As each day passes we learn more about the mistakes made in the investigation of the alleged Fort Hood shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan. I have already removed his rank as I think it is an insult to those who have served us with honor.
It now appears that as early as 2007, red flags were being waved in our faces - and once again (as mentioned in this blog a few days ago) - the "PC mentality" that exists in all branches of our military, seems to have been in the way of someone - ANYONE - doing the right thing with this man.
Back in 2007 Hasan did a powerpoint presentation. According to the Washington Post, this is not what was supposed to happen. It was supposed to be a presentation on a medical topic during his senior year as a psychiatric resident at Walter Reed Medical Center.
Instead, he was put in front of senior military personnel with a 50 slide presentation, and "warned" the officers of "adverse events" if Muslim members of our military were not allowed to be excused war service in the theatres of Iraq and Afghanistan. He wanted them to be classed as "conscientious objectors".
That should have been enough frankly, but there is of course a lot more.
Fox News today on the switch of presentations: Instead, Hasan lectured his supervisors and two dozen mental health staff members on Islam, homicide bombings and threats the military could encounter from Muslims conflicted about fighting against other Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan. A source who attended the presentation told the paper, "It was really strange. The senior doctors looked really upset."
And this quote from the Post article should have sent shivers down everyone's spine. "It's getting harder and harder for Muslims in the service to morally justify being in a military that seems constantly engaged against fellow Muslims."
Look at this - morally justify - INCREDIBLE!!
In a slide entitled "Comments", Hasan's last bullet point is truly chilling: "We love death more then [sic] you love life!"
Fox News again: A classmate of Hasan, meanwhile, told FoxNews.com that the warning signs were all there - the justification of homicide bombings; spewing anti-American hatred; efforts to reach out to Al Qaeda - but that the military treated Hasan with kid gloves, even after giving him a poor performance review.
In my mind, the classmate doesn't get a pass either. He should have reported his colleague.
Lt. Col. Val Finnell, Hasan's classmate at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md., recalled one time when his classmates were giving presentations in an environmental health class on topics like soil and water contamination. "When it was Hasan's turn, he said, he got up in front of the class and began to speak about his chosen topic, "Is the War on Terror a war on Islam?" Finnell says he raised his hand. "I asked the professor, "What does this topic have to do with environmental health? When he was challenged on his views, Hasan became visibly upset. He became sweaty, he was emotional." - Fox News again.
I understand he was a student. I understand he is in the military, but frankly with what was at stake, he should have kept on shouting until somebody listened - especially when you consider the next comments.
Finnell recalled Hasan telling his classmates and professors, "I'm a Muslim first and I hold the Shariah, the Islamic Law, before the United States Constitution."
Take that in again...
"I'm a Muslim first and I hold the Shariah, the Islamic Law, before the United States Constitution."
It is hard for us to believe that someone who has said those words is allowed to continue to be in the service.
Investigations continue. We know that the Administration doesn't want this to be classed as terrorism. We all know what it was.
SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR!
QUESTION WITH BOLDNESS!
STAND UP AMERICA!
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(Copyright © 2009 By Simon L Conway All Rights Reserved.)
Simon Conway is the two-time winner of the FIVE STAR Best in Client Satisfaction for Real Estate Agents in the Orlando area.
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