FBI OFFICIAL: DECISION TO END CULT STANDOFF `WELL THOUGHT OUT'

The decision by federal law enforcement authorities to force an end to the standoff in Waco, Texas, earlier this year was "well thought out," an FBI official said Friday.

Jim Nelson, special agent in charge of the St. Louis division of the FBI, voiced that comment during a visit to Cape Girardeau.

"It was the FBI's recommendation to the attorney general that we proceed with the limited action that we did poking holes in the wall and putting tear gas in there," said Nelson.

"I think the decision was well thought out. It was a limited use of force where nobody had to get hurt," he said.

But a deadly fire destroyed the Branch Davidian compound on April 19 after a 51-day siege with federal agents. The fire began several hours after agents sent tanks into the compound to dispense tear gas. Koresh himself was found shot to death in the rubble of the burned-out compound.

Authorities pulled more than 70 bodies from the destroyed compound. About 1.9 million rounds of ammunition were found in the compound, Nelson said.

It was a large compound. "That was a city block in size. People don't understand how big that place was.

"We had ruled out a long time ago a tactical assault with firearms. We would have operated somewhat differently if there hadn't been kids in there.

"There is more concern when you have children in there because they are not responsible for anything," explained Nelson.

The siege followed a Feb. 28 gun battle that resulted in the death of four Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents and a number of members of the Branch Davidian compound. The FBI was then called in and took charge of the operation.

Nelson was in Cape Girardeau as part of a swing through Southeast Missouri to visit with the region's FBI agents. The St. Louis division encompasses all of eastern Missouri. Besides St. Louis, the FBI has offices in Cape Girardeau, Kirksville, Hannibal, Poplar Bluff and Rolla. In all, the St. Louis division has 80 agents, Nelson said.

Despite the bombing of the World Trade Center in New York and the recent arrest of a number of alleged terrorists, Nelson said he doesn't expect to see a wave of terrorism in this country.

"But we can't rule out the possibility that something like that (the bombing) might occur again," he said.

"It could happen, but we are doing everything we can to stop that sort of thing," he added.

Illegal immigration has exacerbated the situation. "Illegal immigration is a horrible problem for us, not only (in terms of) terrorism and drugs, but other crimes," said Nelson.

In eastern Missouri, much of the crime dealt with by the FBI is "white collar crime," he said.

Such crimes include bank fraud, embezzlement, public corruption and consumer fraud, said Nelson.