Muslim Army Major Who Spoke of a "Fight Against U.S. Agressor" Kills 12, Injures 30 at Ft. Hood
Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 07:46PM UPDATE: Suspect alive, in stable condition
An Army psychiatrist opened fire Thursday at Fort Hood, Texas, killing 12 people and wounding 30 others before being shot, officials told NBC News.
Eleven of the victims died at the scene, military officials said. A 12th died later at a hospital.
MAJ Malik Nadal Hasan, an Army psychiatrist who counseled soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital with PTSD and other war-related problems, was recently transferred to Ft. Hood, TX. He received a poor job rating while at Walter Reed.
Hasan, who actively tried to avoid deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001, was set to deploy to Iraq on November 28 and was “very upset” about it. He was also a lifelong Muslim born and raised in the United States.
Hasan also reportedly knew his victims and targeted them specifically.
First victim identified: SPC Armando Ray Baca
A co-worker told Fox News Hasan said about 5 months ago that Muslims had the right to “fight against the aggressor” and that he opposed U.S. presence in the Middle East.
Hasan’s cousin told Fox News that Hasan complained of being “harassed” by soldiers for being of “Middle Eastern decent”, but chances are that Hasan’s alarming comments may have been the cause of his supposed “harassment”.
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Reader Comments (32)
I remember in March 2003 when the troops were set up in Kuwait ready to go into Iraq that a Muslim soldier (82nd ABN or 101st ABN) threw a grenade into the tent of his commanding officer and killed him.
Maybe if Muslim soldiers want to exit the military because they don't believe in the mission we should dishonorably discharge them rather than take these sorts of chances.
Truth never was bigotry, folks.
It's time we screen Muslims OUT of the armed forces. If we keep on with worrying about "feelings" or "sensitivities" more people will die.
we should dishonorably discharge them rather than take these sorts of chances.
No, more like shooting them with pig blood dipped bullets and going public with that.
Whoa, Steve, I don't endorse that or condone your comments. I do know for a fact that there are many good Muslim soldiers serving the US military. I also know that the military is representative of the population and there are non-Muslim soldiers every day who murder, rape, and commit other crimes.
But I am alarmed by the extreme nature of Islam and what its followers seem to think they are blessed to do.
Islam is a younger religion than Christianity. They have not yet worked through their burning at the stake, inquisition, book-banning phase. Still, this guy should be executed as soon as possible. Hopefully, he does not make it through his hospitalization.
One would hope Cletus. One would hope.
What I don't understand, is if this guy has been in the service since before 9/11 and he didn't agree with our being in the Middle East, etc., etc., then why is he still in the service today? Why didn't he leave of his own accord? What... he wanted to be a career military man in a military he didn't like? ...obeying orders he didn't agree with? "I'll take your money, but I won't fight your war." Or am I missing something here?
Okay, so this is going to alarm some people - but step back for a minute - Did you know that God was right there with every single person in that processing center, even the shooter? Every single casualty is loved by God, even the shooter. You don't have to embrace this Major Hasan as your brother, but we do need to find the ability to forgive or ask God for the ability to forgive where we can't just yet.
Now a statement or two about Mental Health workers - having spent a few minutes in the military, and a few more minutes working in the insruance industry and dealing with these folks has given a unique insight. It has been alluded to by a few of the talking heads - religious ideologies and politics aside (as Amy said, good WASPs have been guilty of just as bad or worse), one truth stands out - Mental Health workers are not necessarily equipped for what they do. I talk with LOTS of providers (in one 3 month stretch over 1000) and invariably the angriest, most stressed as a group are those in the counseling arena. Years ago in the chaplaincy (and Army-wide) we spoke about the triad of care - Physical, Emotional and Spiritual (the three-legged stool that makes up the character of a soldier.) Neglect of any aspect of this stool will cause an out of balance that, if sustained over time, will cause the Soldier to stumble.
Counselors are even more susceptible -because often, unlike ordained clergy, they lack the certain grace to be able to process what they encounter daily and then let it go. MAJ Hasan is no different. It was the stress of his day to day profession that built up this anger, which he absolutely felt justified in (I know because I've been there) and he forms this plan to create balance and correct these wrongs that have formed in his mind. The difference for him was he didn't have an outlet. I can tell you he is NOT a good Muslim - there is NO WAY he engages in true prayer 5 X a day and can do this -you cannot be in a real relationship with God, whatever label you wear, and reach this point.
You can shrug this off if you like, as just the ramblings of pseudo psycho babble, or a religious fanatic - but I have seen the truth of it too often, personally and professionally.
I do know for a fact that there are many good Muslim soldiers serving the US military.
That's an apologist mindset and I really don't care if you "condone" or accept my views. All of them need to be released from active duty. They live a continuous religious conflict within themselves that does not permit them from serving our country.
As a group, they often have their own personal mental issues as well. Which is why I didn't make it as a counselor myself. I didn't fit in.
Good comments on this, Steve and Suni.
SteveH, the internal conflict is something worth talking about. There are two main sects of Islam that are at war with each other when they're not at war with the infidels (western civilization for now). Until that internal conflict is resolved, we'll see more of this, I'm afraid. They avoid resolving it by finding a different target, which, unfortunately, is us. Also, unfortunately, understanding it doesn't make it any easier to take.
As I fought the SoCal Traffic last night, I listened to one of my conservative talk jocks that, for the most part I agree with. And if this was a ‘one off’ incident, I would agree that most Muslims are decent folk. The problem is that in the last 20 years or so, the United States has been continually attacked by these individuals who easily come to the conclusion that their ‘holy book’ affords them the right; nay, the responsibility to act violently toward anyone who does not hold to their beliefs. Further, they are the only religion to do so. There has never been an attack of militant Christians, militant Jews, militant Buddhists, militant Krishna’s or any other militant religious group against us, so why in God’s name do we continue to assume that 99% of Muslims are good and decent folk when they have the mechanism to be ruthless killing ba*#@&ds?!
This knucklehead will be nursed back to health, tired by Court Martial and sentenced to death, and I hope they soak the firing squad bullets in pig’s blood; the question still remains however, when will people realize that we humans in general are NOT inherently good, but have a natural pension for evil, and when given a motive, may respond in kind?
Sorry for such a harsh statement, but there are 13 Patriots and Heros who have died because of a religious lunatic that could have been stopped. I’m so disgusted with this who event I’m sick to my stomach.
I work with a very kind Muslim person. He is like a brother to me. Loves America.
This man whom committed these crimes should be punished with death. Let's at least treat people based on their individual actions, and not lump them into groups.
May God have mercy on his soul.
this is an absolute tragedy! I wonder why the military wouldn't have some policy in place for anyone who expresses sympathy for the enemy. Maybe it wasn't reported but this seems like it could have been prevented.
Well the Military like any other organization doe not want to be seen as intolerant, and Timo to be frank. People like you have made it hard with all the political correctness to come forward without being called a biggot. I still believe we should judge like Dr.King said by the content of character individually, however when people act the fool like this fellow did he should have been moved on and out a long time ago. It's an unintended consequence of the ACLU.
Gary wrote:
Yes....that would be the Qutbists, wahhabis, salafists, and other radical, sharia-loving fundamentalists. Not decent, peaceful Muslims.Gary, respectfully disagree. 99% of Muslims are not out to subjugate you with a sword. But the 1% of 1.5 billion who are, is a sizable, vocal minority. Whatever percentage the actual number is, it's in the minority. Yes, aspects of Islam is a problem; but the extremists should not be allowed to define the religion for all 1.5 billion.
We should pay attention and note that many of the ones being slaughtered by the ones we are at war with, are other Muslims- the ones who aren't accepting of the fundamentalist rigidity and violent ways.
Steve Harkonnen wrote:
That's an apologist mindset and I really don't care if you "condone" or accept my views. All of them need to be released from active duty. They live a continuous religious conflict within themselves that does not permit them from serving our country.
Amy is not a Muslim apologist. What an odd charge to make.
The majority of those serving in our Armed Forces are serving honorably. Please don't give CAIR political ammo by validating their charge of religious persecution and bigotry. They are the Muslim apologists and enablers for Islamic extremists.
With your dhim view of ALL Muslims, it gives aid and comfort to a terror group like al Qaeda, who seek to convince the Muslim world that the West is persecuting all those who practice Islam. They don't need much help at it when they have those like you to do their propaganda work for them.
Not all Islamic practitioners are cut from the same cloth of worship. Narrow your focus rather than lumping 1.5 billion into a single group-think, mindset.
I coulda sworn I double blockquoted Steve's comment; hope it still makes sense, what's his and what's mine.
Mike: "people like me"??? I think political correctness is ludicrous. If someone sympathizes with the enemy that's a serious offense in times of war. I don't believe that you should keep all muslims out of the military, that's hardly being politically correct. At a time like this when we are engaged with multiple muslim countries muslim soldiers can be of great value to our interests, but there should be strict supervision and a vetting process.
I am not sure how much more the military can do to weed out the Muslim sympathizers in the military. Other than by monitoring internet use, but that would take a lot of man power.
The military commander was informed about how this man was speaking against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and how he praised suicide bombers. That should have been a red flag. It was missed and people have died. Every threat no matter how miniscule should be taken very seriously.
However, right now the only thing that matters at this point is to pray for the families that are suffering and even the murderer's family. It has been such a shock to our nation.
Timo,
Did you not post this?
Steph C: without getting into the who is right or wrong in this little thing, the military is not the place where you "plainly speak one's mind".
October 5, 2009 | Unregistered Commentertimo
So now we are supposed to believe that you would advocate folks in the military speaking their mind against a fellow soldier if they are muslim without possible recourse? Which is it? The fact is that you don't believe in preemption, merely reaction.
Now, now, Mike. He was for it before he was against it. You can't hold him to something he said less than a month ago. Why that would be positively conservative of you. Don't you know those things have expiration dates? ;)
I am a moderate Democrat. Having a business education does skew your thinking towards capitalism and debt tends to scare you off. I believe firmly in a safety net for our fellow citizens, and not a hammock. We have to be realistic about who the enemy is and like Zell Miller said" if I find a bunch a rattle snakes in the yard I am not going to wait for the children to get bit and then go ask the town council what I should do, I am going to handle it myself." After 9/11 there did not seem to be anyone that did not want to take a stand and torture would ok if need be. Today we have a bunch of panty waist fairies running our government who seem to have forgot 9/11, and God forbid we mention our security and our fears without the assembled acrimony of the far left. Yes, Timo....People like you....
FEAR NOT, my true patriots of America,
You still have a much greater chance of dying of a case of swine flu, diarrhea, lightning strike, or perhaps even your Ford F150 pickup truck with willie Nelson blairing through its speakers before you dye from a crazy terrorist rapped in a Calvin Klein Jihadi suit.
Until then............
I've already had the swine flu and have had diarhea several times over my somewhat long life and neither have killed me. Placed where I am the likelihood of me being a target of a terrorist is practically 0 unless I'm in a place where a strike might be likely. None of that, however, makes what happened in Ft. Hood any easier to bear because somebody died by the hands of a terrorist. I thought you libs were supposed to be bleeding hearts in the face of a tragedy. Where's the caring now?
However you want to characterize the terrorism, it's still terrorism. The word doesn't always have to mean extreme Islamists and it wouldn't be the first time we've had a homegrown one, with or without a religious undertone.
Sorry Rex, It's a luxury sedan with heated leather seats and smooth jazz....
Fine. Please enlighten me how I can tell the difference between the 99% and the 1% since ALL Muslims read the Qur’an, because if I give everyone the benefit of the doubt, it's not just egg in my face, it's a bullet in the back of my head! It's 13 Patriots being gunned down on Fort Hood. It's the Marine Barracks in Bahrain; it's the USS Cole; it's the twin towers in '93; it's 9/11; it's a Jewish synagogue in Seattle; it's a student renting an SUV at a Carolina college and running other students down. You see, we don't get a second chance.
I was wondering when one of the mutual admiration society of Charles, GreatOne, Rex and timo would take time out from their happy dances to spread cheer
You cannot win a war while allowing those who clearly support the enemy survive on your side of the line. The muslim community supports them with silence, with funds, and with verbal support. We make excuse after excuse for this so called religion. Are there muslims who do not support terror outright in our country. Yes, I am sure there are. However, they have to do more and step forward in a very big way. A friend of my dads was japanese who fought beside him during WWII. He did not like the fact that many of his race were rounded up and put in camps, but he also said many of them were supportive of the Japanese causes and left outside those camps would indeed have caused problems in the USA if left free. They might have only been 10% or so, but the country could not sort them out easily or do so in time of war in a rapid manner. I saw tonight muslims standing on streetcorners on CNN who were ranting hatred of America and supporting terror as a legal means of killing as many non muslims as possible. They said they would not weep for Obama's death for he is an infidel and because of his training in the muslim faith knows he is condemned.
Lincoln suspended many of the laws of protection during the civil war. The north won that war. FDR suspend many of the laws during WWII and we won that war. We used every weapon of the day in both these wars and fought to unconditional surrender. Since Truman and Korea, we have never fought a war to win and we have effectively lost every time. When a president attempted to win as did Nixon with bombing of the north and going into cambodia in Vietnam, the left went nuts. We will not win this war because we are not willing to make tough calls needed to win war. The other side has no morals at all and will do anything to kill us. If they get a nuke, they will not even think twice about setting it off in an American city. We have to make it very uncomfortable to be a part of a faith that is used to kill innocent people. We were more offended by homosexual priests going after teenage twinks than we are about those who kill innocent people over and over again.
Greta, We essentially live in two countries here. We might as well split the country in two. Liberal and Conservative. See who has the better world in 10 years.
I listened this morning to Ravi Zacharias who made an interesting statement. He said, "for 200 years the United states has been successful because we have done things the right way. Now, the liberal folk want us to do things the wrong way, but still expect success."
What does the future of this country hold? Here is one possible alternative:
But that is only one alternative.Mike and StephC: speaking your mind is a lot different than reporting a threat. Do you not see the difference?
Gary wrote:
Through profiling. All Muslims read the koran, but not all have the same interpretation. Furthermore, al Qaeda and the global "jihad" (hirabi,takfiri) movement finds its inspiration and excuse-making in modern works, like Sayyid Qutb, as much as anything writ in the koran.
Timo,
It's is all on the person collecting the information. How they interpret the intentions of the person making the report. How they see the world will make a difference.