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More on Hasan
“Nidal Hassan Did the Right Thing,” is the title of today’s blog post by Anwar al-Awlaki. It begins:
Nidal Hassan is a hero. He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people. . . . Nidal opened fire on soldiers who were on their way to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. How can there be any dispute about the virtue of what he has done?
Al-Awlaki was the imam of the controversial Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Va., a Washington suburb, and now lives in Yemen. According to a report in London’s Telegraph, Hasan, the sole suspect in the massacre of 12 soldiers and one civilian at Ft. Hood attended the mosque in 2001 at the same time as two of the 9/11 terrorists:
Hasan’s eyes “lit up” when he mentioned his deep respect for al-Awlaki’s teachings, according to a fellow Muslim officer at the Fort Hood base in Texas.
back to top58 Comments to “More on Hasan”
“Al-Awlaki is the imam of the controversial Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Va” has he been picked up for question by the FBI?
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According to NPR news reports, he left the country and is now living in Yemen, Pastor Roy. But before he left, they said Hasan attended his mosque. It’s looking more and more like this was a preventable tragedy.
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I just heard on ABC that soldiers complained about Hasan in 2008 already. Someone really dropped the ball here, and it would really upset me if after 9/11 and all those promises of agencies sharing information they didn’t, these people being killed was definitely preventable.
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DJ, I want to know if the Obama White House knew about him and when.
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Pastor Roy,
I haven’t heard anything about that, but I would doubt it. Obama’s focus has been taken up with that wretched Healhcare bill. On NPR and MSNBC, there seems to be a rush to blame this largely on mental illness and harrassment. One guy even said it could be “PTSD by proxy”. Seems like PC hogwash to me. Anyway, Joe Lieberman seems determined to have a full investigation, so we’ll see.
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Investigations are a good thing, but why call PTSD “PC hogwash”? Some of the nonprofits I work for are servicing disabled Veterans and the disbelief or plain stigmatization of PTSD suffers is a big challenge for offering services that are necessary for making our current generation of war vets the most well adapted and successful in our history. I hope you’re only asserting that PTSD does not satisfactorily explain Hasan’s actions (I’m not aware of anyone who says it does) and not denying PTSD itself.
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DJ didn’t say PTSD was PC hogwash s/he said “PTSD by proxy” was PC hogwash.
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Sorry if my post wasn’t clear. I didn’t call PTSD hogwash. I called PTSD by proxy hogwash. Someone was claiming Hasan could have PTSD from listening to the horror stories of the soldiers he counseled.
I strongly support services for vets–all the more so if they have been wounded (including PTSD). As far as I’m concerned, they deserve the very best, and should never have to pay for healthcare again, nor should their families.
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Thanks Kbells.
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Sorry I posted the above piece on another thread. I had been working on it and another.
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PTSD by proxy sounds like a fancy word for burn out caused by years on end of listening to stories of decapitations, eviscerations, immolations,and painful bloody deaths and dismemberments. Not to mention terrible guilt, stress, fear, anxiety and betrayal.
Someone has to look out for the care-givers in these situations. And it does sound like perhaps the the vastly overstretched military mental health system missed something here.
In such an overstretched system, someone bright enough to get through Va Tech and the military medical system is unlikely to get the kind of scrutiny that would or should be brought to bear.
There really is a reason that lots of psychoanalysts and other mental health personnel have their own therapists at hand. It takes an extraordinarily strong, balanced personality to deal with that job.
Were I, heaven forbid, in the military mental health system I would also routinely screen all personnel for unusually rigid religious beliefs of any kind.
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Mmm…it’s a blog. You all could post if you wanted to.
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I don’t know Arcadia, you might be giving too much sympathy to Hasan. I don’t think more metal health resources alone could have prevented this. That might not be what you are implying, but certain elements around us are going to read it that way.
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If there was a weak link in the chain for his oversight, what about the the other psychiatrists, psychologists, physical therapists, surgeons, nurses, etc.? I think he might have been finally yanked out of Walter Reed to be observed at Fort Hood while they were investigating all the “little red flags” and piecing it all together.
To the extent that political correctness may have played a part in contributing to this massacre, not only is it wrong, it is dangerous.
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#11 Arcadia “PTSD by proxy sounds like a fancy word for burn out caused by years on end of listening to stories of decapitations, eviscerations, immolations,and painful bloody deaths and dismemberments. Not to mention terrible guilt, stress, fear, anxiety and betrayal.”
So let me get this straight. You are saying that a radical Islamist who praised those who killed US soldiers and associated with people who preach and promote “decapitations, eviscerations, immolations,and painful bloody deaths and dismemberments” went on a rampage of mass murder because he felt “terrible guilt, stress, fear, anxiety and betrayal”?
Is there nothing a terrorist could ever do to convince a liberal that the motive is anything but victimhood?
It is amazing that terrorists can come right out and explain clearly what their motives are for years. They can lay out each point one by one and liberals will still scratch their heads and blame America or Bush, anything but what they guy actually says.
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What is really gives one pause is the amount of air time and discussion Hasan has received and will receive as he recovers.
We know who he is, what is job was, what he believed. We see his pictures on the Internet, TV, newspapers and magazines. We hear all about the Koran, Islam and the militant oppostion to America from extremist camps. We hear quotes from people who support and condone Hasan’s actions.
We give our nation’s enemies free air time to vent their propaganda. I recall shortly after 9/11 how media outlets were replaying Bin Laden’s victory party in his bunker somewhere. Why?
In the early 90’s the local newspaper in Clarksville, TN near Ft. Campbell, KY decided to run, front page, a picture of a helicopter pilot’s body being dragged through the Somalian street by the local militia.
It took awhile for the paper to regain respect after that.
How far should the media go in covering this gunman?
OH
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Arcadia’s comments at 11 remind me of an old joke Jay Nordlinger recently recalled:
Two liberals were walking when they happened upon a man who’d been beaten and lay bleeding by the road. One liberal said to the other, “Quick! We have to find the people who did this! They need help!”
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It was the gun’s fault.
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How true StuBob!
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Let’s keep it straight, everyone.
If a pseudo-Christian kills an abortion doctor, it is hate, bigotry, domestic terrorism, and entirely the killer’s fault.
If a Muslim kills innocent people on a U. S. military base, it is an overreaction to stress or some kind of mental illness. It’s not his fault, no matter what he might have said or done before the incident.
For the record, i consider both acts to be acts of murder, and both are wrong and are the fault and responsibility of the perpetrator. It’s called a moral compass.
Some of our liberal friends should get one.
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“The posting Monday on the Web site for Anwar al Awlaki, who was a spiritual leader at two mosques where three 9/11 hijackers worshipped, said American Muslims who condemned the Fort Hood attack are hypocrites who have committed treason against their religion. AP
Awlaki said the only way a Muslim can justify serving in the U.S. military is if he intends to “follow in the footsteps of men like Nidal.” AP
“Nidal Hassan (sic) is a hero,” Awlaki said. “He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people.” AP
This is why being a Muslim in the American service is different than being a German, Japanese, or any other nationality in the service. Even Awlaki says IT’S ABOUT RELIGION.
Muslims have now received a “shout out” from an Imam.
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It is so sad that people are so afraid to speak out when someone shows such tendencies. Anyone who would have spoken out against him would probably have been repremanded for discrimination and had a black mark on their own record. I believe there are people who really do discriminate. But we have taken discrimination to such a level of fear that people have to die before anyone comes forward?
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Whenever we hear of a mass shooting, there is nearly always information that the suspects were either on medication or had “gone off” their medication. Why isn’t it being asked if this man was on psyche meds?
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KYle A., It’s not just the pseudo-Christian’s fault. It is the fault of the entire pro-life movement.
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News2Me, I would graciously disagree with your assessment from post number 22. I know many Muslims who are not in anyway like Major Hassan. Many will privately say that the war is justified, but they are in fear of their lives. The Muslim Brotherhood is in reality a Mafia type organization. They silence their opposition with violence.
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Pastor Roy: DJ, I want to know if the Obama White House knew about him and when.
Well, NJLawyer says in post #3 that soldiers had complained about him in 2008.
Which president was in charge in 2008?
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If Muslims are in fear of their lives they shouldn’t be in the military. Nutty Americans might retaliate against them as well. We have plenty of nuts of our own.
How do you tell the difference between those who would kill Americans and those who fight for the cause? Our own admin. does nothing when they see signs of problems.
Don’t you think it will be a sticky situation in the trenches because of this?
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STEVEG #26
And Clinton didn’t know about the 9/11 terrorists.
Maybe Clinton planned 9/11 to happen if a Rep. was elected.
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Joe B. #25
Did you mean you know people in the military who fight against Muslims? Or were you talking about civilians?
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N2M: Actually, the Clinton administration’s people (Richard Clarke in particular) tried really hard to impress on the incoming Bush people how important it was to take Al Qaeda seriously. Nobody in the Bush camp cared.
None of which has anything to do with Pastor Roy’s desire to blame Obama for someone who was apparently recognized and reported as threat the year before Obama took office.
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Ahhhhh, I see, SteveG.
This was all Bush’s fault!
Of course! (smacks forehead with palm)
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So Bush forgot to warn Obama about Hasan.
But Clinton did warn Bush about 9/11.
Why didn’t Clinton take them out? Why did he put it on Bush?
So, let me get this straight: What Clinton didn’t do is Bush’s fault and what Obama didn’t do is Bush’s fault. Makes perfect sense to me.
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So, apparently Pastor Roy attributes this to President Obama and Steve G. attributes this to President Bush? I’m not sure if this is entirely true in either case.
Nevertheless, if it is true that the suspect was under observation/scrutiny in 2008, it is interesting that he was promoted to major in 2008.
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Sort of like the guy who became a Muslim and is now saying things like America’s target is civilians. And that Muslims never blow up women and children or any civilians.
So that means our people in military service are strapping bombs to civilians to blow each other up. We really should be ashamed of ourselves. I guess it’s the stress from Ft. Hood that is making them do it.
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Has anyone ever heard od demonic possession? “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph. 6:12 NKJV
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news2me, The Muslims I know are civilians and some are former Military. But here is something from the Washington Post. Apparently Major Hasan felt that the Department of Defense should offer Muslims who were on active duty who were religiously opposed to fighting fellow Muslims should be offered conscientious objector discharges. Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110903618.html?hpid=topnews. Having served on active duty, I can tell you straight up that the DOD is so absorbed in itself that they rarely listen to warnings such as these.
But there are many Muslim soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who faithfully discharge their duties and never cause any problems. The serve honorably without any thought about saying Aye Aye Sir and carry on smartly. Then their are some who listen to boneheads like these radical Iman’s in Yemen. If the US were serious about this war, they would deal with the troublemakers like some of the Philippine military do. They shoot Al Queda sympathizers with bullets soaked in pig’s blood and make some of their followers watch. They then let their subordinates go to warn the Al Queda leaders what awaits them. That pretty much puts a kibosh on that.
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Here is the major difference between “radical” Muslims and “radical” Christians (i.e. Muslims who murder others because of their religious beliefs and Christians who murder others because of their religious beliefs):
“Radical” Muslims actually do what the Koran says (while “non-radical” Muslims either ignore what the Koran says or don’t study it enough to know what it says, much like liberal Christians do with the Bible).
“Radical” Christians do not do what the Bible says, in fact they act against what the Bible teaches (while “non-radical” Christians do study the Bible and know what it says and therefore DO NOT murder others).
In other words, when a Muslim murders, commits acts of terrorism against the infidels, they are doing exactly what the Koran teaches. When a Christian murders, committing acts of terrorism, they are doing exactly the opposite of what the Bible teaches.
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STEVEG: #30 “Nobody in the Bush camp cared.”
Is this hearsay or were you in the Bush camp?
And how could Bush ever know what they would be capable of he just got into office?
Most of Obama’s early time in office was spent hiring czars and traveling to world leaders to tell them we are a sorry country and would give them money even though we are bankrupt.
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?? Does anyone know if the president has to sign the order for execution if Hasan (as a member of the military) is found guilty of anything that brings that sentence?
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Hasan should be blamed for what Hasan did. End of story.
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SteveG 11.10.09 AT 8:20 AM
Pastor Roy: DJ, I want to know if the Obama White House knew about him and when.
Well, NJLawyer says in post #3 that soldiers had complained about him in 2008.
Which president was in charge in 2008?
——
My understanding is that the Soldiers had complained about him in 2008 that resulted in a bad OER. In 2009 he came to the attention of Military due to email’s to our enemies.
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“Nidal Hassan is a hero. He is a man of conscience who could not bear living the contradiction of being a Muslim and serving in an army that is fighting against his own people
So that’s why Hasan was trying to contact Awlaki and Al Quada. Jihadists routinely attack and kill Muslims with no compunction. His tender conscience must have been compelling him to try to persuade them of the error of their ways!
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Nana #39:
Uniform Code of Military Justice(UCMJ) Article 71 paragraph a:
“(a) If the sentence of the court-martial extends to death, that part of the sentence providing for death may not be executed until approved by the President. In such a case, the President may commute, remit, or suspend the sentence, or any part thereof, as he sees fit. That part of the sentence providing for the death may not be suspended.”
Also, Article 36 of the UCMJ calls for the Commander in Chief to set forth the rules and procedures by which the UCMJ is enforced. This is done through an executive order known as the “Manual for Courts-Marshal” (MCM). The current MCM, as far as I can find, was signed by President Bush in 2008. In it, the death penalty is an authorized punishment for murder (MCM Part III Rule 10o4a & Part IV Article 118 section e).
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I know I seem to be beating a dead horse here. But why do we not know if this man was taking psychiatric medication? We already know that the Orlando shooter was on psyche meds. These drugs have been linked to nearly every mass shooting in the U.S. and, yet, the media is strangely silent regarding Hassan. He’s a psychiatrist and you would think that would be one of the first issues brought up (given the fact that psychiatrists are able to self-medicate).
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Thanks Pastor Rob, very nice of you. I think this possibility was raised by an msnbc
commentator last night. It’ll be fascinating to see how this develops and how much will actually be permitted to be reported (or leaked).
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Hope, I also have been wondering if, as an MD, he wrote Rxs for himself. Yikes, what a defense that would be!
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A private attorney was hired by Hasan’s family to work “with”? his military counsel. How unusual is that PASTOR ROB? I’m not at all suggesting anything untowards – just curious.
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#32 News2Me “So, let me get this straight: What Clinton didn’t do is Bush’s fault and what Obama didn’t do is Bush’s fault. Makes perfect sense to me.”
Perfect summary of the “one size fits all” argument of the left.
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#44 HopeSprings. Maybe others here are having the same problem I am trying to understand your point.
Are you saying that a military man who praised the deaths of US soldiers, attempted to contact Al Qaeida and committed premeditated murder planning what he was going to do in accordance with his religion may have been fine if he tweaked his meds a little? Are you saying that if he gave himself the wrong meds he might be somehow innocent?
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#36 Joe B.
Is your point that not all Muslims are psychopathic killers? I don’t think anyone here disagrees.
Fire is dangerous, but only if it gets out of control. Islam is a violent psychopathic religion that is a threat to the planet, but plenty of Muslims don’t take it all that seriously. The only dangerous Muslims are those who do.
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XION, that wasn’t my understanding of HopeSprings’ comment, or I wouldn’t have agreed with her. I’m only wondering if he was using an Rx for recreation, or if he was trying to be his own dr. becuase he actually recognized his own psychological problem. If either is the case, it could help his defense and present more of a challenge for the prosecution.
Although, as I understand it, a court marshall’s judge has much more leeway in his instructions to the jury.
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I think you are right Nana. HopeSprings wasn’t going as far as I suggested. I think meds are the opiate of the people and cause a lot of unnecessary pain and suffering.
But in a case that is so obvious, so crystal clear, so open and shut, my hair stands up when I think I am hearing the twinkie defense, i.e. blame shifting to some sort of chemical imbalance.
Does a guy who goes on a shooting rampage have a chemical imbalance? It’s possible, but it changes nothing. People need to be held accountable for their actions.
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Xion and Nana, I am not advocating “the twinkie defense” nor hoping to justify Hassan’s actions. As I mentioned above, psyche meds are nearly always a part of mass shootings, but that facet has not mentioned by the media this time. I am just wondering the reason for the silence in this case. While not excusing Hassan’s behavior (or the behavior in the Comumbine shootings, the Virginia Tech shootings and the Orlando situation), it is undeniable that psychiatric medication seems to quite often be a part of the equation. It’s all too common to read that the shooter was on some medication or another or had decided to stop taking his medication. While not an excuse, it would seem that psychiatric medication plays a part in this type of behaviour, generally, don’t you think?
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Yes, HOPE, we all agree – we really do, as posted.
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#53 I see what you are saying now HopeSprings. You bring up a good point about the dangers of meds. I could relay numerous stories of people I know whose lives have been ruined by bogus psycho-pharmaceutical prescriptions.
Unfortunately, if it were proven true, then liberals would assume the case is closed and blame the meds, completely ignoring the culpability of a criminal terrorist who commits a heinous crime. Hasan will become a victim. By ignoring the real problem, it will happen again and again.
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#53 HopeSprings Fox News was able to show photographs of Hasan’s apartment tonight, one of which showed a large box of meds, some of which he prescribed to himself.
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