Waco and FBI

There seem to be two issues of great significance in the current FBI-Branch Davidian fire controversy. All of the accounts of the FBI’s motives in using flammable tear gas say the FBI wanted to use tear gas in the underground bunker to prevent David Koresh or any of his followers from using it as an escape route. Just what did the FBI want to prevent them from escaping? They had the bunker surrounded, so “escape” does not mean to freedom, it means escaping something else--a fire?

And if the FBI is continuing its long-standing tradition of lying and violating Americans’ civil and human rights, then why is Atty. Gen. Janet Reno catching heat from the Republicans in Congress? If these Republicans care so much about us ordinary citizens, why aren’t they calling for the elimination of the FBI?

RICHARD CURTIS

Rancho Cucamonga

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The last sentence in your Sept. 2 article reminds us that “the siege began after four federal agents were killed in an attempted raid on the Davidian compound to confiscate illegal weapons.” I suspect that the FBI overreacted to these killings by using incendiary devices to destroy the compound. Of course, this does not justify a cover-up by the FBI or anyone else.

KEN STONE

Los Angeles

Beach Pollution

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Huntington Beach and the businesses that depend on beach traffic are finally getting it--we can’t continue to use the storm drains and flood control system like a sewer without significant consequences (Sept. 1). Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not new to Los Angeles County beaches. I bet everyone reading this sees evidence of the problem each day--cigarette butts, dog droppings, fast-food containers, grass clippings, dirty water from washing cars, overwatering lawns with too many pesticides and fertilizers, etc.

People mindlessly throw litter out their car windows, leave droppings and trash on street corners, or let water run down the street.

It appears now that these things caused the beach closure at Huntington Beach, not leaking sewer lines, not some irresponsible business. The pollution problem would be much easier to solve if it were from those sources because of the regulation, enforcement and reporting required of them. As it turns out, the pollution source that closed Huntington Beach does have a face--our own.

HEATHER LEA MERENDA

Newbury Park