Of course they should have. The ATF people involved admit they should have scrapped the raid that day. But the place didn't burn down that day, it was 51 days later. 51 days seems like an example of patience.

I heard the 911 tape of Koresh calling to complain about armed agents assaulting their compound on the first day. He kept lapsing into biblical last days talk, speaking about the 7 seals and the like. (insert the standard response, 'so that means the ATF was obligated to burn him and children alive?')

There was plenty of time for Koresh and crew to calm down. But he/they didn't. Koresh was in messianic delusions about being crucified. Word I've read is that he originally thought his martyrdom would come in Israel, but by 1991 thought it would be in the United States. Also that from '92 he was talking about martyrdom in his sermons. I'm sorry but I see a little bit of Jim Jones in dude, only it was suicide by cop with Koresh.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K