-Caveat Lector- http://www.express-news.net/auth/ennews/ap/texas/d0631.html Former ATF agent says he contemplated suicide after raid SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A former undercover federal agent who infiltrated the Branch Davidian sect in 1993 says he contemplated suicide after fellow officers tried to blame him for the botched raid in Waco. ``I put the gun in my forehead, in my mouth, and I just wanted to so bad, but I couldn't,'' former agent Robert Rodriguez told KSAT-TV in an interview aired Wednesday night. Rodriguez, now retired from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, described the agency's Feb. 28, 1993, fire fight with the Davidians and the tragedy that ensued. ``I said, 'My God, what happened? What happened here?''' Rodriguez said. ``To watch people that you knew and that were part of you get killed like this. ... I yelled out, 'God, why do you allow your people like this to die in the hands of bad people?' '' ``That day...,'' he said, ``I lost my religion.'' Rodriguez has testified in court and before Congress that he warned fellow ATF agents that they had lost the element of surprise with their raid against sect leader David Koresh and his followers. Four federal agents died from gunshots in the raid. Six Davidians also are believed to have died. The battle led to a 51-day standoff that ended April 19, 1993, when the Davidians' home burst into flames. Koresh and about 80 followers died amid the flames. Rodriguez had been assigned to infiltrate the sect. He became acquainted with Koresh and others at Mount Carmel, the compound near Waco where the Branch Davidians lived. The sect was under investigation for alleged firearms violations, agents said. When Rodriguez entered the place hours before the scheduled raid, he found Koresh had been tipped off to the operation. But his supervising officers proceeded with the raid, then later alleged Rodriguez hadn't given sufficient warning that the element of surprise was lost. Rodriguez recalled being devastated by their accusations, to the point of considering suicide. ``They were all lying,'' he said. ``It put a lot of guilt on me. I felt responsible for a very long time for the murder, for the deaths, of these agents.'' Rodriguez filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Waco, alleging ATF officials violated his privacy and civil rights, defamed him, and conspired to blame him. That lawsuit was settled. Rodriguez refuses to discuss the details. AP-WS-09-16-99 1549EDT © 1999 San Antonio Express-News ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
