A Heads-Up or A Politically Correct Sham?
Spin it any way you want the cascading effect on both Military and Civilian Communities is disastrous. The Terror Multiplier Effect (TME) will color our perceptions of trustworthiness, safety and security for decades. The initial shock that it could happen here, it could happen on a military installation, it was a physician and the reality that someone in the healing arts is capable of such savage carnage is mindboggling.
Apart from the incredible length of time Major Hasan was able to verbally exhibit his “borderline?” disdain for his country, his ability to contain his rage over that same period of time is extremely troublesome. We are surprised that during his lengthy counseling of PTSD patients he had not incurred the wrath of his counselees’ and communication of their angst to proper authorities.
The blame game produces more heat than light. Emotions are running at full throttle in a brakeless vehicle of cognitive dissonance. What you see is what you want to see and gives you a measure of emotional relief.
The potential for informed and beneficial actions based on lessons learned is almost limitless. If past is prologue, irrational polarizations will lead to actions which future generations will scratch their heads and say, “how did that happen?”
The need for a comprehensive roadmap to mitigate future lapses of common sense apolitical judgments which allowed this event to happen transcends the present event.
The military establishment has the structural action framework, if properly executed, to secure its domain. We have extensive career military healthcare experience at the highest levels within the Army Surgeon General’s Office. The press account speculation that promotion to a field grade rank by any legally constituted promotion board is automatic is inconceivable. Congressional review and approval of promotion lists are designed to provide an additional safeguard. Go figure!!!!!!!
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