ATF remembers fallen agents on Waco anniversary—no mention of 25 slain children

"The best time to delete this tweet was before you posted it. The second best time is now," tweeted journalist and military veteran Jack Posobiec.

In February of 1993, ATF agents from three different localities descended on the compound of a splinter religious group, the Branch Davidians, in order to execute a search warrant. Violence ensued, followed by a 51-day standoff.

The tragic scenario came to a horrible end, when a fire started in the compound on April 19. The compound burned to the ground, and more than 70 residents were killed, with only nine of them escaping. Many of the victims were small children.

Authorities maintain to this day that the fire was started by the residents, but there has always existed speculation that the fire was accidental, or even potentially caused on purpose by the ATF:

The tweet from the ATF's official account reads:

"We remember the fallen agents: Special Agent Conway LeBleu, Special Agent Todd McKeehan, Special Agent Robert Williams, and Special Agent Steven Willis who made the ultimate sacrifice while trying to execute a search warrant. Learn more:",linking to the complete statement on their website.

Here is an excerpt from the statement:

"The Davidians were alerted to the impending raid by a local postman, who was also a cult member. The heavily armed, cult members were waiting in ambush as the agents unloaded from their vehicles. Koresh was outside on the porch, as the agents approached telling him they had a search warrant and instructing him to "get down," he retreated inside the house. Gunfire burst through the door, as the agents approached, one agent was wounded."

"As a result of the 2 1/2 hour long gunfight, four ATF agents were killed; 20 ATF agents wounded from gunshots or shrapnel and eight agents suffered other injuries. A cease-fire followed and Koresh released 24 members (mostly children, but none of his own) from the compound. A 51-day stand-off ended when the Davidian Compound erupted in fire(s) set by cult members, as law enforcement attempted to force them out by introducing tear gas into the building on April 19. The fire destroyed the compound and more than 70 residents were killed, many from gunshot wounds apparently inflicted by fellow cult members. Nine cult members escaped the fire and were arrested, while eight of those members were later convicted in federal court on various firearms and/or other charges; and all were sentenced to various lengths of imprisonment."

Responses to the ATF's statement on social media were overwhelmingly negative:

"I'm a Canadian, and I was 10 when this went down, and even I know this is some tasteless s**t."

"I was old. This followed the Ruby Ridge tragedy. Democrats have no problem killing Americans."

Finally, another user, who was retweeted 121 times at the time of this writing, brings up a very obvious point about why the ATF's post may be considered insensitive and "tasteless":

"What about the children who were murdered??"