MISGUIDED FAITH AND AN APPETITE FOR POWER

Less than two months ago, most Americans were blissfully ignorant of the life and beliefs of David Koresh. This week he gained a grim infamy, turning a cult following to ash. Many who died were too young to comprehend his twisted values. The nation mourns the loss of so many lives and collects itself slowly, wondering what went so wrong and whether such a debacle can again occur.

There is an old saying that you "can't argue with a sick mind." That seems apropos to the Waco standoff. David Koresh was clearly not an individual whose thoughts meshed with the rest of society. Allegedly acting in the name of God, the cult leader stockpiled weapons, abused children and claimed many women as his wives. When the lives of his flock were in danger, Koresh held them close (through his teachings, or perhaps by force) so all would perish together. Eighty-five people died along with their leader Monday; at least 17 were under the age of 10.

Second-guessing has become a popular sport in the aftermath of these events. Some of it arises out of legitimate concern about the government's actions with regard to the Branch Davidian cult and its apocalyptic end. Much of this hindsight expertise is misapplied, with a portion of it being simply way-out. Some facts are clear. One is that the law enforcement operation in Waco was, by any measure, a failure; any time the serving of an arrest warrant over weapons violations results in the deaths of 90 people (including four peace officers), the endeavor must be regarded as a "worst case."

Still, dedicated law officers spent more than seven weeks choosing from bad options, knowing that children could be in the line of fire and that irrational people and powerful weapons are a dangerous combination. Finding fault after the worst has happened is the easy part.

To be sure, there will be numerous investigations (congressional, Department of Justice, White House) of the Waco standoff, but the complete story might never be known.

If there is a silver lining to be found in the dark clouds that rose from the Branch Davidian compound Monday, it may be that more people did not succumb to Koresh's mad ambitions. Jim Jones ended 911 lives when things turned sour in 1978 for his Peoples Temple cult in Guyana. When a megalo~maniac gains control of a nation, thousands, even millions, of lives can be given up in the name of some higher power or greater good; history has its share of Ayatollah Khomeinis and Pol Pots.

David Koresh is dead. We can assure ourselves, regrettably, that there are others of his kind out there somewhere, to arise every generation or so and puzzle us with misguided faith and the appetite for power. We recognize that many people hold many views about divinity. However, we believe the God most people worship would not endorse the work done in His name by David Koresh in Waco.