I'm pretty fucking pissed and sad for the loss of life and those injured. I'm ducking passed at how this could happen in 5he first place; I keep asking myself, WHY???
I'm angry at it happened on New Year's morning- a date on which we nornally embrace a new beginning, a fresh start.
I'm sad at the loss of life, and the countless number of people injured.
Countless memorials have popped up on Bourbon and Canal in memory of the 14 souls lost. The whole city was grieving, hell, even the whole world!
I'm pretty fucking pissed that someone seriously fucked up on security in the area, especially with the bollards. Leaving an open area for pedestrian access was a fatal mistake because it left an open road that didn't stop that asshole with the rented truck from killing and maiming innocent pedestrians who were celebrating that fresh start. When the police chief said that the terrorist was hell-bent on causing mayhem, she wasn't whistling "Dixie."
When I woke up on New Year's morning and got the news, I was shaken to the core. It's as if our sacred space was violated. Our very sense of security was brought into question. Our very safety was jeopardized, either directly or indirectly. I had a hell of a time trying to sleep the following night.
It's almost like Hurricane Katrina happened again to many. Only this time, the whirlwind manner of destruction was more compacted.
Was there incompetence surrounding this? FUCK YEAH! All around:
1. What IDIOT would start a bollard replacement during the Autumn season, when thousands would be in town for football games, Taylor Swift, the Sugar Bowl, etc.? I know they're trying to get this shit done before the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, but these improvements should have been done so that the defenses would be IN PLACE to at least reduce the risks!
2. What IDIOT would ignore an analysis of security vulnerabilities in the French Quarter and not harden the security defenses there? I smell incompetence up the ying-yang and serious fuck-ups all over the place!.
3. Where was the Intel that could've prevented this heinous act? If the Intel community and law enforcement at all levels would pay more attention to the risks and vulnerabilities, could this jackass have been stopped from causing this mayhem? We may never know unless there is a full 9/11-style probe.
I'm not surprised that some of the victims have filed suit against the City of New Orleans. I'd add some State and Federal agencies as defendants. I just wonder, how bad does it get? It's too bad that the plaintiffs may never potentially see any money from the City. A fucking shame!!!
