I found this transcript of on of the bugs in the compound.
Source, as well as other interesting information: http://www.dallasnews.com/specials/waco/
----------
6:00 a.m.
FBI Agent Byron Sage (in telephone call to the
Davidians announcing the tear gassing of the
compound): OK, we're in the process of putting tear gas
into the building. This is not an assault. We are not
entering the building. Not an assault.
Branch Davidian Steve Schneider: You are going to
spray tear gas into the building.
Agent Sage: In the building ... We are not entering the
building. This is not an assault.
Unknown male: Tear gas (unintelligible)
Agent Sage: Do not fire your weapons. If you fire, fire
will be returned.
Mr. Schneider: Everybody grab your gas masks. ...
6:01 a.m.
Mr. Schneider: Everybody wake up. ... Let's start to
pray (unintelligible) ...
6:05 a.m.
Unknown male: You want it poured?
Unknown male: They're hitting the building. Whoa.
Unknown male: Pablo, have you poured it yet?
Unknown male: Huh?
Unknown male: Have you poured it yet?
Unknown male: In the hallway.
Unknown male: Things are poured, right (unintelligible)
...?
Agent Sage (via FBI speakers outside the
compound): Do not fire any weapons.
Unknown male: Need to get the fuel out.
Agent Sage: We do not want anyone hurt
Uknown male: Do you want me to pour it already?
Unknown male: We want the fuel.
Agent Sage: The gas will continue to be delivered until
all ...
Unknown male: You want some here?
Agent Sage: ... are out of the building. Come out now.
6:12 a.m.
Unknown male: Go get another mask.
Unknown male: You got to get the fuel ready.
Unknown male: I already poured it. It's already poured.
6:16 a.m.
Unknown male: All the kids, all the kids. All the kids
are down in the (unintelligible) ...
Unknown male: OK, if you (unintelligible) face, man.
Unknown male: What you doin' now?
Unknown male: Don't move around (unintelligible) get
ready. Don't let anybody come in.
Unknown male: Nobody comes in, huh?
Unknown male: Nobody ... (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Right.
7:20 a.m.
Unknown male: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Unknown male: Don't fire. Don't fire. Don't fire.
Unknown male: Pat, they just rammed into the wall.
Unknown male: Get out, get out.
Unknown male: Look at the gas.
Unknown male: Looks like acid?
Unknown male: Tear gas is irritating (unintelligible).
Unknown male. I know. They're (unintelligible) said
there are fire there.
7:23 a.m.
Unknown male:
Is there a way to spread fuel in there? There.
Unknown male: I don't know. I know that one
(unintelligible)
Unknown male: So we only light 'em as soon as they
tell me last chance, right? Not if they (unitelligible)
Unknown male: Well, that's the fuel. We should get
more hay in here.
Unknown male: The fuel has to go all around to get
started.
Unknown male: Well, there are two cans here. If that's
poured soon (unintelligible) to take.
Unknown male: All kinds of (unintelligible)
Unknown male: All kinds of what?
Unknown male: Somebody shootin' live cannons
(unintelligible)
(tank sounds)...
7:24 a.m.
David Koresh: Yeah, Lord. You're waging a storm, in
the whirlwind. You're way, way. All we can do is wait.
9:20 a.m.
Mr. Koresh: The got two cans of Coleman fuel down
there? ... Huh?
Mr. Schneider: Empty.
Mr. Koresh: All of it?
Mr. Schneider: Think so.
Mr. Koresh: Did you check?
Mr. Schneider: Nothing left.
Mr. Koresh: Out of both cans?
Mr. Schneider: I got some mineral oil here.
9:44 a.m.
(Mr. Schneider has been discussing how the sect might
repair a telephone line that was severed by the tanks
within minutes after the tear-gassing operation began. It
is the sect's only means of talking with the FBI)
Mr. Schneider: Just respond accordingly ... 'cause we
do want to get a line to say at least something to 'em. ...
We've asked that we can finish the seven seals. Here's
the manuscript. The first one is about completed. It was
worked on all last night. But there's no way to know. I
gotta work with David ... you know."
11:15 a.m.
Unknown male: He's up in his room.
(unintelligible conversation, broadcast interview in
background)
Unknown male: Putting on prayer (unintelligible)
Unknown male: What? For what?
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Oh, (unintelligible) God says
(unintelligible). Come down here. Go low 'cause they
shoot high.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) They're getting it fueled.
Unknown male: No problem.
Unknown male: Where is (unintelligible)
Unknown male: They're lighting 'em here. (unintelligible)
through the ditches. (unintelligible) place
(Radio broadcast in background)
Unknown male: When are they gonna go bring the
children? ...
11:25 a.m.
Unknown male: Tell (unintelligible) are you kidding.
Light 'em.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) Go and see if you can
light up the torches.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) go in the house.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) give me the torch.
Unknown male: Is it lit?
Unknown male: Look out for that. No. They're already
lit.
Unknown male: What are you gonna do? Now we're
committed.
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Whatever you've got, you use.
(unintelligible).
Unknown male: (unintelligible) the idea. When you're
(unintelligible). They're just lying to you.
Unknown male: That's what I say. (unintelligible)
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: (unintelligible) In here.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) have to move.
Unknown male: Go get with the kids.
11:40 a.m.
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: I want a fire around back.
11:48 a.m.
Unknown male: They're gassing (unintelligible).
Unknown male: (unintelligible) gas.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) stay down (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Let's keep that fire going (unintelligible)
11:49 a.m.
Unknown person: Look out ... (sounds of running feet,
tank crashing into wall)
11:54 a.m.
(loud crashing noise)
Unknown male: ... Be cool (unintelligible)
11:56 a.m.
(loud crash)
-----------
Based on this, it's quite obvious that the fire was started by some of the Davidians, probably hoping to burn up government agents they thought were going to be storming the compound. The place was not torched by the FBI or the ATF. Of course, I believe the actions of these agencies were wrong and stupid in the extreme, but they didn't start the fire. We certainly should protest the foolish militaristic raid on the compound that sparked the conflict, no matter which side fired the first shot- which is unknown anyway.
Of course, you can certainly assert that this transcript was faked, but, in my opinion, that's unlikely.
Source, as well as other interesting information: http://www.dallasnews.com/specials/waco/
----------
6:00 a.m.
FBI Agent Byron Sage (in telephone call to the
Davidians announcing the tear gassing of the
compound): OK, we're in the process of putting tear gas
into the building. This is not an assault. We are not
entering the building. Not an assault.
Branch Davidian Steve Schneider: You are going to
spray tear gas into the building.
Agent Sage: In the building ... We are not entering the
building. This is not an assault.
Unknown male: Tear gas (unintelligible)
Agent Sage: Do not fire your weapons. If you fire, fire
will be returned.
Mr. Schneider: Everybody grab your gas masks. ...
6:01 a.m.
Mr. Schneider: Everybody wake up. ... Let's start to
pray (unintelligible) ...
6:05 a.m.
Unknown male: You want it poured?
Unknown male: They're hitting the building. Whoa.
Unknown male: Pablo, have you poured it yet?
Unknown male: Huh?
Unknown male: Have you poured it yet?
Unknown male: In the hallway.
Unknown male: Things are poured, right (unintelligible)
...?
Agent Sage (via FBI speakers outside the
compound): Do not fire any weapons.
Unknown male: Need to get the fuel out.
Agent Sage: We do not want anyone hurt
Uknown male: Do you want me to pour it already?
Unknown male: We want the fuel.
Agent Sage: The gas will continue to be delivered until
all ...
Unknown male: You want some here?
Agent Sage: ... are out of the building. Come out now.
6:12 a.m.
Unknown male: Go get another mask.
Unknown male: You got to get the fuel ready.
Unknown male: I already poured it. It's already poured.
6:16 a.m.
Unknown male: All the kids, all the kids. All the kids
are down in the (unintelligible) ...
Unknown male: OK, if you (unintelligible) face, man.
Unknown male: What you doin' now?
Unknown male: Don't move around (unintelligible) get
ready. Don't let anybody come in.
Unknown male: Nobody comes in, huh?
Unknown male: Nobody ... (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Right.
7:20 a.m.
Unknown male: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
Unknown male: Don't fire. Don't fire. Don't fire.
Unknown male: Pat, they just rammed into the wall.
Unknown male: Get out, get out.
Unknown male: Look at the gas.
Unknown male: Looks like acid?
Unknown male: Tear gas is irritating (unintelligible).
Unknown male. I know. They're (unintelligible) said
there are fire there.
7:23 a.m.
Unknown male:
Is there a way to spread fuel in there? There.
Unknown male: I don't know. I know that one
(unintelligible)
Unknown male: So we only light 'em as soon as they
tell me last chance, right? Not if they (unitelligible)
Unknown male: Well, that's the fuel. We should get
more hay in here.
Unknown male: The fuel has to go all around to get
started.
Unknown male: Well, there are two cans here. If that's
poured soon (unintelligible) to take.
Unknown male: All kinds of (unintelligible)
Unknown male: All kinds of what?
Unknown male: Somebody shootin' live cannons
(unintelligible)
(tank sounds)...
7:24 a.m.
David Koresh: Yeah, Lord. You're waging a storm, in
the whirlwind. You're way, way. All we can do is wait.
9:20 a.m.
Mr. Koresh: The got two cans of Coleman fuel down
there? ... Huh?
Mr. Schneider: Empty.
Mr. Koresh: All of it?
Mr. Schneider: Think so.
Mr. Koresh: Did you check?
Mr. Schneider: Nothing left.
Mr. Koresh: Out of both cans?
Mr. Schneider: I got some mineral oil here.
9:44 a.m.
(Mr. Schneider has been discussing how the sect might
repair a telephone line that was severed by the tanks
within minutes after the tear-gassing operation began. It
is the sect's only means of talking with the FBI)
Mr. Schneider: Just respond accordingly ... 'cause we
do want to get a line to say at least something to 'em. ...
We've asked that we can finish the seven seals. Here's
the manuscript. The first one is about completed. It was
worked on all last night. But there's no way to know. I
gotta work with David ... you know."
11:15 a.m.
Unknown male: He's up in his room.
(unintelligible conversation, broadcast interview in
background)
Unknown male: Putting on prayer (unintelligible)
Unknown male: What? For what?
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Oh, (unintelligible) God says
(unintelligible). Come down here. Go low 'cause they
shoot high.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) They're getting it fueled.
Unknown male: No problem.
Unknown male: Where is (unintelligible)
Unknown male: They're lighting 'em here. (unintelligible)
through the ditches. (unintelligible) place
(Radio broadcast in background)
Unknown male: When are they gonna go bring the
children? ...
11:25 a.m.
Unknown male: Tell (unintelligible) are you kidding.
Light 'em.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) Go and see if you can
light up the torches.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) go in the house.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) give me the torch.
Unknown male: Is it lit?
Unknown male: Look out for that. No. They're already
lit.
Unknown male: What are you gonna do? Now we're
committed.
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Whatever you've got, you use.
(unintelligible).
Unknown male: (unintelligible) the idea. When you're
(unintelligible). They're just lying to you.
Unknown male: That's what I say. (unintelligible)
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: (unintelligible) In here.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) have to move.
Unknown male: Go get with the kids.
11:40 a.m.
Unknown male: (unintelligible)
Unknown male: I want a fire around back.
11:48 a.m.
Unknown male: They're gassing (unintelligible).
Unknown male: (unintelligible) gas.
Unknown male: (unintelligible) stay down (unintelligible)
Unknown male: Let's keep that fire going (unintelligible)
11:49 a.m.
Unknown person: Look out ... (sounds of running feet,
tank crashing into wall)
11:54 a.m.
(loud crashing noise)
Unknown male: ... Be cool (unintelligible)
11:56 a.m.
(loud crash)
-----------
Based on this, it's quite obvious that the fire was started by some of the Davidians, probably hoping to burn up government agents they thought were going to be storming the compound. The place was not torched by the FBI or the ATF. Of course, I believe the actions of these agencies were wrong and stupid in the extreme, but they didn't start the fire. We certainly should protest the foolish militaristic raid on the compound that sparked the conflict, no matter which side fired the first shot- which is unknown anyway.
Of course, you can certainly assert that this transcript was faked, but, in my opinion, that's unlikely.