Senseless Tragedy in Fort Hood Texas
One of the sad things about being a blogger and living in a free democracy is that real life intervenes. We complain about the silly season in politics on light news days, when we should be thankful. Light news means nothing tragic is happening.
Yesterday I ran a column making fun of the President, comparing him to a toddler. I will continue to have those light columns on light news days. However, while we have the freedom to poke fun, and we should, we must be prepared and act in a responsible manner when when the situation calls for us to rally around each other.
Barack Obama is my president, and while there is little he can do at all regarding the awful events in Texas, healing words are highly appropriate. I don’t expect him to “do something.” I do want him to “say something,” in the same way that Bill Clinton spoke after the Oklahoma City Bombing and George W. Bush spoke after 9/11.
I have been sharply critical of President Obama’s words, but he must summon his best rhetorical flourish in the days to come. Like all good Americans, these words will be comforting and sincere.
Yesterday he rightly called the events “horrifying.” While some have accused him of being cool, aloof, and detached, it is also highly possible that he simply copes in a different way than I do. I wear my heart on my sleeve. He doesn’t. I have no idea what pain he feels, and hope that he can help us all heal.
I look at the news about Fort Hood, and like the Virginia Tech tragedy, the only question I can even begin to ask is “why?” Why would somebody do this?
There are so many questions, some of them legitimate, and some of them unworthy of being asked. There are many calls to action, some misplaced and some completely fair.
As I try to make sense of all of this, I am keeping the loved ones of the victims in my heart.
As for the rest of my thoughts, they are as jumbled and disjointed as this situation itself.
First of all, I have heard rumblings that “This did not happen on George W. Bush’s watch.”
This argument is toxic, and I want no part of it. I advance it not to plant the seed, but to outright reject it. President Obama is not to blame for this tragedy.
As for Attorney General Eric Holder, the argument is less implausible, but should only be advanced if there is rock hard evidence. Eric Holder does with to overturn many intelligence techniques that have kept us safe. Did he overturn any specific Bush Administration policies that led to this tragedy?
Since my question is only speculation, it does not deserve to be investigated at this time, and I mean at this time. Eric Holder wants to investigate Bush Administration officials. The temptation to want to launch an investigation against him is just as destructive. Those that feel that “without investigations, we can’t get to the evidence” follow a school of thought that leads to wild fishing expeditions.
Another question that deserves to be asked, even though it is heartbreaking to do so as soldiers are grieving, is whether the military is partly to blame for this tragedy?
Could they have done a better job seeing that one of their own was a ticking time bomb, or was he good enough at hiding it?
Was this man abused by fellow soldiers? Did superiors know about it and do nothing? Or was this soldier a crybaby? Obviously there was something not right with him, and nothing justifies his actions. Yet was he triggered by something real or imagined?
Another question is why the people at this military medical facility were unarmed. I know that “this is their home,” but is this military policy? Does the administration ban guns at these facilities?
I don’t know the answers. I just want them.
Is Nidal Hasan a terrorist? Is he an Islamofascist?
Yes, he is, and yes, he is.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/fort_hood_xjP9yGrJN7gl7zdsJ31vnJ
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/11/06/the-massacre-at-fort-hood-and-muslim-soldiers-with-attitude/
There is no evidence at this time that he belongs to any official terrorist group or sleeper cell. He appears to have acted alone. However, that does not make him anything other than one single terrorist who acted due to a warped view of Islam.
He compared suicide bombers to soldiers who dive on grenades to save their fellow soldiers. Comparing suicide bombers to heroes is every bit as fanatical as any suicide bomber himself.
Some will try to blame George W. Bush for this, because they blame George W. Bush for everything. In the same way President Obama is not to blame, neither is President Bush, those who claim that the stress of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan led to this are playing partisan games. This was one man committing an evil act. People do not protest war by using violence, unless they belong to fringe groups.
Some will try to use this tragedy to advance a political agenda. On the left they will push gun control laws, as they did with Columbine, Oklahoma City, and 9/11. This should be immediately condemned when, not if, but when, attempted.
Others will try to use this as a reason to end the war due to psychological strain on our soldiers. Absolutely not, no how, no way, no how.
On the far right, nativists may end up hurting innocent Muslims. After 9/11, a Seikh was attacked, even though India is an ally. There cannot be anti-Muslim rage. If an isolated incident happens, it must be condemned, and liberals had better not try to blame all conservatives for an isolated incident that conservatives condemn.
The main issue that makes this a powderkeg is that the killer lived.
He knows the truth. We need answers.
Did he kill to avoid being deployed? Is he a disgruntled employee that just did not like a bad performance review? Was this Islamofascist rage, or anti-boss rage?
Was he a true believer of radical Islam, or was that a cover for something else? There were no notes about “Death to America” or “Death to Israel.” While it is refreshing for once to not have the Jews blamed for something, a lack of blaming Israel shows an inconsistency with most Islamofascists.
We need the truth. Yet what if he does not wish to tell us?
Do we torture him?
We may have to do so.
If we don’t, and another attack occurs, then what?
We need to try and break Mr. Hasan using all legal methods, and if everything else fails, we need to leave the room and let somebody we will never know about go Jack Bauer on him.
12 people are dead and 31 are wounded. What if 43 could be 4300?
This was an act of war, but the person who committed the terrorist attack was born and raised in the United States. It was treason, and treason is punishable by death, if he is convicted or found guilty.
Also, at the risk of stereotyping, I was less reflective of the Muslim angle than I was of the psychiatry angle. Why the heck are so many d@mn psychiatrists crazy? The only people more crazy are the children of psychiatrists.
Yet stereotypes aside, all industries have good and bad apples, and we now know this includes the military and psychiatry professions. We are at war, and war is hell. We need more psychiatrists and other professionals to help our soldiers cope. Most of them do not kill like this, but there is no denying that stress leads to higher rates of alcoholism, drug abuse, marital breakups, and despair that can lead to suicide.
As I said, my thoughts remain jumbled. I just want answers. I am aware that we may never get them.
I just want everybody, from the President on down to the last soldier and civilian, to find a way to make sure a tragedy like this never happens again.
It is one thing to die in battle. It is another to be murdered in your home.
May God bless the families who lost loved ones, and may we somehow, some way, find an ounce of a sliver of good news in this terrible, senseless, and possibly avoidable tragedy.
eric
November 6th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I am in a debate with an acquaintence who often times criticized
Jewish leaders for apologizing for something igregious done years ago
by a Jew, affecting Jews and non-Jews.
He says that those leaders did not represent him, and had no right to
the news conference.
I wonder if he has the same attitude about the Islamic Conference
leaders who gave a news conference at the Islamic Center yesterday,
decrying the instant massacre? Food for thought I would say.
As far as the Texas massacre…the man’s parents were Palestinians, having moved to the United States. He was a psychiatrist..and should have
been aware of his personality disorder, character flaws and psychiatric
problems. He was around dozens of medications Im sure..and could have
at any time spoke to a co-worker physician, nurse, attendent, social worker, etc.
Yes, the military might have been more aware of his neurosis, and psychosis, but remember, he is a psychiatrist. He knows how to hide
his disorders..how to fake being just another normal guy maybe with
some concerns about going off to war.
Perhaps the military should investigate their own..more thoroughly,
especially when they have access to a weapon.
Im sure all civil service agencies watch their own employees, for any
signs of instability.
Maybe he was upset that the US is in Iraq and Afghanistan? Maybe
he was upset because the Palestinian leader is quitting the talks blaming
the US and Israel (while he won’t talk w/o pre-conditions). Who knows really?
I do feel sorry for all of our boys and girls, and their parents, relatives and friends, not to forget miltary buddies, truly sorry.
November 6th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I wouldn’t go jumping to any conclusions about this yet. Let’s see the investigation plays out. This guy may just be a tragic anomoly.
JMJ
November 6th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
This guy should of been profiled and focused on for what he is after the numerous troubling positions hes taken and comments hes made.
But of course since Obama took office I believe the prevailing mentallity and approach to things has been to be as PC as possible and be careful not to offend anyone.
I wonder if attention was brought to this guy and as it went up the hiearchy eventually got dismissed before it hit the right dept. that could of done something.
This is without a doubt a result of ignorant complacent pre 911 mentality.
Some say this type of thing could happen no matter who is president.
I cant help but notice that nothing like this was happening during the Bush years.
Now, in the last 9 months weve had an attack on a recruitment center, this incident at Hood, and a whole lot of domestic terrorist groups being busted, Afghanistan is boiling over, even Iraq has started to get ugly again.
I think with Obama radicals percieve an opening due to his apologetic nature towards Muslims and Islam for Americas actions.
Why not ?
Hes basically told Israel to go screw themselves, given 900 million to Hamas, let Iran get away with everything, wont kick a$$ in Afghanistan, his middle eastern policies are no less than appeasing and hate crime legislation that goes to protecting Muslims from speech that doesnt even hint of violence.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
As a general rule, I agree with Jersey that we need to take a hard look at the whole thing, but since I have a big mouth, I have little trouble speaking out of both sides… specifically, when Dr Phil said it doesn’t matter whether his last name is Smith or Hasan, I liked to bust a gut. More specifically, when the news first hit, CNN immediately started talking about how stressed Soldiers are because of their extended time in combat. Some lady expert jumped in and said something to the effect of, “These kids have seen 2, 3, and even 4 tours of duty in a combat zone…” pregnant pause, and the camera zooms in to a Warrior Training Unit sign that says, “Stress Center”… lead the easily led by the nose…it’s the Army’s fault… they intimated that some young kid with PTSD went nuts and started shooting people up because, leading by the nose, we are in two un-needed wars… The guy is a Muslim…and he never deployed. He wasn’t suffering from PSTD. He’s a Muslim. The preponderance of Muslims don’t go on shooting rampages, but of late, the preponderance of shooting rampage instigators are Muslims.
Bullets: Soldiers don’t carry weapons in the garrison area of post. Most incidents occur when security measures are relaxed. Fort Hood just recently opened up a “relaxed” lane for entrance. Granted, officers and senior NCOs can smuggle in weapons, but they are always at the risk of getting their cars searched. Not so with “relaxed” lanes. The guy is a nut job. The Army paid for his medical degree, and once he used the Army for what he wanted, he tried to get out of his commitment. He’s a weak minded man. Most suicidal people are weak minded, especially terrorists. If he were taunted, it was because he’s a wimp, stupid, or projected terrorist ideations. Death by hanging from pig intestines.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
Oh God, here we go. Blame Obama. Bla bla bla. So, was Bush all “pc” for all those years this guy was up at Reed? Jeez. By your own very logic, Micky, Bush would be to blame for 9/11. Do you really want to go there?
If anything, it looks like the military may be lax with certain non-coms because they are so depspately in need of them. And if anyone’s to blame for that, it’s not the military per se, it’s not Obama as he was not a player in any of this in the beginning, but it’s ALL the cowards in Washington DC that went to war with the army we had instead of drafting the army we needed. the great thing about the draft is that it is truly the democratic justifier of war: if a war is truly necessary and just, the public will accept a draft - if not, then maybe we shouldn’t go to a war in the first place.
JMJ
November 6th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Jersey “military may be lax with non-comms”? Seriously. This was the type of event that no level of intervention would have prevented. Beside the FBI actually telling the millitary that they had flagged on one of their officers that is. As a soldier that has lost friends to the war, and served on those battlefields, I will say this has cut me to the heart more that than those losses. I personally knew none of the soldeirs lost at Fort Hood. I last served there over 8 years ago. Even then the fact that they died weaponless, powerless, and at home burns me hotter than the death of a close friend. The died at the hands of a coward not on the field of battle that they were prepared, and willing to fight on. This was the gunning down of unarmed family at home. It was shamefull. I could care less who the president is/was or what there politics are. This dispicable act show a rot festering in the world that must be faced and killed.
November 6th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
“it’s ALL the cowards in Washington DC that went to war with the army we had instead of drafting the army we needed. the great thing about the draft is that it is truly the democratic justifier of war: if a war is truly necessary and just, the public will accept a draft - if not, then maybe we shouldn’t go to a war in the first place.”
How stupid is that ? The people who are volunteering and willing to die are the ones who ultimately decide if its justifiable or not !
Its their freeking life at stake. They are offering the ultimate gift. and it should not be up to anyone more than them.
WISE UP !
By volunteering he was allowed about as much democracy as possible, he had a choice. Thats democracy. Having some schmuck say you have to go or get locked up is not a democracy !
Get it ?
Hasan never went to battle.
Screamed his love for Allah as he shot everyone.
So spare me this crap that he was a victim of troops being in demand or some limitations on the Armys part.
You’re a freeking riot, you know that ?
You tell me not to blame the “COMMANDER N CHIEF” and then turn around and try to blame the previous administration for the acts of one single idiot.
True, 911 did happen on Bushs watch. But when attacked he actually did something about it. Clinton did nothing among numerous attacks and then left a mess in progress for Bush to deal with when it happened.
Again, now weve got another limp wristed liberal in office not willing to do what it takes to battle the enemy and as a result have seen more deaths in Afghanistan and here at home as result of radical Islam than we have in 8 years.
This was planned and executed on Obamas watch.
The prevailing PC mentality we see eveywhere over this especially in the media and what caused it is a by product of schmucks like Obama.
Liberals like Obama have been so worried about hurting anyones feelings this is what we got… terrorism.
“If anything, it looks like the military may be lax with certain non-coms because they are so depspately in need of them. And if anyone’s to blame for that, it’s not the military per se, it’s not Obama as he was not a player in any of this in the beginning,”
NOT !
Even if he want around in the beginning Obama has voted against funding the troops.
Yeah well if he’d send some troops to Afghanistan he wouldnt look like the people your critisizing
November 6th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Jihad is jihad. Muslems are muslems. “ALLAH AKBAR” Muslems are moderate only when it is to their advantage to be moderate. They take their time pick their spot then “BOOM” more dead Americans. Their standing orders are to act alone and destroy as many Americans as possible.
It will be interesting to see how the military handles the Jihadist’s trial.
It will be interesting to see how Obama and his media spin this. For God’s sake lets not offend the Muslems. Lets not jump to conclusions. The poor man was stressed out. Well, by God so am I.
Toma
November 6th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Tree Rat,
“Jersey “military may be lax with non-comms”? Seriously. This was the type of event that no level of intervention would have prevented.”
Really? Please expound.
Mick, I don’t know this guy’s story. Do you?
Let’s at least wait and see what happened here.
JMJ
November 7th, 2009 at 12:56 am
My intent was to go for the fact that it would be a streach to think the millitary in general is to lax based on the need to fill positions. It’s not like the Army’s Criminad Investigation Division (CID) is tracking everyone’s blog sites and has a magic program to single out wackadoos. He very well may be an extrimist or he could just be a class A psycho. Either way he’ll die in Leavenworth in a few years after a half dozen pointless appeals with a long list of soliders willing to stand him up against a wall. Myself included. I’m just not sure how a random act of solo terrorism can be prevented when you have a souless bastard willing to die in the process doing it. Is ther someone to blaim? Yup. The schmuck that did it. I do have to admit I’m confused as to how the whole ‘draft’ concept fints into this. Not trying to snipe Jersey, I just don’t quite follow.
November 7th, 2009 at 1:14 am
I don’t presume to know another man’s soul. All I know is that a military man’s opinions regarding matters of state should be kept to himself.
JMJ
November 7th, 2009 at 10:56 am
And the military is apolitical by regulation when at work, but we do vote.
November 7th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
I disagree that a military man’s opinions regarding matters of state should be kept to himself. By his/her very living example, Soldiers are expressing an opinion about the matters of state. This opinion is in the form of re-enlistments, extensions, and volunteering for repeated combat tours. The only time a Soldier should keep his mouth shut is when a news person’s microphone is shoved in his face. As a military man, not only does my vote count, so does my opinion - and whenever I can influence someone with words, written or verbal, or deeds, I will do so. That is my responsibility as a citizen and as a Soldier. Being in desperate need of non-coms is not only irrelevant, it is untrue. Nidal Hasan was not a non-com - he was a punk who used the Army for personal gain to secure a medical degree then decided he didn’t want to pay his dues. Rather than paying back the money or going to a relatively secure base in Iraq, he chose the cowardly way out. Whether his actions were motivated by religion or pure punkishness can’t be proven, but evidence suggests he was a religious martyr.
November 7th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
p.s. the US Army, Navy, Marines, and Air Force are at all time high strengths in terms of recruiting and retention. One could argue it’s the economy. And a good portion of it is the economy. Another good portion is people doing something they actually believe in…satisfaction from doing a job they believe needs doing. If the economy were doing better, our stats wouldn’t be so good, but the quality of Soldier today is far, far better, empirically, than it was during the draft years from the 40’s - 70’s. A draft would do nothing but put a spotlight on the catered few who would buy their way out anyway. I have accepted my lot in life and do not begrudge the Kerry’s, Bush’s, and many others who were able to go into the ARNG or serve at their convenience - even though we live in a democratic republic, there will be an elite. They can be rich and distant - I don’t care. I grew up extremely poor by US standards but rich by anyone else’s. Now, I’m in pretty good shape by both places - for the very reasons Eric mentions in his next blog - through hard work and luck.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Jersey.
Wise up.
This guy was giving his stuff away to all his friends and neighbors in preparation for this day.
Talking smack about our country all over the place, tossing red flags up everywhere.
Yeah, while Napolitanos homeland security report was warning the country about guys like me they let terrorists like this guy slip thru the gapping idiocy of PC policies