Fort Hood Massacre Sends Wake-Up Call to the Nation
Michael Bell
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: Opinion
The recent Fort Hood Massacre is the latest "black-eye" to the Obama presidency. This is the first time in history that American soldiers were attacked and killed at a United States military base. The most shocking piece of the puzzle is that the killer was an American soldier.
Major Nidal Malik Hasan took the lives of 12 soldiers and wounded 31 men and women. Reports have indicated that Hasan was against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hasan, a Muslim, reportedly shouted "God is great," in Arabic and then proceeded to open fire on his fellow soldiers. How could this horrific tragedy, executed by an American soldier, happen on American soil?
With the increased amount of intelligence and surveillance tactics, implemented under the Bush administration, one would believe that this episode could have been avoided. Surely someone knew of and reported Hasan's discontent and unwillingness to be deployed to the Middle East. Surely someone noticed the warning signs of a man on the brink of total insanity.
This leads to the question of why. Why would Major Hasan fear deployment to the Middle East? His ethnicity and faith would have made him a target of retaliation from the rebels in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Islamic militants would have viewed Hasan as a traitor to Allah. Likewise, Hasan's faith would have played a factor in his ability to carrying out his duties to the American military. Many soldiers may have found it difficult to trust him in the line of fire.
The Fort Hood Massacre opens of the door to discussion, debate, and deliberation as to the mental stability of our American troops. Our troops are constantly fighting for their lives in foreign lands. They should not have to fight for survival at a "secure" base in Texas. This tragedy is a slap in the face to the American military and a blemish on the Obama report card. What a way to mark the one year anniversary of the President's election. However, the question remains - "What are we fighting for?"
Major Nidal Malik Hasan took the lives of 12 soldiers and wounded 31 men and women. Reports have indicated that Hasan was against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hasan, a Muslim, reportedly shouted "God is great," in Arabic and then proceeded to open fire on his fellow soldiers. How could this horrific tragedy, executed by an American soldier, happen on American soil?
With the increased amount of intelligence and surveillance tactics, implemented under the Bush administration, one would believe that this episode could have been avoided. Surely someone knew of and reported Hasan's discontent and unwillingness to be deployed to the Middle East. Surely someone noticed the warning signs of a man on the brink of total insanity.
This leads to the question of why. Why would Major Hasan fear deployment to the Middle East? His ethnicity and faith would have made him a target of retaliation from the rebels in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Islamic militants would have viewed Hasan as a traitor to Allah. Likewise, Hasan's faith would have played a factor in his ability to carrying out his duties to the American military. Many soldiers may have found it difficult to trust him in the line of fire.
The Fort Hood Massacre opens of the door to discussion, debate, and deliberation as to the mental stability of our American troops. Our troops are constantly fighting for their lives in foreign lands. They should not have to fight for survival at a "secure" base in Texas. This tragedy is a slap in the face to the American military and a blemish on the Obama report card. What a way to mark the one year anniversary of the President's election. However, the question remains - "What are we fighting for?"
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