Authorities Give Updates In New Orleans and Las Vegas Cases

By
Rachel Stevenson
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The New Year’s Day attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas have revealed a troubling connection, and while authorities are working to piece together the full picture, some of the details that have surfaced should be setting off alarm bells nationwide. Two attacks, two U.S. Army veterans with troubling backgrounds, and the possibility of coordination paint a grim picture of a growing threat—one that the Biden administration seems disturbingly reluctant to call out for what it is.

In Las Vegas, Matthew Livelsberger, a former Green Beret, rented a Cybertruck loaded with explosives and detonated it outside the Trump International Hotel. The truck was stuffed with gasoline tanks, camping fuel, and fireworks, creating a deadly concoction that thankfully only took the life of the attacker himself. The Las Vegas authorities remain tight-lipped about their findings, but Livelsberger’s military background and possible ties to another attacker in New Orleans are raising serious questions.

That other attacker, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former Army staff sergeant, used a rented truck to plow into revelers on Bourbon Street, killing more than a dozen people before being neutralized by police. Both men served in the U.S. military, specifically at the same Army base, and their respective timelines overlap. Jabbar’s documented admiration for ISIS and his video declarations of intent to kill mere hours before his attack seem to confirm his motives. Yet, the administration’s response to these tragedies has been frustratingly tepid.

President Biden’s reaction to these attacks is emblematic of his administration’s broader approach to terrorism: vague, detached, and underwhelming. When asked about possible connections between the two incidents, Biden responded with bureaucratic platitudes, leaving Americans with little reassurance that this issue is being addressed with the urgency it demands. Instead of decisive action or clear communication, we get evasive statements like “there’s nothing to report on that score at this time.” If that doesn’t inspire confidence, it’s because it’s not supposed to.

Let’s also not ignore the elephant in the room: the ISIS connection. Jabbar’s fascination with the terrorist group and his radicalized motives seem as clear as day, yet the administration continues to focus on “domestic extremism” as its primary national security priority. Meanwhile, actual terror attacks with links to ISIS-inspired ideology are happening on U.S. soil. Is it any wonder why Americans feel less safe?

These attacks also highlight a broader failure in addressing the needs of veterans transitioning out of military service. Livelsberger and Jabbar both served their country honorably, but something went terribly wrong along the way. Whether it’s a failure to provide mental health support or to identify radicalization within the ranks, these gaps need to be addressed—urgently.

The events in New Orleans and Las Vegas are not isolated incidents. They are a wake-up call that demands clear-eyed leadership and decisive action. Unfortunately, under this administration, clarity and decisiveness seem to be in short supply. If we don’t start prioritizing the safety and security of our citizens over political correctness, we’ll only see more of these tragedies unfold.

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