But I tend to be forgiving to the officials and the obvious mistakes that were made. Similar procedural, communications, organization and training errors were committed at the Parkland shootings here in my city, and there has been a lot of finger-pointing and anger, ruined careers and controversy. Bitterness and rage too often follows grief, especially when really stupid things are done by well-meaning people who should know better.

These are extreme and unusual events, and so far outside our usual experience that bureaucracies and officials tend to freeze and stumble just like individuals do in an unanticipated crisis. I recall from my own military training how we were drilled and drilled until every action and response to an emergency was automatic,,,and experience has shown that in combat and when surrounded by chaos, even the most trained individuals still often panic or freeze.

We need to carefully examine these events, and compare them with others, then we need to carefully devise our responses, and train over and over until we get it right. Even the incidents that are handled perfectly must be examined soberly to determine what went right, as well as what might go wrong.

Every time one of these horrific shootings occur, the authorities respond, and too often terrible mistakes are made. But I don't think any of the responders goes in without the best of motives, and they are determined to save innocent lives. Too often, it doesn't turnout that way, but I am still inclined to be charitable.

I was fortunate in my service career, I was never tested in combat, or in some other shipboard emergency, like collision or fire or explosion. But I do remember that whenever we were headed into a potentially hazardous situation, my constant fear was that I might fuck up, and let my country or my ship or my shipmates down. I'm sure the officers who responded at Uvalde, like the ones at Parkland, felt the same. And I'm certain that now they are devastated by their failures. They too, are victims, and will remain that way for the rest of their lives.

There's already enough blame to go around for us to squander it on those who only failed.