For AN HOUR AND 13 MINUTES, no decisions were made as people were dying from the attack

[berni_mccoy]

It took over an HOUR and 13 minutes for any decisions to be made as the tragedy unfolded.

It is understandable that the victims are quick to blame those in charge? Why wait? Why not communicate to save lives? Why do NOTHING to prevent FURTHER tragedy and stop the attacks.

After the initial mourning for the dead, you can bet that the survivors and the survivors of the deceased are going to see that justice is done and that those who are responsible are held accountable for their crime of negligence and inadequecy.

Of course the questions will arise what should be done to prevent such a thing from happening again, increasing security, passing laws and giving more power to law enforcement, but ultimately, we must accept our vulnerabilities that there are people who are going to find a way to hurt us. It is in the hands of those in charge that need to respond quickly and adequately to do the ultimate job of protecting us despite the persistence of those who would harm us. And if they are not up to the task of doing their jobs and acting accordingly in a timely fashion, then they do not deserve the posts they keep.

Many of you may be thinking that I am talking about the tragedy that struck Virginia Tech today. I am not. But it is tragedies like these, where there is chaos and anarchy caused by the actions of a single person or small number of people that affect the lives of so very many innocent people, that remind me of the tragedy of 9/11. And I wonder, why, if we are so quick to judge the administration of this school, why no binding judgement came down upon the shoulders of those who failed America the most: the entire Bush Administration.

[gatorboy]

1. Because thinking on your toes is taboo in the Bush era.

Gotta have Exploratory Committees to figure out what to do.

[MadMaddie]

2. I can see where you are going... and you are right

This tradgedy reveals is that we as a nation are no better prepared for an interal attack on any of our major facilities, whether they be college campuses, nuclear facilities, major infrastructure (highways, railroads, bridges etc..),

Our National Guard Units have been depleted so the local police have no true backup if they need additional help. Our police departments have many of their officers in Iraq because they are National Guard...

When * said for Americans to go back to doing what they were doing before the attacks....he meant his administration was going do everything in it's power to strike fear in the hearts of Americans....and at the same time destroy this great country our ours.

He and his administration have failed...and they should be fired by the American people and tried for Treason.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. My thoughts and sentiments, exactly. People in leadership positions are tasked with the welfare of

all those impacted by their decisions.

That's what they get the "big bucks" for. MKJ

[Hamlette]

4. I don't get it

the first shooting seemed like a lovers "tiff" as it was called in another thread.

How should that have led to alarm for other students?

At worst, the way it looks now, it was a bad call.

Every time there is a murder you don't shut down the campus, block, town. That is the sort of thing that leads to the unnecessary fear spread by Bush co.

Or did I miss something in the news today.

(The hour plus on 9/11 would of made no difference, unless again, I don't know something. The important information was Bush unable to react appropriately. Then, or 15 months later.)

[sproutster]

5. QUESTION: If they closed classes for bomb threats - how did they do so?

CYA, omg, CYA.

[Warpy]

6. The first scene looked like a revenge killing

and the perp was nowhere to be found. The campus was locked down while they worked the scene and searched the area. That's standard operating procedure.

As soon as the lockdown was ended, after a search of the immediate area turned up nothing, the perp struck the classroom building.

They had no way of knowing that what looked like a revenge killing was going to turn into mass murder. In fact, ballistics comparisons may show they were separate things, entirely. I doubt it, but it's possible.

The gunfire at the second scene lasted about 30 minutes. Lockdown was immediate and undoubtedly saved a lot of lives.

Cops can't tell the future. Second guessing them at this point is futile.

The perp acted as his own judge, jury and executioner. Although it's natural to lash out and try to find someone to blame, it's not going to work in this case. He already did it for you.

[autorank]

7. That's the big question. You're right. The response live was something else.

The police got to the building with the shooter. They charged in, broke down the chains in less than a minute and were ready to engage. He shot himself, no doubt knowing what would happen shortly. They didn't fiddle around or scope out the scene.

This is the other side of the local law enforcement picture and it was rirst rate.

There may be a good explanation of the delay but it's hard to come up with one.

[UNCLE_Rico]

8. Can anybody please let me know if any of the following happens?

I'm not going to watch the news myself, I can't stand it when this kind of thing happens and then the media descend upon it like vultures. But I'd very much like to know if anyone sees/hears any of the following:

1) Let me know if ANY interviewer in ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM attempts ANY sort investigatory reporting along the lines of finding out whether 'the official story' jibes with the events as they unfolded.

This would include such things as
a) An interview with an EYE-WITNESS who says that they have spoken with law enforcement and POSITIVELY ID'd the assailant, via being shown a photograph of the suspect.
b) If there's such an interviewee who hasn't spoken to law enforcement, but is a witness, they might be asked if they know WHY they haven't been spoken to?
c) An interviewee telling an interviewer exactly what the assailant looked like, what he said, how he was acting
d) An interviewee being asked whether they are CERTAIN that there was only one shooter involved.

2) Whether the FBI has already stepped in and, if they did, have they already then also booted out local law enforcement from the scene.

Please let me know, I'll be checking back regularly. I'm very curious to see how 'locked down' they try to keep this investigation...