fear softened resistance, but force sealed the deal. Whether Waco or Covid, the same playbook is used: fear to justify action, force to ensure compliance, and media control to shape the narrative. The question is, will people recognise the pattern next time - or will history repeat itself?
Because, mark my words., there will be a next time.
