The Role of the Word 'Cult' in the Standoff

The word 'cult' appeared in the affidavit submitted by the BATF to justify the warrant for the FBI's intervention, which influenced how negotiations were approached. The FBI's negotiators labeled the group as 'crazy' and dismissed their beliefs due to the perception of them being a cult, leading to a belief that negotiation or reasoning with them was futile. This perception underlined the FBI's approach during the standoff, where their primary goal was to get the people inside out.