Day 312: Fort Hood, Maj. Hasan, and the "War on Islam"

On a day with not one, but two, mass shootings, it's hard to make sense of anything. For the moment, we'll leave the second case--that of a disgruntled ex-employee running amok at a Florida engineering firm--in the big "disgruntled ex-employee" box. Instead we'll look at the far more puzzling and deadly case of Major Hasan, a United States Army Psychiatrist, who seemingly went monkey balls crazy, sold his belongings, bought two guns, and began shooting his fellow soldiers while screaming "God is great" in Arabic, resulting in 13 fatalities and 30 wounded at Fort Hood in Texas.

First, let me extend my sincerest sympathies to all the families of those lost and wish a quick recovery to those wounded.

And now my thoughts...in no particular order...

• We were just turning the corner on the War on Terror vs War on Islam thing. Just beginning as a nation to see some distinction between Arab extremists and the general Islamic community. Just a glimmer of hope. Then this asshole comes along, one of our own officers, and throws any progress right down the toilet. 

• Apparently, there is some evidence that Hasan, a devout Muslim, was chided for his beliefs by fellow officers and was not afforded the respect that usually comes with the rank of Major. That wouldn't surprise me. Butt that doesn't begin to excuse mass murder.

• In one alleged incident, another soldier tore a bumper sticker from Hasan's car. the sticker read, in Arabic, "Allah is Love."  Hasan's response was apparently to assert with his actions that Allah is, in fact, something other than love.  Again, nice going, Major.

• If you were so against the war in Iraq, then walk away from the army. The civilian world needs shrinks too.

• The military is now in a strange position. What do they say to the next Islamic recruit? "Umm, no thanks pal, you remember what happened last time. Why don't you go play for the other team."

• Hasan, unlike most mass shooters with a death wish, did not die. He was shot and stopped by a law enforcement officer. So now he can stand trial, and simultaneously become the white-hot focus of hate for all those people who already hated Muslims, and all those who almost turned the corner but now feel vindicated in their original bigotries. Even my own personal jury is still out on this one. I just don't know what to believe.

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PS - I realize today was the day we were supposed to reconvene and talk about our criticism-free weekends. Sorry to preempt that discussion but felt this discussion seemed more fitting for Veterans Day. We'll get back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.

Comments

[Celeste]

I don't really understand if he had a way out of the tour of duty or not. It seems like we're pretty desperate for people to treat returning staff with PTSD, so it seems like there should have been a way for him to stay, with his credentials.

I will say that I have been trying to silence the criticism on my own for a while. However to me it feels like playing dead in the relationship. I have been trying to give more than I feel I get, and that does seem to yield some positivity. The question is how much can I do this.

[sheilah]

Yeh...it's really not that easy to 'walk away' from the military...unless you like sitting in a cell in Leavenworth. My brother tried like hell to get an 'early out' (goofed off, smoked dope, etc.), but they made him serve Every. Single. Last. Day. of his enlistment (this was back in the VietNam times...he wasn't exactly eager to go in the first place).

And even if Maj. Hasan couldn't get out of his tour, it's not like he would have been carrying a rifle on the front lines or a medic (who must see some horrific things) or even a surgeon (again, more horrific things). He was a shrink and would probably be back in Bagdad treating mental illnesses...probably still no picnic, but really how much different than at Ft. Hood?