Many are arguing about the verbage being used with respect to the attack and deaths of those recently at one of our military bases here on American soil, perpetuated by an American on other Americans. While the act is unforgivable, some feel it is important to name it "terrorism" and connect the dots to perhaps others who may seek to cause harm.
I see this act as perhaps a result of a man who may have been mentally ill, afraid to go to the middle east himself, or perhaps was indeed acting as directed from a Muslim extremist. Pondering the importance of "labeling" this actual terrorism I see several outcomes but I'd like to know how many of you feel it is necessary to actually label this act or simply feel it is important to carry through all means of holding him accountable for his actions, even if that means death.
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Everything coming out has to do with this guy's religion, as he interpreted it, from his business cards, to his contact with really bad people, to his refusal to excuse himself from the service. This man was a Muslim terrorist.. and I think that every person, moderate Muslims included, ought to stand up and say the same.
If I find myself in disagreement with something of this magnitude, I find a way to avoid it. As I see it, this guy pressed himself into a corner where he was unable to restrain himself from acting as he did. Is this the act of a lunatic or something else entirely? While he was entirely within his rights to express his opinions, he became, by his own free will, a walking inconsistency: he refused to step away from being an American military officer and he felt that being one was violating what he believed. It appears that all that happened was that he decided where his true allegiance lay.
In addition, I would characterize Islamic terrorists almost exactly the same as this guy: they become convinced, through apparently irrational means and exploitation, that any other lifestyle is extremely corrupt and that anything they do in the name of God will be a good thing. As I was suggesting in a public blog I published not long ago, this rendering of Islam is troublesome because it allows any lie, any deception and any misrepresentation simply because it claims that it working to a greater good. I believe that this is fundamentally corrupt in its thinking. I keep waiting for a million man march of moderate Muslims who descry this kind of aberrational behavior, but that isn't happening. There are a lot of bad guys fomenting hatred and discontent, but I don't hear about moderates turning them in to the government. While it is true that the moderate Muslim press doesn't get much air time, something which otherwise leaves me bewildered, we need more moderates standing up against people like this. Unfortunately people like the Major are all too common an occurrence these days and we can expect many more in the future. I fear we will not take our collective heads out of the ... sand for fear of offending someone publicly. This is ludicrous behavior.
1From everything I've heard and read so far, this guy is a terrorist. I don't agree that he was mentally ill. We have thousands of mentally ill people out there and they aren't shooting other people. In addition, this appears to have been a premeditated act. He brought 2 guns with him and at least one extra clip for each weapon. That just doesn't sound like someone who just snapped.
If someone doesn't want to call him a terrorist, then call him by the other "T" word that he is. He is a traitor. He betrayed his oath as an officer to protect and lead the soldiers.
2Ultimately I believe many are arguing over semantics because they are afraid that by allowing the US Army prosecute him that somehow either due process will not occur or the other avenues explored.
This is fear is simply silly. If we look at this as we would a very competitive game of chess we can see several things.
The semantics are irrelevant because all avenues will be explored regardless of where this man is prosecuted. What many civilians are not aware of, allowing the military to hold him actually changes his fundamental rights as a citizen.
He will not be coddled, given TV, access to handball courts, and crafts to do---which happens in every civilian prison in America. There is a stark difference in a military prison.
Military prison...think of it as though every day of your life is like basic training. It is regimented and rigorous. Military prison is serious business...it is how our civilian prison systems should be ran.
There is a reason why many will do just about anything to NOT go to a military prison. Your rights are interpreted very differently in there....and personally I applaud the military because of this.
One another note...allowing the military to prosecute him will be more cost effective AND quick. There is none of the machinations within the legal process that occur in civilian court.
This also allows our government/current administration to completely view/explore/reveal things they otherwise would have to play closer to the vest...and use it to their benefit in the media.
A little irony here is that is also opens up the administration to use this for Obama to shake his fist in the air and perhaps work on how weak he is perceived by other countries.
Regardless of how the court proceedings go, Obama is then given a level of separation or protection from any misunderstanding/interpretation of what is revealed in the court process.
"It wasn't me" ........the famous political appointment.
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