Waco Hearings - DAY 6
Waco Hearings - DAY 6
WACO HEARINGS: 12:00 - 1:03PM - Master Number 10966 - INTRODUCTION: The following footage of the Waco Hearings consists of questioning of the thirteenth group of panelists. The panelists are: Peter Smerick; former FBI Special Agent, Jim Cavanaugn; ATF Special Agent who was present at Waco on February 28th and who initially began negotiations with the Davidians, Byron Sage; Supervisor Special Resident Agent In Charge at the Austin office and lead negotiator during the 51-day standoff, Gary Nowster; Supervisor Special Agent at the FBI Academy at Quantico Army Base and Negotiations Supervisor at Waco, Jeffery Jamar; FBI Special Agent in Charge at the San Antonio office and overall FBI Commander at Waco and Mr. Ronald McCarthy; former officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. Questions, and or statements are presented to the panelists from Representative Blute. 12:00:19 Old footage from Master Number 10965 shows the Congressional Sub-Committee Chamber in recess. 12:03:20 Fresh footage shows the Congressional Sub-Committee Chamber in recess. 12:55:50 Chairman McCollum brings the Sub-Committee Chamber back to order. 12:56:12 Congressman Blute begins his time by asking Agent Jamar if he regularly received memorandums from Mr. Smerick concerning the negotiations. He replies that he did, and is then asked about a March 2nd memo that advised using the local Waco sheriff in the negotiations. Agent Jamar adds that the sheriff was already actively involved with negotiations at that point, and was proving to be extremely useful in relating to, and talk with, Koresh. Pressing the issue, Congressman Blute asks Agent Jamar why he didn't listen to Mr. Samerick's recommendations in a March 2nd memo concerning the use of pressure tactics. He answers that nothing provocative occurred until the 15th of March. Turning to Mr. Smerick, Rep. Blute asks him if he would consider operating Bradley Fighting Vehicles close to the compound a hostile action. He replies that such action wouldn't necessarily be seen as provocative, rather an additional source of stress. Returning to Agent Jamar, Rep. Blute inquires of the decision to cut electrical power to the compound. He replies that power was cut off on March 9th and 10th as a means of causing stress, as a means to use up the Davidian's fuel resources and as a moral booster for ATF and FBI Agents. Pressing the issue, Congressman Blute asks if the playing of chants and the sound of rabbits being slaughtered was an escalation of this behavior, and if Mr. Smerick had advised these actions to take place. Agent Jamar replies that these actions didn't take place until March 22nd, and that Mr. Smerick had only mentioned them as possible alternative to current actions. Turning then to Agent Sage, Rep. Blute states that while negotiators were attempting to cool the situation, tactical officers were trying to heat it up. He then asks him if he would consider this helpful. (The tape ends before he replies.) 13:02:00 TAPE OUT.