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Fort Hood shootings a politically correct tragedy waiting to happen
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AP Photo/The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress
As more reports come in about Major Nidal Malik Hasan USA, the chief (and only) suspect in the deaths of thirteen people at Fort Hood, TX, one thing becomes crystal-clear: this incident did not have to happen. The government ignored several key warning signs about Major Hasan, and might have a worse problem: he is not the only one.
Warning signs
In 2001, the year of Hasan's graduation from the military's medical school, 9/11 happened. Family members say that Hasan first became a target of harassment on account of his Muslim faith then and from then on wanted out of the Army, even offering to repay the Army for his medical training. But a Muslim veterans' group says that they never heard anything about any such harassment, either of Hasan in particular or indeed of any other Muslim in the ranks.
The records of the last five years, according to HealthGrades.com, show no reported instance of disciplinary actions. But his record during his medical training and internship shows that he came under discipline for unfavorable interactions with patients. At least one report states that he was trying to convert his patients to Islam and was told to knock it off. Another psychiatrist tells of Hasan delivering a bizarre "grand rounds" in which he dwelt on the penalty for "infidels": "having their heads cut off and set on fire."
His classmate from his fellowship-training days now says that Hasan had repeatedly said that the war on terror was in fact "a war against Islam."
Much more recently, in the spring of this year, his name turned up on Internet postings comparing suicide bombers to soldiers who throw themselves onto live hand grenades to save their buddies. His connection was never definitely established, and no one had investigated him formally.
And the latest: Osman Danquah, leader of the Islamic Community of Greater Killeen, said that Hasan had come to him for advice on how to finesse Islamic doctrine about helping "infidels" kill fellow Muslims. Danqueh now says that he grew worried about Hasan late last summer and even told Hasan himself that he felt that he had "something wrong with you." But of course he didn't tell the Army.
And even if he had, it might not have made any difference. Incredibly, Hasan was an adviser to Obama's transition team on national security matters.
D-Day
His conduct on the day of the shooting is further evidence, not only of his guilt but also of his premeditation of his act. He cleaned out his apartment, gave away some leftover food, and said good-bye to a neighbor--the sort of thing that a soldier does when he is about to deploy. But Hasan wasn't due to deploy for several more months.
Several hours before the shootings, he stopped by the convenience store where he had been a regular customer--wearing traditional Islamic robes. The store owner says that he had repeatedly tried to address Hasan's reservations about "killing fellow Muslims" by pointing out that foreign parts had more than their share of "bad guys." Evidently that message didn't "take."
And as he was firing his shots, witnesses heard him repeatedly shouting, "Allahu Akbar!" Which, of course, is Arabic for "God is great!"
Reaction
The take of the Muslim community on this depends on whom you ask. The leader of his former mosque in Silver Spring, MD, insists that "Islam is not responsible" for such behavior as this. Well, somebody didn't get the memo, because at least one radical-Muslim website clearly says that Major Hasan is worthy of honor for what he did, and that they see nothing for which to reproach him.
Add this to it: Hasan is not the first Muslim under arms to turn on his mates--and might not be the last.
Now what are we to make of it? Well, as has been said before on this page, the Quran itself says this:
Then, when the sacred months have passed, slay the idolaters wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. But if they repent and establish worship and pay the poor-due, then leave their way free. Lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
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