Day 16 of the Waco Standoff

March 15, 1993
There was no contact with the compound during the pre-dawn hours of March 15. Bright lights remained focused on the compound; however, no other actions were taken by the FBI.
The FBI established a modified negotiation strategy, in which the negotiators would be firm, would continue to insist on a peaceful resolution, but would refuse to listen to any more of what they called "Bible babble".
[Material redacted as required by statute.] Meanwhile, at 2:05 p.m., the negotiators called into the compound and suggested that Schneider come out of the compound and meet them face-to-face.
Between 4:23 p.m. and 5:28 p.m., Schneider and Wayne Martin came out of the compound and met with SSRA Byron Sage and McLennan County Sheriff Jack Harwell. In what the negotiators termed a "cordial and positive" meeting, the two sides agreed that negotiations would continue. Schneider also told negotiators that God had told Koresh to stay but that the others could leave any time they wanted. SSRA Sage and Sheriff Harwell were also able to defuse many issues of concern, such as the Davidians' right to counsel, the availability of medical attention, and the preservation of the crime scene.
[Material redacted as required by statute.]

(The Myth: The FBI ‘tortured’ those people before burning them alive!)

[The Truth: Maybe you think shutting off the power and shining bright lights on the compound so the Davdians couldn’t sleep is ‘torture,’ which is pretty weird since lots of the Goofy Bastards with Guns and Bibles thought Waterboarding wasn’t. It was more, ‘get out of that compound and stop hiding behind the women and children.’ What was Vernon’s main issue of concern? That he couldn’t preach via the news media.

S. Olson