Monday, November 9, 2009
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was despondent. He told fellow officers at Fort Hood, Texas, that he didn't agree with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and he was on the verge of being deployed. You know what happened next. The major stands accused of arming himself, entering a room full of soldiers and killing.
As Americans, we want to know why. Did he suffer from a mental condition that became acute in the days leading up to the shooting? Was there an event that drove him over the edge? Was the hazing and harassment he suffered from his military colleagues really that severe?
Finding answers may not be that easy.
But mental health experts are already speculating. On its Web site, FOX News quotes a psychologist, Dr. Robin Kerner, saying Maj. Hasan might have suffered from "compassion fatigue."
"This guy was counseling people coming back from war, and there is something called secondary traumatization, where the therapist gets traumatized from hearing all the terrible things that have happened to the people they counsel," Kerner told FOXNews.com.
Other doctors agree that listening to horrific stories from returning troops could have affected his mental health. One former Army surgeon, Dr. Joseph Molea, said all the signs were there, if only the Army would have noticed.
"The tragedy of it is, he was trying to tell people this was coming," Dr. Molea said. "He was making overtures. In retrospect, it will look clearer."
Sure. Hindsight is always 20-20.
Of course, there must be thousands of other military psychiatrists who do that same work, but don't kill and wound dozens of people. Other evil must be at work here.
The news service Reuters actually interviewed Maj. Hasan's grandfather, a man named Ismail Mustafa Hamad, who lives in a small Palestinian village on the West Bank. Mr. Hamad said it was "impossible" for his grandson to commit such terrible acts.
"He is a doctor and loves the U.S." Ismail Mustafa Hamad told Reuters. "America made him what he is."
True enough, Grandpa.
America gave Maj. Hasan a safe place to grow up, where you don't have to dodge rocket-propelled grenades. America gave him a first-class medical education. America gave him a career in the military and paid him a nice salary to do his job. And, because we love free speech, America allowed him to express his outrage with our wars and foreign policies.
Only Maj. Hasan can tell us what darkness filled his mind. Was the stress too much? Did harassment by fellow soldiers turn him against his country?
As of Sunday night, Maj. Hasan was in stable but critical condition at a San Antonio Army hospital. Until he speaks, we'll have to wait for an explanation.
Steve Booher's column runs on Monday. He can be reached at steveb@npgco.com.
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pops says...
What a wonderful example of the devout, peaceful Muslim faith. Not only did this guy kill 13 unarmed comrades, and injure many, many more, he also was a frequent customer of a nearby strip joint, where he bought lap dances and drank alcohol freely!!
November 9, 2009 at 8:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
azmaggie says...
How is he any different from the suicide bombers?? The only difference is he was on American soil. I would wonder about how he counseled his patients!
November 9, 2009 at 9:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4wildones says...
In this column it is repeated stated that this guy was harrassed by his fellow military members yet it gives no examples, no proof of this happening. Where is this information coming from? Is the writer just making assumptions? What harrassment has this individual suffered?
November 9, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbc says...
You can tell alot by peoples off the cuff....initial reaction to situations.........
When briefed on the Harvrd professors arrest by a white policman, Obama instantly criticized the policeman.
When he learned a Muslim had killed 13 people and shot 30 more, he said "we must be cautious before we jump to any conclusions".
thank you Hussain Obama you confirmed what I had been thinking for a while.
November 9, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
They should have seen this coming. However I don't see it fair to. Blame it on him being muslim. People under high stress they can occasionally snap and people being harrassed can snap remember Columbine and all the school shootings I don't believe they were muslims
November 9, 2009 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LibertyOrDeath says...
And the United States Army wasn't made aware of their actions, neither were they US Servicemen.
The military KNEW of his beliefs, of his motives and the people he was talking to and trying to talk with. THEY let this happen, no one else.
I'm also not blaming it on him being a muslim. That's what he was and it was those beliefs that motivated him. This will all come out and more as the investigation continues.
Prepare to see a TON of politicians and military personnel covering their asses. In the end they're going to make this look as if it was some unpredictable one-off when we know good goddamn well it wasn't. As far as I'm concerned anyone who knew anything about this man before the shooting is just as responsible.
Is it safe to sport Ron Paul bumper stickers yet? What a joke this country is becoming at the expense and life of the American people.
November 9, 2009 at 1:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
I will agree with you that the people who missed or ignored the signs are just as responsible. In every situation such as this there are signs along the way. Clues that give insight
November 9, 2009 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
I agree with joz1984 and LOD. The signs were there, and were ignored over time. Part of the reason for that, however, is a politically correct environment that's been forced onto the military. Does anyone have any idea what would have happened had someone tried to do something about this guy, merely because of his radical views and beliefs? People would have lost their jobs, been demoted, fired and disgraced. LOD is right....politicians and high-ranking military officials will be in a major CYA dance for the foreseeable future.
I think it's VERY important to point out that there are MANY very respectable, honorable, decent Muslim soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in the US Military. Being a Muslim does NOT automatically make one a terrorist. I just think that's a very important distinction to make at this point.....
November 9, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
Well said pops, there are many muslims fighting for the same freedoms we all enjoy and fight for there are a some out there with radical views same as any religeon and it is important to aknowledge that not all of a group believe the same as a few in the group
November 9, 2009 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbc says...
joz1984........
Why do you think it's only a few......? Just curious.
I'm open to fact.....but I'm nervous about what is really going on. I don't think we should automatically assume "it's only a few". The mosque in Florida turned out to be mostly bad guys raising money to support the real live terrorists.
I've stayed in quite a number of motels throughout the south west and I sure didn't feel welcome. They were polite, businesslike and silent.
I'm not sure we know how may are "ok" and how many are not so "ok". I'm wary. Nothing is automatic....either way. Last week Major Husan was one of those "good" muslims serving his country. I'd say, he's not so good this week.
November 9, 2009 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbc says...
joz1084
I was searching my memory of those school incidents that you cite and I just can't seem to recall any of those shooters screaming
"God is Great"......in Arabic....just before shooting.
Maybe your memory is better than mine.
November 9, 2009 at 4:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
Well I don't think there is going to be an exact statistic the same as there isn't probably going to be an exact statistic on radical "christians" but it doesn't make sense to be affraid of them all or keep them from serving our country and from trying to obtain the american dream of having a business just because the muslims at that motel weren't overly friendly doesn't mean they wished you harm( I wasn't there obviously and don't know the interaction) however it may just be a cultural difference. If you are going to be affraid you might as well be affraid of everyone, anyone could snap some day and being affraid of everyone isn't any way to live and to persecute others for differences isn't fair either. It would be like the salem witch trials all over again
November 9, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
My point was ibc that the fact he was a muslim doesn't make him a terrorist and that all people who snap and go on killing sprees or plan them are muslim that's why I mentioned those events. The fact he did this act yes does mean he commited an act of terror by commiting mass murder and thus he should face the consequences for this act as should all people who commit these acts. My point was aimed to mean that you can't single out certain groups as all bad
November 9, 2009 at 7:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JAFO says...
"get a rope!"
November 10, 2009 at 2:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tydej says...
Let me first say that what this man did was absolutly horrific and it's a tragic that so many people lost their loved ones in this act of violence. We can not judge others by his actions as we all know that not all Christians will go out and murder an aborition Dr. There are good people and evil people within each religion. I think when Obama was saying to not jump the gun he may have been saying the we shouldn't start to think every Muslim fighting for our country is part of a bigger master plan. It is a Presidents job in a time of sorry like this that he comfort, console and ease the worries of a nation in grief. We must gather the facts and investigate them to see if there is a greater risk not only on military bases but within the general public. If we find others that may have been involved then we also need to bring each and every on of them to bring them to justice and make sure the recieve the maximum punishment allowed under the juducial system.
Are there things that could have been done to prevent this man from doing what he did? We will find out as the investigation ensues, I am sure many details will be discovered which should give all of us a clearer picture of all things that may have led up to the end result. While some of the information can and will be released, I am sure that due to the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice) that some information will be kept under wraps and may never be released to the American people, as other military operations information has not been released. I am confident that our government will handle this correctly and the American people will be given answers as some of it becomes available.
With Veteran's this Wednesday I hope every will stop to take a moment to not only remmber the individuals who lost their lives in this event but will take a moment from their hetic lives to appericate the sacrafices that each member of our Armed Forces have made to serve and protect this nation both forigen and domestic. Say thank you to someone you know that at one time or another put their country ahead of themselfs. We owe our freedoms and liberties to these individuals. Attend a celebration in their honor and let them know just how thankful you are for all they have done. For not all of us have been as brave and couragious as the men and women who have had a deep love for this nation.
November 10, 2009 at 4:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
Harassed by his fellow soldiers? There are damned few people in the army that are in the position to harass a MAJOR and those are the people that are in the position to do something about his words and actions. A more likely scenario is that he is paranoid and ever word or deed, however innocuous, was interpreted as harassment. In my opinion, this guy is just a garden variety nut.
November 10, 2009 at 6:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
I think most everyone who was ever in the military, or is now, would catagorically discount any assertion of "harrassment" this unAmerican terrorist may make. Without any reservation, I agree with WJG....and I also feel this "nut" deserves to be dead...and not by lethal injection, either.
November 10, 2009 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LibertyOrDeath says...
Don't even give them a chance to make the case that he is mentally imcompetent.
He is NOT a nut, he knew damn well what he was doing. He's just an idiot.
November 10, 2009 at 8:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chara says...
does anyone really think this admistration will go after this man as they would if he had been christian. maybe they didn't pursue this person because they might be sued or accused of profiling a muslim. i'am afraid we lost more than some great american men,we also lost a sense of security right here on our soil. if your not safe on an american base where then? i'am sure this won't be the last. we had better be prepared next time or could be worse.
November 10, 2009 at 9:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbc says...
Liberty........he's not "just an idiot".
He's actually a bright enemy that we should not discount.
For 20 years or more we have heard about "sleeper cells" of our enemies that are living amoung us and will from time to time do bad things. He actually did a pretty good job. He was well prepared, timed it right and got reasonably good results for his effort.
Why did he get the opportunity....not because the "signs" were missed. It's because he was given a "pass" because he was a Muslim and we must be nice....politically correct.
That is simply stupid and we need to revoke the law of political correctness forwith. We need to be reasonable, logical and act with more pragmatism.
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...shoot it on the spot.
Sorry about that Barack.....we don't need to "examine this carefully"....we need to do the right thing.
November 10, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
membery says...
Well for pete's sake, what about the christian terrorist that just went on trial this week? You know the one that walked into a church and gunned down a doctor. Should I think that all christians are motivated to kill abortion supporters - not that I am one. I am more suspecting of the fact that a great deal of the mass killings have come at the hands of veterans or military persons. Should we interrogate all of them too?
November 11, 2009 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
membery,
PLEASE tell me you really don't feel many of our mass killings have been done at the hands of our military veterans.
I agree about not stereotyping groups based on the actions of a very few. As a Christian, I don't want to be counted in the same group as Fred Phelp's church (not that I consider them Christian, by any means). I think many of us feel Muslims have a right to serve in the military just as Christians, Hindus, Bhuddists and Jews....and many others. I don't even have a problem with them having a mosque built on their base or post. Why not...we have chapels/churches, don't we?
It's difficult to separate the actions of one individual from the group as a whole. If Muslims want to serve, and do it with honor, fine. If they buy into the jihadist idealism, they aren't fit to wear the uniform.
November 11, 2009 at 5:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lbc says...
membery.......there is one reason those 13+ people are dead and 30 were shot........political correctness...like you demonstrate.
Doctor Hasan sent out repeated signals that he was a jihadist sympathizer/terrorist. Those who looked the other way....with logic such as yours should be accountable.
We dropped the ball when we didn't fry Jane Fonda 40 years ago and the same insanity goes on to this day. It's time to prosecute people when they do bad things. It's time to stand up for who we are and what we are.
And, liberal diversity is not it.
November 12, 2009 at 12:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
STJoe says...
Let's examine what "those that looked the other way" could have done. In a society where congressional leaders are calling for criminal charges to be filed for those guilty of water boarding known terrorist, let's say they go ahead and accuse the Muslim Major of getting ready to commit mass murder, based on the signs.
The ACLU would have lined up to sue. The media would have jumped in to support his rights. And the "lets send Chaney to jail" crowd currently in charge would have come down on them like a ton of bricks.
This was a tragic event. One individual, regardless of his faith and motivation is responsible for the cold blooded murders. Let's give him the same due process every American has a right to, and the maximum punishment allowed by law if convicted.
November 13, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grandpacory says...
St Joseph Free Press has an interesting take on the tragedy.
November 15, 2009 at 5:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pops says...
"If convicted"?? Like there's a CHANCE this monster could POSSIBLY be found "not guilty"?? He was SHOT committing the crime. The only "tragedy" is that the officers who returned fire didn't kill him outright. We NOW have to sit here for YEARS, mind you, and watch this play out in the liberal media, and in the courts. The DC sniper situation took HOW LONG to get to an actual execution???? This "political correctness" crap has gone WAY too far. The man is guilty...there is ZERO doubt about that. There doesn't NEED to be a trial. Go ahead with the execution.....
November 16, 2009 at 7:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LibertyOrDeath says...
I'd be surprised if this guy is found guilty of murder at all. I can tell it's already looking like nothing but cover up after cover up with a little CYA on top. By the time his lawyers get done threatening everyone involved no one will testify or worse, people will turn up dead.
In the end this guy will get a life sentence for some ridiculous plea bargain and we'll support his murdering, spineless body for years and years.
Obama is already stymieing a Congressional investigation so as, "not to disturb the integrity of the investigation."
Ha! Laughable.
Once again our Muslim president is apologizing to all Muslims on our behalf and making sure the terrorists are more at ease than the American population that put him where he is.
Speaking of where Obama is in life...
Who in the hell, aside from an inventor or groundbreaking scientist, writes their memoirs at 30 years old having accomplished nothing?
All the puzzle pieces are falling into place - this guy was set to be the president long ago. That's the only explanation for him to have written memoirs so early. It set the foundation for campaign references and just enough info to garner the interest of the American people. Yet not enough to expose him for who he is.
It's not as important once he is president because it's going to take an act of Congress, literally, to remove him.
He is right where the powers that be want him to be and he will deliver the death blow to the United States of America.
Be it by forcible takeover or by creating enough hostility among the population that we revolt, the fall is coming.
The period of change is most certainly here.
November 16, 2009 at 7:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )