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Tragedy at Fort Hood begets more questions than answers
Tragedy at Fort Hood begets more questions than answers
Even before the dead are buried, the questions are being asked.
They must be asked, because as a people we need some type of answer when an inexplicable horror takes place. So it was when a federal building came crashing down in Oklahoma City. When two crazed classmates opened fire at Columbine High School. And now, after an Army psychiatrist, a man trained to give comfort and sworn both to protect his country and to do no harm, opened fire at Fort Hood, Texas. The toll at this writing stands at 13 dead and 29 wounded, with some of those wounded still in danger.
The starting point for all questions is Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the man who is alleged to have fired an estimated 100 rounds and who only stopped shooting after he was brought down by police.
New anecdotes emerge daily about Hasan’s opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, about his questioning how American Muslims could kill Middle Eastern Muslims (though, clearly, Middle East Muslims kill each other every day), about his complaints of being harassed, his attempts to get out of the Army and unsatisfactory reviews that led to his transfer to Fort Hood.
There will be investigations into every aspect of Hasan’s life by Army investigators, federal agents, state and local police, Congress and the press.
It is likely that much of what is uncovered will raise questions about whether Hasan was treated differently because of his rank, because of his minority status or because he had already complained about perceived discrimination against him.
Who is at fault?
But at the end of the day, if the facts bear out what is known now, the primary responsibility for his horrendous deeds will fall on Hasan, and he should be punished accordingly.
Certainly Hasan’s religion is and will be a central point in the debate. But it makes no more sense to blame Muslims for what happened at Fort Hood than to blame, for instance, Christians for the horrors perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klan. History has shown that men will pick and choose scriptural snippets that justify their bad behavior. Few religions have been immune from being perverted by unscrupulous actors.
Some of the people coming forward to describe Hasan’s increasingly troublesome behavior are fellow Muslims. But it appears clear that few of his acquaintances, whether they shared Hasan’s religion or not, thought him capable of mounting a murderous attack on fellow soldiers.
Let the investigations continue, and as time goes by Americans may come to some understanding of what went wrong.
But for now, a nation that has become too accustomed to too many of its young men and women going off to die in foreign lands must mourn soldiers who died here, at home. Some had already seen war, some were preparing for it, but all were cut down before their prime. They have lost their lives; their families and friends have lost their love and comfort, and the United States has 13 more heroes.
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Comments
It is no mystery that if our soldiers carried side arms while on base they could have taken Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan out when he took aim on his first victim .
"The Ft. Hood shootings show that in today's environment, the terrorist threat posed by radical Islam can strike anywhere and can inspire some followers to do terrible deeds."
True political correctness would be to allow the defenders of America to protect themselves . Far too many were killed at Fort Hood by one enemy attacker . What would have happened if several shooters were involved against our disarmed troops ?
"The issue will now become how to provide additional security and to what extent should there be a change to the current policies."
There should be a push to allow our military to carry side arms on base . A few 9mm's carried by the troops would have put Hasan in his place when he first took aim . This slaughter at Fort Hood by the hands of one man should be an awakening .
Clark, you ought to get your #2 post to the Vindy as a letter to the editor. Too good for this forum.
Clark, I agree with borylie. your #2 post is too good for this politically correct forum.
Those who follow the politically correct agenda will work behind the scenes for Hasan . Conspiracy theories and distortion will be the norm . When the dust settles will Hasan be executed ?
I agree with Clark, after serving 22 years in the US Air Force, the court-martial is absolutely the most fair way for this guy to get tried. All politics aside or the fact of a fair trial or not. The man should be sentenced to death. I don't care what happened before the gunfire or after. There isn't but one fact in this case. It was his guns that were fired. It was his guns that murdered 13 personnel and wounded another 30+. What more is there to prove beyond a reasonable doubt? He needs to die.
Terrorism isn't terrorism; unless the suspect is a white male, hetero.
Hasan's guilt may be very evident to most people but his supporters will convince the weak minded that he was shot and tortured for a crime that he was not gulty of . Let's hope that justice is served before the memories of the public get dim .
I cannot believe that this dirtbag is still alive. I believe that the first officer that shot him but was wounded herself is a hero. The second officer is no hero, he could of saved us a lot of BS. Unless he is related to Barney Fife he no doubt had more than one bullet. I wonder if any victims were lost while efforts were spent on this scumbag?
The "dirtbag" and those who allowed him to go past all road blocks in the U.S. Military, to conveniently commit his religious crimes. should all be shot.
Some things defy logic . Hasan attacking our troops was logical . His views toward us were a very evident threat . On 9-11-01 that evident threat sufaced for all to see . What does defy logic is the fact that our defenders are disarmed on base . Is this to give the enemy a fair chance to kill ? Our police are armed at the police station so why shouldn't our soldiers be allowed to carry side arms on base ? In the immortal words of Teddy Roosevelt we should" SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK".
"YES WE CAN" ! We can be both politically correct and not allow our enemies to kill us .
One thing is for sure, he will never receive the death penalty in his Court Marshall. If he is convicted of murder the death penalty decision is left up to the president. No surprise there as to what his decision will be!!!
I found this article by chance -
http://www.lucasblog.com/archives/200...
It puts to words a lot of things that are not politically correct, but ought to be said.
My thoughts (also not politically correct): dismember the guy alive on Saudi soil - arms and legs - and let him bleed to death. See if those 72 virgins come after his martyr carcass.
Who signed the order to transfer him to Fort Hood?
You are right clark, it is "courts martial", I forgot, it has been 40 years since my military service. I also should of said that obummer would have the final say since I am willing to bet it will go that far. This is the kind of case that can bring stardom to a attorney the likes of Sharpton or the ones that defended OJ.