Comments on: What Can We Learn from the Ft. Hood Massacre?

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Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:33:37 +0000

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By: dduck12

dduck12 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:59:05 +0000

A choice between the Devil and the deep blue sea. Restricting the freedoms of our citizens and non-citizens residing in the U.S.A. is not politically correct and perhaps its time has passed. The killers of our people, here and overseas, don't find this a hindrance since and they consider us to be the oppressors and “the infidels”.
Even if we wished a 1984 type environment, where everything is monitored, reviewed and filtered for “objectionable” content and actions taken (censure, arrest, deportation, confinement, etc.) would it be possible. That net would catch many an innocent dolphin with a big mouth (just as it may be today, but amplified). Woe be the prosecutor that can't “fashion” a convict able case. From a practical/tecnologically viewpoint, also hard to do. Then there is partisan politics to screw it up even more.
Another choice: Continue doing what we have been doing. Not good enough. We should have picked up on this Hasan nut, or whatever you want to call him, sooner than after the murders. This guy said stuff that was not just general griping and sniping at the infidels, he said we should cut their throats. That's a little beyond free speech, to me, but that added to some of his other actions, words and contacts sound like a slam dunk for some kind of action whether it be by the Army, FBI or Homeland Security.
Creating bigger agencies seems to be the current rage, not better agencies. Improve what we have without too many intrusions (an inevitable consequence, unfortunately) on our freedoms without the partisan politicking. ( I just blew my creditability there.)

By: Rudi

Rudi — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:46:13 +0000

With the profiling tools currently at our disposal we have no one to blame but our own incompetence for overlooking simple facts such as the ones found in the Hasan case.

Yes, profiling and data mining work so well. Made Rudy even richer,but the actual results aren't worth the money.

By: Don Quijote

Don Quijote — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:45:20 +0000

What Can We Learn from the Ft. Hood Massacre?

That there should be the law that requires all Americans to be armed at all times so that those who are unable to defend themselves in this type of situation would be breaking the law.

By: spirasol

spirasol — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:57:47 +0000

I don't really agree with the manner in which you make your case. With bits of info becoming available, the best that I can make out, is that Major Hasan had serious performance issues. Add to it the number of reprimands and warnings it should have been a no brainer. Chalk it up to the unwillingness for Drs to challenge Drs and for administrative staff to challenge Drs.

Also while we have not had internment of the Arab/Muslim community they are harassed and they know it. Some have been jailed or obscure reasons and toyed with by the legal system.

Imho, if they detect any sensitivities or overt nuances that might either hurt the military at large or also to protect the that particular culture an alternative post could be considered. However, incompetence, is a whole other matter. It is insulting and insensitive to both the soldier with PTSD and the treating mental health professional, in this case a psychiatrist, that someone either incompetent and/or also suffering from trauma and/or mental illness should be the one to service them.

The notion that mental health professionals somehow be inoculated or immune from the stress they work under is at best a myth. While they do heroic work, the systems they often work under are as much a part of the problem as anything. There is something called "supervision" that should be in place, but what often passes for "supervision" is simple administrative supervision, a type that focuses on protecting the system they represent.

By: D. E.Rodriguez

D. E.Rodriguez — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:04:20 +0000

“The Ft Hood Massacre was preventable.”

So was 9/11…

By: ThurmanHart

ThurmanHart — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:06:17 +0000

When citizens take the oath upon enlisting in the military, they swear to protect the country and the constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic. (I did notice, however, that this particular phrase was missing from the Presidential oath of office during the last inauguration.)

First, it has been missing from EVERY Presidential oath of office. As per the US Constitution, "Before he enter on the Execution of his Office, he shall take the following Oath or Affirmation:--''I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.''

Nor, incidentally, do military personnel swear to defend the country. :

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

I agree with you whole-heartedly that we should focus on stopping such things from happening again. There is no excuse for allowing an officer in our military to have ongoing contact with our enemy. That alone should have gotten him booted out of the military - but unfortunately, that would simply have released him on the general population, which would be even less able to deal with his murderous intent. His psychological profile, as I understand it, should have raised serious mental health issues, perhaps to the point of forcing him to an inpatient status.

The difference is that profiling him based on his Islamic beliefs (perversions) would create an image, at least, of Islam being persecuted. Profiling him on his psychological problems would not, and it also allows for a much broader application.