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Our readers talk back.
Fri., July 14, 2000
FBI's Role in Waco
Dear Editor:
Robert Bryce, in his "Naked City" column, "Tanks a Million," in the June 30, 2000 edition of the Chronicle, raises several questions about the FBI's actions during the 51 day siege of the Branch Davidian complex near Waco in 1993, which have all been answered before, but some choose not hear the government's attempts to truthfully explain its actions. Bryce also resorts to sensationalism when he refers to the M1A1 Abrams tank as being the "most sophisticated battle tank ever built" and when he states that "the Patton tank was designed to fight the Soviets, not Branch Davidians" and again when he refers to the possible tonnage and fuel efficiency of equipment utilized by the FBI.
The FBI utilized military equipment at the Branch Davidian complex after receiving information that the Davidians may have possessed a .50 caliber gun in addition to their other hundreds of rifles and handguns. Just as the Patton Tank was "designed to fight Soviets, not Branch Davidians" so, too, was the FBI chartered to fight civilian crimes/criminals and not military-style weaponry. FBI agents are not trained to face possible fire from .50 caliber weapons capable of penetrating even some armors. Therefore, the FBI put out a call for armored vehicles to protect its agents from the possible threat of military weapons from within the Davidian Complex. Once the equipment was in place, it matters not a whit what the tonnage of that equipment was or what gas mileage can be expected from a tank. The military equipment was rented by the FBI from the military and was driven by FBI agents who had served in the military. Because the equipment belonged to the military, if repairs were called for, those repairs were performed by military mechanics. Testimony from the Texas Rangers in the current civil trial against the government has, indeed, proven that the Davidians possessed not one, but two .50 caliber guns in their arsenal.
As to the question of whether the FBI was viligant in its efforts to ensure the safety of the women and children in the compound, Bryce faults the FBI for the efforts that it did take. He blames the FBI for utilizing psychological warfare techniques during the standoff. While there are questions about the efficacy of such tactics, and whether they were used at the right time during the standoff, the FBI at least attempted a nonlethal means to convince the Davidians to come out of their complex and to turn themselves over to civilian authorities. Roughly six weeks of one-sided earnest negotiations by the FBI also failed to bring the people out peacefully. Bryce then faults the FBI for driving tanks into the compound structure. That action was taken in order to open up the structure and thereby provide avenues of egress for those inside. Several of the survivors who are now suing the government have stated in court that they actually escaped the compound by utilizing various holes in the walls of the compound. Creating those holes was actually counterproductive to filling the compound with tear gas since the gas could also easily escape through those same openings.
Finally, Bryce questions why armored fire fighting equipment or remote controlled equipment wasn't on hand to combat the fire on the last day of siege. At this suggestion I am simply perplexed as I have never seen nor heard of such equipment. Maybe it exists and I just don't know about it. The simple truth remains, however, that if the Davidians had not been shooting out of their windows on that last morning, the FBI may have permitted firefighters to approach the building. But, alas, the Davidians chose once again to try shooting it out rather than peacefully give themselves over to civilian authorities and later argue their case in court.
Sincerely,
Mike Hanley
Retired FBI
The Rest of the Story
To Michael Clark-Madison (or Editor if you prefer):
I don't know whether the intention was to give one sentence on the benefits of leasing Mueller: "The latest wrinkle is the call, by Griffith among others, for the city to lease, rather than sell, Mueller parcels ... and thus provide ongoing cash flow to the city" ["Prepare for Departure," June 30].
If a brief reference was the idea because you are going to deal with the issue of leasing Mueller later, by all means tune in again, best before Aug. 3. On the other hand, allowing Capron to lead the reader down the garden path with his exploding leases and fears that the lease wouldn't be long enough (it would be perpetual), makes us assume a pro-selling stance is part of Chronicle policy. Beverly Griffith is a smart woman, and Capron's comments made her views appear senseless. That's sure evidence a big part of the Mueller story was missing.
Mary Lehmann
From Darkness to Light
Editor:
Reading the stories about the suicides in last week's issue compels me to share some thoughts. I suffered suicidal depression from the age of 14 -- once in hospital from overdose, more than once held a sharp knife to my wrists and drew blood, and planned to jump off a cliff. I thought suicide was my destiny.
Now I'm in my mid-40s and have a happy life with a man who loves me, and more important, I love myself.
If you are seriously thinking about suicide, find reasons to postpone it. Wait till your parents die or your kids have someone to take care of them. Wait till after your next birthday. Postpone -- because every day you wait, no matter how painful, you're still here.
And as long as you're still alive, search for hope. Go to AA, to spiritual leaders or philosophers, therapists, friends, strangers, and lay it on the line. If they can't help you, try other people, nature, yourself. Search for an understanding of hope until you find something that's real. Because if you can find hope (we all have it in ourselves -- it just gets lost) you'll begin to enjoy life again.
In cases of unbearable, unending physical pain, I might argue that suicide is justified. But bad feelings are never reason enough. The self-loathing of a suicidal person is indescribably painful -- it's torture -- I've been there. But because I kept postponing my suicide for a just a little bit longer, some things finally changed and got better. Now I'm learning to love life deeply. It's a miracle. And if it happened to me, it can happen to anyone.
Almost better now and wishing you the same,
Name withheld
Save the Hostel
Dear Editor:
I urge my fellow citizens to prevent the closure of the American Youth Hostel to make room for office space for the [city's] Aquatics Division. Here are the reasons:
If Austin is performing outreach to the world, we need to do so not just to multimillion-dollar corporations, but also to travelers on a limited budget.
Other reasons that the American Youth Hostel is an exceptional facility are the concerts it hosts and its membership in the International Youth Hostel Federation, a nonprofit organization affiliated with a network of over 5,000 hostels in over 70 countries. This affiliation literally puts Austin on the map and in the guides and itineraries of thousands of travelers.
I urge fellow citizens to write the mayor at [email protected] and the Department of Parks and Recreation's director, Jesus Olivares, and the Aquatics Division's Citizens' advisory board chairwoman, Rosemary Castleberry, at 200 S. Lamar, Austin, 78704.
Thank You,
Amanda Winters
Poultry Epiphany
Editor:
I can's imagine how anyone can chew on a drumstick again after watching the animated movie Chicken Run which opened last week to great critical acclaim. (The 1995 screening of Babe the talking pig led a number of people to drop pork from their diet.)
The delightful British film recounts the story of a group of brave hens plotting to escape from a factory farm. The story is both poignant and funny, and the characters quickly earn our empathy.
I was impressed how these animals that we view as food share our quest for life and liberty as well as most of our feelings of joy, affection, frustration, sadness, and pain.
Thankfully, my local supermarket carries a selection of delicious "mock chicken" foods, which unlike dead chicken flesh are free of saturated fat, cholesterol, and salmonella. I look forward to exploring the many cruelty-free, healthful dietary options that are available.
Sincerely,
Kim Lewis
Pathetically Unfunny
To the Editors who Were Responsible for the Worst Excuse for Reporting That I Have Ever Been Subject To:
I haven't heard as much pissy whining regarding comedy ["Getting the Joke," June 30] since I last happened upon some ridiculously unentertaining Richard Lewis debacle. J.C.Shakespeare's article about the sad state of comedy in this town was pathetic. Having seen his stand-up, I am curious as to exactly how he manages to maintain such an unbelievably masturbatory self-image. I think the whole reason that comedy isn't as popular as it was is because a bunch of self-involved, attention-craving morons consider their "trade" as a form of high art. That's pretty much the only funny thing in the entire article.
I don't want to make it seem like I don't enjoy a good laugh. I do, which is exactly why I'm writing. Instead of having these lofty goals of "enlightenment," perhaps it would be more fruitful to realize that you are buffoons, you have chosen that profession, and it is not the audience's fault if you are so deeply unfunny that your avant-garde bullshit doesn't make us laugh. Get a new schtick, get a new act, move to a new town, because this typically "Austin" attitude of "everything I do is a creative and artistic expression of the true inner soul and beauty of man" is a pile of shit. You're our clowns; we're the ones who pay your bills, so shut up and do something funny.
Sincerely,
Siobhan McKenney
Perry Poppin' Mama
Editor:
I don't know the officer's name that pulled Rick Perry and his aide over the other day for speeding. I do know she is my hero. The videotape clearly shows her standing her ground while being confronted by two males that are taller and heavier (although I would say she was the tallest and had the biggest balls). Rick, Rick, Rick. You should have a PR person sewn onto your hip. That problem could have been handled with a simple phone call, later. You know better. Here in Texas there are two kinds of people you don't want to mess with -- highway patrol and Rangers. Maybe because it was a woman you thought it might be different. Wrong. My aunt is a cop in San Marcos, and, just like this officer, ain't gonna' take no uppity crap from no man. I tip my hat to that officer. You go girl. Next time, pop his ass with pepper spray and hang your boot up his ass. I say welcome to all that come here. A word of advice. Don't mess with the highway patrol. Kid Rock might say they are the "Original Texas Badass."
Greg Monroe
For a Few Dollars More
Editor:
If the shortage of affordable housing really is a critical community issue, then it is time for the city and private sector to invest real money. A city investment of $1 million in a housing trust fund is almost embarrassing given the size of the problem. Although it is better than nothing, a million bucks is only enough money to fully subsidize about 30 new rental housing units at rates under $600 per month. Recently the council justified $15 million for a convention hotel in part because it will create hundreds of working-class jobs. Just where will these new workers afford to live?
Invest real money in affordable housing. Intel got $15 million. The convention center hotel got $15 million, plus $5 million for parking. CSC got tens of millions. Environmentally sensitive land got $65 million. And the city manager's budget outline for next year includes $4 million to lure more high-tech employers to Austin and $10 million for roads under the Social Equity priority.
What is the real priority for housing? Austin needs a single-room occupancy housing facility to reduce the number of homeless adults. We need 50 additional transitional housing units so that our family shelters stop turning away dozens of children each night. We need thousands of new, quality, affordable, family housing units.
Affordable housing is capital-intensive. Low rents require a small mortgage. The "subsidy" cost to create 10,000 new affordable units for households earning under $30,000 per year would be well over $250 million. Our target must be $25 million in equity for the housing trust fund this year -- and each year for the next 10. If the Silicon Valley Housing Trust Fund can raise $20 million in less than six months, we can, too. Leaders from the high-tech community and City Hall should at least act in self-interest to find the money.
Sincerely,
Walter Moreau
Predicted Problems
Editor:
Robert Bryce did a marvelous job outlining the problems in Barton Springs Pool in his April 21 article ["Slimed!"]. However, all the problems he covered were predicted well before the city and the USF&WS implemented their Habitat Conservation Plan. If your readers log onto www.hyperweb.com/bsz/pool you will find a detailed analysis of how the professionals in charge of Barton Springs Pool have managed to get us to where we are now.
Frank Belanger
Utterly Disgusted
To whom it may concern:
The AIDS fiasco is downright sickening. In the day and age we live in I am appalled at the outright diversion from the truth this society has become involved with. My opinions will continue to differ from the so-called expert Sandy Bartlett ["About AIDS"] and his random, incoherent way to continue to distort legendary credentials of individuals who question his opinions and beliefs. To those who continue to stifle free speech in this country, know that you are only tearing down freedom which throughout history has been the demise of innocent people. And there is no point in being part of the problem, then helping aid the solution. The only question I have is how many more people must the establishment have to kill before the truth is known, and how much longer will the establishment continue to lead those who believe them down the road to utter destruction? And to those who help aid in the distortion of truth, what is your motivation, for those out there you know who you are!
Utterly disgusted,
Eric Matus
