Review of Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1997) by Chris Z — 30 Dec 2010

This is kind of a mess of a movie, and unfortunately heaps more confusion on the situation than anything. It has a clear perspective, arguing ATF and FBI incompetence and cover-up, but unfortunately its main tool of reaching this conclusion is inference and emotion. It leaves major holes in the story, and doesn't really clarify anything in a definitive fashion. Most of the accusations are not unreasonable, but they are also often weakly supported, and rely on the fact that there are so many small plausibilities to build an overarching portrayal of government criminality and incompetence. On the other hand, one is left also wondering what other police response would have been warranted or expected after the initial deadly gun battle? An important perspective to see, though as a historical inquiry it leaves Waco as convoluted a story as ever with no clear conclusions.

At the end of the day, though, I'm left with one unambiguous conclusion: cults are bad news. Be they religions cults, or the cult of police power.